Intel Core 2 eXtreme QX9770 Processor

Today we are going to review another top performer from Intel that marks a new milestone in "bus-making" - a 400 MHz CPU bus with throughput equivalent to 1600 MHz. (The previous record was 333 MHz, equivalent to 1333 MHz.) Besides, now we can have a look at the complete series of future Intel's processors based on the newer core:

Note that E8190 though seemingly identical to the E8200, according to the table above, actually differs by lacking the support of virtualization technology.

The Core 2 Extreme QX9770 processor, which we review today, is based on the Yorkfield core of the Penryn family, like the previously examined Core 2 Extreme QX9650. However unlike the latter, the QX9770 can't work (officially, at least) with any of the officially announced chipsets, including the Intel X38 Express, since it requires the 1600 MHz FSB. For this reason we had to test it on a sample of the Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6 motherboard based on the X48 Express chipset, instead of our usual ASUS P5B Deluxe LGA775 board. Note that according to some preliminary information, the X48 will differ from the X38 only by the 1600 MHz FSB support. Like the X38, the X48 supports both DDR2 and DDR3. Our sample had only DDR2 sockets, but it bore a proud "DDRII-1066" mark besides the "DDRII-800". DDR2-1066 memory wouldn't be justified for a 1600 MHz bus though, since they'd work asynchronously. But DDR2-800, in its turn, is nearly ideal, because CPU and memory bus clocks are identical, and the throughput of DDR2-800 dual-channel controller is equal to the CPU bus throughput. Therefore we conducted our tests in this mode exactly.

Also note that the new 1600 MHz bus for the first time provides at least a theoretical opportunity for at least DDR2-800 memory to uncover the full potential in the dual-channel mode. As you might remember, the 1333 MHz bus throughput couldn't do that as described here.

Hardware and software

Testbed configurations

Hardware:

• DDR2 memory: Corsair CM2X1024-6400C4, 2 x 1 GB, DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12.
• LGA775 board: ASUS P5B Deluxe, Intel P965.
• Socket AM2 board: ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe, NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI.
• HDD: Samsung HD401LJ (SATA-II).
• Socket AM2 cooler: boxed.
• Core 2 Quad / Extreme cooler: Thermaltake TMG i1.
• PSU: Cooler Master RS-A00-EMBA.
• Graphics card: Reference NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX, 768 MB DDR3, PCI-E x16.

Attention: To test the Core 2 Extreme QX9770 CPU we used a sample of the Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6 board based on the Intel X48 Express chipset supporting 1600 MHz FSB.

Processors tested:

* - "2 x ..." means per core;
** - for AMD processors this is memory controller bus clock rate;
*** - measured differently for Intel and AMD processors; impossible to compare directly.

Software

1. Windows XP Professional x64 edition SP1
2. 3ds max 9 x64 edition
3. Maya 8.5 x64 edition
4. Lightwave 3D 9 x64 edition
5. MATLAB R2006a (7.2.0.32) x64 edition
6. Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 2.0
7. SolidWorks 2005
8. Photoshop CS2 (9.0)
9. Visual Studio 2005 Professional
10. Apache HTTP Server 2.2.4
11. CPU RightMark 2005 Lite (1.3) x64 edition
12. WinRAR 3.62
13. 7-Zip 4.42 x64 edition
14. FineReader 8.0 Professional
15. LAME 3.97
16. Monkey Audio 4.01
17. OGG Encoder 2.83
18. Windows Media Encoder 9 x64 edition
19. Canopus ProCoder 2.01.30
20. DivX 6.4
21. Windows Media Video VCM 9
22. x264 v.604
23. XviD 1.1.2
24. F.E.A.R. 1.08
25. Half-Life 2 1.0
26. Quake 4 1.3
27. Call of Duty 2 1.2
28. Serious Sam 2 2.07
29. Supreme Commander 1.0.3220