- Procduct Code: HH80562PH0678M
- CPU Speed 2.66 GHz
- System Bus Frequency 1066MHz FSB
- TDP 130W
- Stepping B-3
- Number of CPU Cores (4)
- L1 Cache 4x32KB
- L2 Cache 8MB (2x4 MB)
- CPUID 06F7
- Core to bus ratio limit 10:1
- Max processor input voltage 1.350V
- PECI Enabled Yes
- Execute Disable Bit
- Process technology: 65nm:
- 582 million transistors
Intel's new X6700 Core 2 Extreme Quad Core Processor is manufactured on the same 65 nanometer process as that used on earlier Core 2 processors. They plan to move to the 45 nanometer node early next year. This is a move that should provide more die density, lower heat and more performance for the same die space. The CPU is basically two Core 2 E6700s strapped together, meaning a total of 582 million transistors in total, which is just amazing in itself.
The QX6700 has four independent processor cores in a single package, hence the term Quad Core. The CPU has a 1066 MHz FSB, which is the highest FSB available on Intel CPUs at this moment. In reality the QX6700 processor is two Dual-Core CPU dies mounted on one chip, meaning there are effectively two Core 2 CPUs on the same LGA-775 package. Two smaller dies, means faster time to market, less engineering time and better overall yields. The smaller the die is the more CPU cores can be yielded in each batch. This equates to better prices as well as Intel can make more CPUs for the same silicon investment as before.
The amount of cache on a processor is important, as the more L2 cache there is, the more performance you can effectively get. This is why the early Celerons didn't perform well and dogged in many applications and in multitasking. They had no L2 cache, which meant even though the CPU was clocked at a high rate for that time speed, performance suffered badly. The QX6700 has 4 processor cores, with each processor having its own 32KB L1 cache and each pair of processors sharing a 4MB cache between the Core 2 Extreme CPU. Intel has improved upon their design from their first entry into the world of multi-core CPUs and has done a good job in the process.
A new feature of the QX6700 is its Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS) or digital thermometer. The 975XBX board does not support this new feature. Oftentimes with earlier Prescott CPUs and motherboards I've had issues with heat causing system failures to occur when the temperature reading of the Winbond chip that regulates it read temperatures way above normal (65C+). With DTS, the thermometer is on the processor itself, allowing for accurate measuring of temperature. The Intel Quiet System Technology included in the 975X chipset, uses the DTS to regulate the system and processor fan speeds. A key benefit of temperature monitoring is that system fans spin only as fast as needed to cool the system, and slower spinning fans means less noise. The test kit did not contain a fan that has FSC (Fan Speed Control). I ran the benchmarks and stability testing with full speed on the fan provided but everyday use was with the fan at 60%.
