Testing Methodology and System Setup
For testing the new Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 processor, we have lined up a very interesting collection of processors to compare it to.  From Intel we have the QX6850, the previous top end quad-core processor that runs on a 1333 MHz FSB and at 3.0 GHz clock speed.  I’ve also thrown in a couple of dual core Intel CPUs including the X6800 and E6750. 

From AMD, I don’t have any of the top end 6400+ CPUs, and in truth, getting a hold of one of these is somewhat of a task even when you have money ready to spend.  However, we do have the Athlon X2 6000+ and the 5600+ processors that run at 3.0 GHz and 2.8 GHz respectively.  That will give us a clock for clock comparison (3.0 GHz versus 3.0 GHz) of Intel and AMD here; let’s call it a “going out” party for the current K8 technology. 
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Yorkfield Processor Review - Processors 51

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Yorkfield Processor Review - Processors 52

For the Intel CPUs I went with the newly released Intel X38 chipset and a set of DDR3 memory from Corsair while the AMD test bed used an AMD 690G chipset motherboard (we aren’t using on-board graphics so performance differences are basically 0) with some Corsair DDR2 memory. 

Both beds shared the same NV 8800 GTX reference card as well as Raptor X 150GB 10k RPM hard drives and the use of Windows Vista x64. 

We also updated our testing software in this review to keep up with the time as well as introduce some new software into the mix to stress the CPUs. 
  • SiSoft Sandra XIIc – CPU Arithmetic, Multimedia and Memory tests
  • VirtualDub 1.7.6 with DivX 6.7
  • Handbrake 0.9.1 – DVD Encoding
  • Windows Media Encoder x64
  • LAME 3.97a – multithreaded MP3 encoding
  • Pov-Ray 3.7 Beta
  • CineBench 10
  • 3DMark06
  • Valve Source Tests – Particle simulation and map compilation
  • WinRAR 3.71
  • PCMark05
  • PCMark Vantage
  • World in Conflict
  • UT3 Demo

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