AMD Phenom II X4 945 (125W) vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (105W)

Comparative analysis of AMD Phenom II X4 945 (125W) and Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (105W) processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

AMD Phenom II X4 945 (125W)

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (105W)

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 945 (125W)

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 3 month(s) later
Around 25% higher clock speed: 3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 45 nm vs 65 nm
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
6.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.576 vs 0.522
Around 54% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.212 vs 0.138
Around 8% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.125 vs 3.829

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	April 2009 vs January 2007
Maximum frequency	3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm vs 65 nm
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 256 KB
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.576 vs 0.522
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.212 vs 0.138
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.125 vs 3.829

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (105W)

4x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 19% lower typical power consumption: 105 Watt vs 125 Watt
Around 67% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 24.255 vs 14.5
Around 90% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 0.748 vs 0.394

Specifications (specs)
L2 cache	8192 KB vs 512 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	105 Watt vs 125 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	24.255 vs 14.5
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.748 vs 0.394

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Phenom II X4 945 (125W)
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (105W)

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.576

0.522

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

14.5

24.255

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.212

0.138

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.394

0.748

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.125

3.829

Name	AMD Phenom II X4 945 (125W)	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (105W)
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.576	0.522
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	14.5	24.255
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.212	0.138
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.394	0.748
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.125	3.829
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		330
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		1019
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		0

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Phenom II X4 945 (125W)	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (105W)
Essentials
Architecture codename	Deneb	Kentsfield
Launch date	April 2009	January 2007
Place in performance rating	3280	3288
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		Q6600
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	258 mm	286 mm2
L1 cache	128 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	512 KB (per core)	8192 KB
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	65 nm
Maximum frequency	3 GHz	2.4 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Transistor count	758 million	582 million
Base frequency		2.40 GHz
Bus Speed		1066 MHz FSB
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		71 °C
Maximum core temperature		B3=62.2°C; G0=71°C
VID voltage range		0.8500V-1.500V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	125 Watt	105 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
FSB parity
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)