Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 vs AMD Athlon 64 FX-74

Comparative analysis of Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 and AMD Athlon 64 FX-74 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core.

Intel Core 2 Duo E4600

AMD Athlon 64 FX-74

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Duo E4600

CPU is newer: launch date 10 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 65 nm vs 90 nm
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 92% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 125 Watt
Around 50% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 927 vs 617

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2007 vs November 2006
Manufacturing process technology	65 nm vs 90 nm
L2 cache	2048 KB vs 1024 KB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 125 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	927 vs 617

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon 64 FX-74

Around 25% higher clock speed: 3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 11% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 972 vs 872

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
L1 cache	128 KB vs 64 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	972 vs 872

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core 2 Duo E4600
CPU 2: AMD Athlon 64 FX-74

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

927

617

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

872

972

Name	Intel Core 2 Duo E4600	AMD Athlon 64 FX-74
PassMark - Single thread mark	927	617
PassMark - CPU mark	872	972
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	279
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	491

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core 2 Duo E4600	AMD Athlon 64 FX-74
Essentials
Architecture codename	Conroe	Windsor
Launch date	October 2007	November 2006
Place in performance rating	2816	2805
Price now	$157.95	$499.50
Processor Number	E4600
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	2.58	0.88
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$500
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.40 GHz
Bus Speed	800 MHz FSB
Die size	111 mm2	235 mm
L1 cache	64 KB	128 KB
L2 cache	2048 KB	1024 KB
Manufacturing process technology	65 nm	90 nm
Maximum core temperature	73.3°C
Maximum frequency	2.4 GHz	3 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Transistor count	167 million	227 million
VID voltage range	0.8500V-1.5V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3	DDR1
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	LGA775	F
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	125 Watt
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)