Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 vs AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ EE

Comparative analysis of Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 and AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ EE 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, 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).

Intel Core 2 Duo E6550

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ EE

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Duo E6550

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 2 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 65 nm vs 90 nm
8x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 9% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 906 vs 835
Around 24% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 891 vs 720
Around 36% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 303 vs 222
Around 33% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 527 vs 397
12.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 18.666 vs 1.445
Around 83% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.077 vs 0.042

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	July 2007 vs May 2006
Manufacturing process technology	65 nm vs 90 nm
L2 cache	4096 KB vs 512 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	906 vs 835
PassMark - CPU mark	891 vs 720
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	303 vs 222
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	527 vs 397
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	18.666 vs 1.445
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.077 vs 0.042

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ EE

Around 3% higher clock speed: 2.4 GHz vs 2.33 GHz
4x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.708 vs 0.261

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	2.4 GHz vs 2.33 GHz
L1 cache	256 KB vs 64 KB
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.708 vs 0.261

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core 2 Duo E6550
CPU 2: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ EE

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

906

835

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

891

720

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

303

222

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

527

397

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.261

0.708

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

18.666

1.445

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.077

0.042

Name	Intel Core 2 Duo E6550	AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ EE
PassMark - Single thread mark	906	835
PassMark - CPU mark	891	720
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	303	222
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	527	397
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.261	0.708
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	18.666	1.445
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.077	0.042
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.371
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	1.88

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core 2 Duo E6550	AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ EE
Essentials
Architecture codename	Conroe	Windsor
Launch date	July 2007	May 2006
Place in performance rating	3206	3213
Price now	$14.95
Processor Number	E6550
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	29.56
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.33 GHz
Bus Speed	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	143 mm2	220 mm
L1 cache	64 KB	256 KB
L2 cache	4096 KB	512 KB
Manufacturing process technology	65 nm	90 nm
Maximum core temperature	72°C
Maximum frequency	2.33 GHz	2.4 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Transistor count	291 million	154 million
VID voltage range	0.8500V-1.5V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	PLGA775	AM2
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	65 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)