Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 vs AMD Athlon XP 2600+

Comparative analysis of Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 and AMD Athlon XP 2600+ processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark.

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850

AMD Athlon XP 2600+

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850

3 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 1
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 65 nm vs 130 nm

Number of cores	4 vs 1
Manufacturing process technology	65 nm vs 130 nm

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon XP 2600+

Around 91% lower typical power consumption: 68 Watt vs 130 Watt

Thermal Design Power (TDP)	68 Watt vs 130 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850
CPU 2: AMD Athlon XP 2600+

Name	Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850	AMD Athlon XP 2600+
PassMark - Single thread mark		380
PassMark - CPU mark		242

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850	AMD Athlon XP 2600+
Essentials
Architecture codename	Kentsfield	Barton
Launch date	Q3'07	January 2001
Place in performance rating	not rated	3184
Processor Number	QX6850
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$23
Price now		$23.03
Value for money (0-100)		4.76
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.00 GHz
Bus Speed	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	286 mm2	101 mm
Manufacturing process technology	65 nm	130 nm
Maximum core temperature	64.5°C
Number of cores	4	1
Transistor count	582 million	63 million
VID voltage range	0.8500V-1.500V
L1 cache		128 KB
L2 cache		512 KB
Maximum frequency		1.92 GHz
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Sockets supported	LGA775	A
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	68 Watt
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		1
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)