Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W) vs AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+

Comparative analysis of Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W) and AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility. 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.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)

CPU is newer: launch date 10 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
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
5.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 24.255 vs 4.278
Around 60% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.138 vs 0.086

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	July 2007 vs September 2006
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Manufacturing process technology	65 nm vs 90 nm
L2 cache	8192 KB vs 1024 KB
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	24.255 vs 4.278
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.138 vs 0.086

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+

Around 8% higher clock speed: 2.6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
Around 7% lower typical power consumption: 89 Watt vs 95 Watt
2.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 1.147 vs 0.522

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	2.6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	89 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.147 vs 0.522

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)
CPU 2: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.522

1.147

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

24.255

4.278

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.138

0.086

Name	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)	AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.522	1.147
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	24.255	4.278
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.138	0.086
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.748
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.829
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		266
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		498

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)	AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+
Essentials
Architecture codename	Kentsfield	Windsor
Launch date	July 2007	September 2006
Place in performance rating	3306	3307
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Price now		$53.09
Value for money (0-100)		7.68
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	2x 143 mm	220 mm
L1 cache	256 KB	256 KB
L2 cache	8192 KB	1024 KB
Manufacturing process technology	65 nm	90 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	62 °C
Maximum frequency	2.4 GHz	2.6 GHz
Number of cores	4	2
Transistor count	582 million	154 million
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	775	AM2
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	89 Watt