Intel Core i5-661 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-661 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W) processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, 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 i5-661

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-661

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 6 month(s) later
Around 50% higher clock speed: 3.60 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 65 nm
Around 9% lower typical power consumption: 87 Watt vs 95 Watt

Launch date	January 2010 vs July 2007
Maximum frequency	3.60 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 65 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	87 Watt vs 95 Watt

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

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
16x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later

Number of cores	4 vs 2
L1 cache	256 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	8192 KB vs 256 KB (per core)

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-661
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)

Name	Intel Core i5-661	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)
PassMark - Single thread mark	1447
PassMark - CPU mark	2482
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	518
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1214
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		0.522
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		24.255
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.138
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		0.748
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		3.829

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-661	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)
Essentials
Architecture codename	Clarkdale	Kentsfield
Launch date	January 2010	July 2007
Launch price (MSRP)	$252
Place in performance rating	2243	3306
Price now	$99.99
Processor Number	i5-661
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	9.35
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.33 GHz
Bus Speed	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	81 mm2	2x 143 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	8192 KB
L3 cache	4096 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	65 nm
Maximum core temperature	69.8°C
Maximum frequency	3.60 GHz	2.4 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	382 million	582 million
VID voltage range	0.6500V-1.4000V
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		62 °C
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	16.38 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Graphics
Graphics base frequency	900 MHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Processor graphics	Intel HD Graphics
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	2
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1156	775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	87 Watt	95 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	2.0
PCIe configurations	1x16, 2x8
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)