Intel Core i7-2600K vs Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-2600K and Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 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, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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 i7-2600K

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2600K

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 2 month(s) later
Around 27% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 3 GHz
Around 13% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 64.5°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
Around 37% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 130 Watt
Around 74% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 811 vs 465
2.1x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3117 vs 1463

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	3 January 2011 vs November 2007
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz vs 3 GHz
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C vs 64.5°C
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	811 vs 465
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3117 vs 1463

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650

12x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.6x better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 4864 vs 1845

Specifications (specs)
L2 cache	12288 KB vs 1024 KB
Benchmarks
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	4864 vs 1845

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-2600K
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

811

465

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3117

1463

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

1845

4864

Name	Intel Core i7-2600K	Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650
PassMark - Single thread mark	1745
PassMark - CPU mark	5492
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	811	465
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3117	1463
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	1845	4864
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.524
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	77.745
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.602
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.129
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.018

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-2600K	Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Yorkfield
Launch date	3 January 2011	November 2007
Launch price (MSRP)	$317
Place in performance rating	2304	2298
Price now	$189.99
Processor Number	i7-2600K	QX9650
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	13.10
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.40 GHz	3.00 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	216 mm	214 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	1024 KB	12288 KB
L3 cache	8192 KB
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C	64.5°C
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz	3 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	8
Transistor count	995 Million	820 million
Unlocked
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		64 °C
VID voltage range		0.8500V-1.3625V
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Graphics
Device ID	0x112
Graphics base frequency	850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.35 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.35 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	LGA1155	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	130 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	2.0
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
FSB parity
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)