Intel Core i7-970 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-970 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 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 i7-970

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-970

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 2 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
Around 30% higher clock speed: 3.46 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
Around 9% higher maximum core temperature: 67.9°C vs 62.2°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 65 nm
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 37% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1467 vs 1074
3.1x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6538 vs 2096
Around 68% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 592 vs 353
2.9x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3217 vs 1114
2.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 1.559 vs 0.576
2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 49.006 vs 24.478
3.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.506 vs 0.148
3.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 2.584 vs 0.829
Around 62% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 6.816 vs 4.217

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	July 2010 vs April 2007
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C vs 62.2°C
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 65 nm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 256 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1467 vs 1074
PassMark - CPU mark	6538 vs 2096
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	592 vs 353
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3217 vs 1114
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.559 vs 0.576
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	49.006 vs 24.478
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.506 vs 0.148
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.584 vs 0.829
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	6.816 vs 4.217

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700

5.3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 24% lower typical power consumption: 105 Watt vs 130 Watt

L2 cache	8192 KB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	105 Watt vs 130 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-970
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1467

1074

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

6538

2096

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

592

353

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3217

1114

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.559

0.576

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

49.006

24.478

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.506

0.148

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.584

0.829

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

6.816

4.217

Name	Intel Core i7-970	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700
PassMark - Single thread mark	1467	1074
PassMark - CPU mark	6538	2096
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	592	353
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3217	1114
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.559	0.576
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	49.006	24.478
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.506	0.148
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.584	0.829
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	6.816	4.217

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-970	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700
Essentials
Architecture codename	Gulftown	Kentsfield
Launch date	July 2010	April 2007
Launch price (MSRP)	$662
Place in performance rating	2495	3062
Price now	$148.99	$44.99
Processor Number	i7-970	Q6700
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	16.59	21.53
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.20 GHz	2.66 GHz
Bus Speed	4.8 GT/s QPI	1066 MHz FSB
Die size	239 mm2	286 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	8192 KB
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	65 nm
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C	62.2°C
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz	2.67 GHz
Number of cores	6	4
Number of QPI Links	1
Number of threads	12
Transistor count	1170 million	582 million
VID voltage range	0.800V-1.375V	0.8500V-1.500V
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		62 °C
Memory
Max memory channels	3
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	24 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 800/1066	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	42.5mm X 45.0mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1366	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	105 Watt
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
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
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
FSB parity
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)