Conclusion : $999 Performance For $190!
Although we failed in our goal of hitting the FSB2000 milestone (500 MHz FSB clock), we still achieved excellent performance: the overclocked entry-level Core 2 Duo E6300 is indeed capable of outperforming Intel's current dual core top processor, the Core 2 Extreme X6800. It's 2 MB cache and 3.4 GHz versus 4 MB and 2.93 GHz, $190 versus $999. Any questions?
Of course it's possible to overclock the Core 2 Extreme X6800 as well, and you should be able to run at least 3.46 GHz; even 3.73 GHz is often possible.
There are two important conclusions that we draw from these results:
- Intel's processor manufacturing seems to have a lot of headroom. A lot. If AMD can reapply pressure on Intel, Core 2 Duo clock speeds could certainly be increased by a few hundred megahertz. We're sure that Intel's high clock speed experience with the Pentium 4's NetBurst architecture is paying off now.
- The fact that both the platform and the processor can be overclocked by so much - up to 50%, sometimes more - gives enthusiasts the option to purchase entry-level components and hit upper mainstream performance. Also, every current Socket 775 enthusiast motherboard can be upgraded with a quad core processor later on, which provides a great upgrade path. It has never been so attractive to purchase low-end.
The test system was based on a Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6, and reached an amazing 485 MHz FSB speed at stability sufficient for benchmarking. We recommend against running a system at these extreme settings in the long run, so as not to cut component lifetime down too much. Still, speeds above 400 MHz FSB clock are not a big deal these days, and are very reliable on enthusiast-class motherboards with decent DDR2 memory.
Despite all of this, the E6000 series is no longer our overclocking favorite, because a new model line is ready to launch soon: the E4000 series will come at similar clock speeds, but run at only FSB800 speed. Obviously, this makes these new processors much better overclocking candidates, as a Core 2 Duo E4300 at 1.8 GHz can reach even higher core clock speeds with less FSB stress.
Related Articles:
Can AMD'S 65 nm Core Fight Back?
Will Intel's Core Architecture Close the Technology Gap?
Game Over? Core 2 Duo Knocks Out Athlon 64
Overclocking Guide Part 1: Risks, Choices and Benefits
Overclocking Guide Part 2: Suggested Components and Settings
Cheap Thrills: Core 2 Duo E6400 Overclocked to 3.33 GHz
Shootout at the Core 2 Corral: Seven P965 Motherboards Compared
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