Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 vs Intel Core i3-530

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Core 2 Quad Q6600 compared with Core i3-530

	IntelCore 2 Quad Q6600	IntelCore i3-530
Overview
Released
Released	January 2007	January 2010
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	4 (better)	2
Threads
Threads	4	4
Base clock
Base clock	2.4 GHz	2.93 GHz
L3 cache
L3 cache	–	4 MB
Cores
Cores	Kentsfield; four cores and four threads, without Hyper-Threading. Original B3 stepping is the numerical baseline; later G0 retains the model name and core/cache figures. Locked multiplier confirmed by bit-tech’s exact-model review.	Two cores and four threads with Hyper-Threading. Multiplier unlock status is omitted because the bounded exact source pass did not establish it.
Clocks
Clocks	Published operating frequency 2.40 GHz; 1066 MHz front-side bus. Intel’s 8 January 2007 release explicitly states immediate availability in PCs and the reseller channel. No unpublished boost frequency is supplied.	2.93 GHz base; no Turbo Boost, explicitly listed as not applicable in Intel’s 7 January 2010 launch table. The same release states that the new family is immediately available and names this model.
Cache
Cache	Two 4 MB L2 caches, one per dual-core die; total 8 MB. Intel’s datasheet also lists four 32 KB L1 data caches. No L3 figure is supplied.	4 MB shared L3 cache.
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	No	Yes
Graphics
Graphics	No integrated graphics, confirmed by the exact BX80562Q6600 retail listing; motherboard graphics are a separate component.	Intel HD Graphics at 733 MHz in Intel’s exact-model original launch table, also corroborated by bit-tech and the exact retail listing. The later Intel Core i3 comparison chart prints 773 MHz, conflicting with those sources.
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA775	LGA1156
Base power
Base power	105 W	73 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	No	–
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	Yes	Yes
Memory support
Memory support	Memory and I/O transactions pass through the front-side bus and chipset, as Intel’s datasheet states; memory types and capacity depend on the motherboard.	Two channels of DDR3-1066/1333 in Intel’s exact-model comparison chart.
PCIe
PCIe	–	16 PCIe 2.0 lanes, as described in bit-tech’s exact review.
Chipsets
Chipsets	–	H55, H57 or Q57 provides display outputs for integrated graphics; compatible P55 boards can use a discrete graphics card, subject to BIOS support (bit-tech).
Process
Process	65 nm; Kentsfield; LGA775.	32 nm CPU and separate 45 nm graphics die, as described by bit-tech’s exact review.
Cooler
Cooler	Boxed BX80562Q6600 listing confirms heatsink and fan. Intel’s datasheet and PCN107463 distinguish original B3 105 W from later G0 95 W; the projected July 2007 conversion date is not treated as an independently verified sale day.	Retail boxed heatsink and fan confirmed by the exact Newegg listing and Phoronix’s exact-model retail sample inspection.