Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 vs Intel Core i7-3820

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Core 2 Quad Q6600 compared with Core i7-3820

	IntelCore 2 Quad Q6600	IntelCore i7-3820
Overview
Released
Released	January 2007	February 2012
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	4	4
Threads
Threads	4	8 (better)
Base clock
Base clock	2.4 GHz	3.6 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	–	3.8 GHz
L3 cache
L3 cache	–	10 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.	Four cores and eight threads; Sandy Bridge-E with Hyper-Threading. The multiplier is only partly unlocked, as both exact reviews explain; unlocked is false here because it is not fully unlocked.
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 No unpublished boost frequency is supplied.	Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.80 GHz from Intel’s current sheet; KitGuru’s engineering-sample review table instead states 3.90 GHz. Intel staff acknowledged release in February 2012; month precision is retained rather than treating the forum’s proposed day as verified sale.
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.	10 MB Intel Smart Cache; L3 level confirmed by both exact reviews.
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	No	No
Graphics
Graphics	No integrated graphics, confirmed by the exact BX80562Q6600 retail listing; motherboard graphics are a separate component.	No integrated graphics or Quick Sync, confirmed by KitGuru’s exact-model review.
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA775	LGA2011
Base power
Base power	105 W	130 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	No	No
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	Yes	No
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.	Four channels of DDR3-1066/1333/1600; 51.2 GB/s maximum published bandwidth; no ECC. Intel’s anomalous 64.23 GB maximum-memory value is not normalised into a guessed capacity.
PCIe
PCIe	–	40 CPU lanes; Intel’s current sheet lists PCIe 2.0, while both contemporary reviews describe PCIe 3.0 capability. The manufacturer’s current literal figure is retained with this conflict explicit.
Chipsets
Chipsets	–	Intel X79; LGA2011.
Process
Process	65 nm; Kentsfield; LGA775.	32 nm; Sandy Bridge-E.
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.	Exact BX80619I73820 Newegg listing states cooling device not included. Intel gives a case-temperature limit of 66.8°C.