[SOLVED] Core 2 Duo vs Core 2 Extreme

AARRGGHHH

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What are the difference in a Core 2 Duo vs a Core 2 Extreme of the same clock speed?

I would be using this for 3D animation rendering on an old program that does not use GPU rendering. What speed increases does the Core 2 Extreme provide vs a standard Core 2 Duo?

Thank you
 
Solution
I'm confused on this issue because I'm trying to upgrade an old Mac, I've only upgraded CPUs on PCs.
It's a 2007 iMac 7,1.

Will I be able to access the Extreme chip's overclocking options on an old iMac?
It would've been. at the very least, considerate of you to disclose that bit of necessary information in your initial post, so Forum Members are not misled into the false assumption that your Thread concerns desktop processors, which results in time wasted on needlessly researching useless information for you. For future reference, please, always provide full system specs and all other pertinent information in your initial post.

But to answer your question, no. Due to the proprietary nature of Apple's products, you can...
What are the difference in a Core 2 Duo vs a Core 2 Extreme of the same clock speed?

I would be using this for 3D animation rendering on an old program that does not use GPU rendering. What speed increases does the Core 2 Extreme provide vs a standard Core 2 Duo?

Thank you
The Core 2 Extreme is superior, not only does it have 4 cores but also 4 threads (double of the Core2Duo), so in pretty much any scenario you'll be getting a faster experience using the core 2 extreme (how much this is will depend on what model you get but around 40-50% faster is usually the norm)
 
AARRGGHHH,

Core 2 Extreme Processors have an unlocked multiplier for easy overclocking, rather than having to overclock by increasing Front Side Bus (FSB) speed.

Here's a summary of Core 2 Duo and Quad processors including Extreme variants of original 1st Generation 65 nanometers and final 2nd Generation 45 nanometers:

---------------------------------------------------------------

65 nm Core 2 Extreme - Dual Core - 75 Watts TDP
X6800 @ 2.93 GHz - 1066 FSB - 4 MB Cache

65 nm Core 2 Duo - Dual Core - 65 Watts TDP
E6850 @ 3.00 GHz - 1333 FSB - 4 MB Cache
E6750 @ 2.93 GHz - 1333 FSB - 4 MB Cache
E6700 @ 2.66 GHz - 1066 FSB - 4 MB Cache
E6600 @ 2.40 GHz - 1066 FSB - 4 MB Cache
E6550 @ 2.33 GHz - 1333 FSB - 4 MB Cache

Slower E6xxx variants are 1066 FSB with 4 or 2 MB Cache.
E4xxx variants are 800 MHz FSB with 2 MB Cache.

65 nm Core 2 Extreme - Quad Core - 130 Watts TDP
QX 6850 @ 3.00 GHz - 1333 FSB - 8 MB Cache
QX6800 @ 2.93 GHz - 1066 FSB - 8 MB Cache
QX6700 @ 2.66 GHz - 1066 FSB - 8 MB Cache

65 nm Core 2 - Quad Core
Q6700 @ 2.66 GHz - 1066 FSB - 8 MB Cache - G0 Stepping 95 Watts TDP
Q6600 @ 2.40 GHz - 1066 FSB - 8 MB Cache - G0 Stepping 95 Watts TDP
Q6600 @ 2.40 GHz - 1066 FSB - 8 MB Cache - B3 Stepping 105 Watts TDP

----------------------------------------------------------

45 nm Core 2 Duo - Dual Core - 65 Watts TDP
E8600 @ 3.33 GHz - 1333 FSB - 6 MB Cache
E8500 @ 3.16 GHz - 1333 FSB - 6 MB Cache
E8400 @ 3.00 GHz - 1333 FSB - 6 MB Cache
E8300 @ 2.83 GHz - 1333 FSB - 6 MB Cache
E8200 @ 2.66 GHz - 1333 FSB - 6 MB Cache
E8190 @ 2.53 GHz - 1333 FSB - 6 MB Cache

E7xxx variants are 1066 FSB with 3 MB Cache.

45 nm Core 2 Extreme - Quad Core
QX9775 @ 3.20 GHz - 1600 FSB - 12 MB Cache - 150 Watts TDP
QX9770 @ 3.20 GHz - 1600 FSB - 12 MB Cache - 136 Watts TDP
QX9650 @ 3.00 GHz - 1333 FSB - 12 MB Cache - 130 Watts TDP

45 nm Core 2 - Quad Core - 95 Watts TDP
Q9650 @ 3.00 GHz - 1333 FSB - 12 MB Cache
Q9550 @ 2.83 GHz - 1333 FSB - 12 MB Cache
Q9450 @ 2.66 GHz - 1333 FSB - 12 MB Cache

Q9x0x variants are 6 MB Cache.
"S" variants are 65 Watts TDP.

Q8xxx variants are 4 MB Cache.
"S" variants are 65 Watts TDP.

--------------------------------------

Arguably, the last and best non-Extreme Quad Core processor for socket 775 is the Q9650, which can overclock to 4.2 GHz.

Aslo, unlike Core i processors, Core 2 processors do not have Hyper-Threading.

Refer to Intel's Processor Specifications website for Legacy Processors.

CT :sol:
 
What are the difference in a Core 2 Duo vs a Core 2 Extreme of the same clock speed?

I would be using this for 3D animation rendering on an old program that does not use GPU rendering. What speed increases does the Core 2 Extreme provide vs a standard Core 2 Duo?

Thank you
Probably not much. As you see the specs of both can be identical:
https://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/240/Intel_Core_2_Extreme_QX6700_vs_Intel_Core_2_Quad_Q6700.html

Now, the advantage of a higher clock speed, even if not an extreme does improve performance:
https://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/50/Intel_Core_2_Duo_E8600_vs_Intel_Core_2_Extreme_X6800.html

I used the e8600 as upgrades in some of my older systems and they feel on par with the i3-540:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compar...Core2-Duo-E8600-vs-Intel-i3-540/933vs957vs738
 
I appreciate the replies!

I'm confused on this issue because I'm trying to upgrade an old Mac, I've only upgraded CPUs on PCs.
It's a 2007 iMac 7,1.

Will I be able to access the Extreme chip's overclocking options on an old iMac?

Thank you
 
Last edited:
I'm confused on this issue because I'm trying to upgrade an old Mac, I've only upgraded CPUs on PCs.
It's a 2007 iMac 7,1.

Will I be able to access the Extreme chip's overclocking options on an old iMac?
It would've been. at the very least, considerate of you to disclose that bit of necessary information in your initial post, so Forum Members are not misled into the false assumption that your Thread concerns desktop processors, which results in time wasted on needlessly researching useless information for you. For future reference, please, always provide full system specs and all other pertinent information in your initial post.

But to answer your question, no. Due to the proprietary nature of Apple's products, you can only overclock if you build a desktop "Hackintosh".

Your iMac 7.1, requires a MOBILE variant of Core 2 Duo processors, which unlike the Extreme (X) processors, have a "T" designation:

Core 2 Duo T9900 vs Core 2 Extreme X9100

T9100 @ 3.06 GHz - 35 Watts TDP
X9100 @ 3.06 GHz - 44 Watts TDP

Although performance is identical, the T9900 will run cooler than the X9100. However, due to compatibility issues, the X9100 or the T9900 may not work, so your fastest CPU upgrade choice may be the 2.6 GHz T9500. A Google search reveals:

CPU Upgrades 2007 iMacs

CT :sol:
 
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Solution
Intel did not produce any Core 2 Extreme 45 nm Dual Core processors.
Intel produced a couple of mobile Core 2 Duo Extreme processors. The X9000 and X9100. They might be useful for comparison purposes.

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...ssor-x9000-6m-cache-2-80-ghz-800-mhz-fsb.html

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...sor-x9100-6m-cache-3-06-ghz-1066-mhz-fsb.html

same clock speed?
If two CPUs running at the same speed and built on the same technology are compared, there should be no significant difference in performance. The only advantage of the Extreme was the unlocked multiplier. If you install an Extreme processor in a computer that does not support an unlocked processor, at best, it will run at default speed. There will be no way to take advantage of the unlocked multiplier. It might not even boot up.

If you install an Extreme processor in a Windows PC and it boots up, you should be able to use ThrottleStop to overclock it.
 
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