Introducing 45nm Yorkfield Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400
Introduction
A little over two years ago, Intel built their first well-known multitasking beast, the Q6600, which was built on 65nm architecture and had a computing power of 2.4Ghz. Then about a year later another powerful Quad-Core chip hit the shelves, the QX9650, which revolutionized the computing power of today’s computers. This chip was built on the new 45nm architecture, which meant that there was less power consumption, and of course less heat produced. There was only one problem. The QX9650 were more expensive than a night in the Bellagio. These masterfully engineered processors hit the ground running with an average selling price of over $1000. While the chip provided ultimate performance, reliability and low heat and power consumption, customers wanted something that had a reasonable price tag, so the QX9650 was too unaffordable. This is where the new Q9XXX series processors came in.
The CPU under the microscope today is the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 processor, the little brother of the Q9450. The new Core 2 Quad Q9400 processor runs on 45nm architecture with a stunning 1333FSB and 6MB of L2 Cache. Its bigger counterpart, the Q9450 has a total of 12MB L2 Cache. The Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 has an 8MB L2 Cache and a 1066FSB. This review will take a very close look at how well the Q9400 will compare to the Q6600 and the AMD Phenom X4 9350e processor. The review will also examine the effects of overclocking these CPUs to the limit, including power consumption and heat dissipation.
We would like to thank Intel for their generosity in providing us with an engineering sample Core 2 Quad Q9400.
About Intel
Intel pushes the boundaries of innovation so our work can make people's lives more exciting, fulfilling, and manageable. And our work never stops. We never stop looking for the next leap ahead—in technology, education, culture, manufacturing, and social responsibility. And we never stop striving to deliver solutions with greater benefits for everyone.
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Introducing Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400
