Customer Reviews

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 1066MHz 8MB L2 Cache Socket LGA775 HH80562PH0568M

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My Dell Dimension came with an Intel® Core2 Duo Processor E6420 with 4M Cache, running at 2.13 GHz with a 1066 MHz FSB (a 65 nm Conroe chip). According to Dell and various chat rooms, I could upgrade this processor on the stock Dell motherboard and current bios up to a Core2 Quad Q6700 processor. What I found that I could easily afford was the Intel® Core2 Quad Processor Q6600 with 8M Cache, running at 2.40 GHz, with a 1066 MHz FSB (a 65 nm Kentsfield chip).

These links are to the Intel product pages for each chip.
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With my Core2 Duo E6420, my overall PassMark rating (score) averaged 922 over three runs. After the swap for the Quad 6600, my rating averaged 1235 over three runs. Very good improvement! However, my CPU test speed more than doubled after the swap, and my sub-scores dramatically improved for RAM, HD access, and 2D and 3D video scores. Only my CD-ROM test scores did not improve.

My Windows Experience Index for my processor and RAM were both at 5.4 with the Duo. With the Quad, both scores jumped up to 7.1!

Note - I have Win 7 Home Premium on this computer, with 4 GB DDR2 PC2-6400 RAM (Kingston HyperX), and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 video card.

So far, I'm very happy with the Quad 6600, and I expect it to "future proof" my computer for a couple more years.

For that kind of money, you can buy a chip that is twice as fast (Intel or AMD) and a new motherboard with support for SATA III hd and USB 3.0. I'm sorry, but that is just way too much for a two (3?) generations old processor.