Value

Value is tough to ascertain on a pre-release CPU, but given the Intel 1KU pricing for the official release date of July 23 2006, we can certainly make some comparisons against the existing crop of AMD and Intel processors. Intel 1KU prices have historically been close to what online retail prices are set at, discounting any short-term bumps due to initial demand. Intel will sell the 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo E6700 at $530, while the 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo E6600 is set at only $316. Both of these offer exceptional value for the price, especially as these can both outperform the Athlon 64 FX-62 and the top-rated Pentium EE models. It really is amazing that a $300+ processor is faster than anything you can buy today, but that's exactly what Intel has done.

The Core 2 Extreme X6800 will have a retail price of over $1,000, due to the Intel 1KU price of $999. This makes it a tougher buy, as although this processor offers the top desktop performance, its only real advantages over the standard Core 2 Duo are the higher clock speed and an unlocked multiplier. For the more entry-level crowd, Intel is also releasing a set of Core 2 Duo E6400 (2.13 GHz) and E6300 (1.86 GHz) processors, both of which have 2MB of L2 rather than the 4MB of their high-performance cousins. We have not had a chance to test the performance of the Core 2 Duo E6400 and E6300, but at 1KU prices of $224 and $183, respectively, these have piqued our interest.

* Please note that these prices were taken at the time of review and are not meant to reflect long-term trends.

Conclusion

The launch of the Core 2 processor line has hit the market with a bang, and offers up an incredible combination of performance and value, coupled with low heat and power specifications. These processors are so good, that it's difficult to highlight any real negatives. The Core 2 Extreme and Duo processors offer record-breaking performance, industry leading power specs, and are priced so that virtually anyone can afford one. It has been a long time since we have seen a processor walk over the competition like this, and we should all thank AMD for bringing out the very best from Intel, as well as proving that competition does indeed work.

Core 2 Duo E6700 Ratings

Pros:

• Exceptional Performance
• Low Power Consumption
• Price-Performance Leader
• Compatible with Some Current LGA775 Platforms

Cons:

• LGA775 Heatsink-fan Design

Ratings:

Core 2 Extreme X6800 Ratings

Pros:

• Fastest Desktop Processor
• Low Power Consumption
• Compatible with Some Current LGA775 Platforms

Cons:

• Expensive
• No HT or Other "Extreme" Extras
• LGA775 Heatsink-fan Design

Ratings: