Official Conroe information thread

Intel_User · 03-11-2006, 08:26 AM

Since I felt some threads were getting out of topic, I decided I would make a new dedicated thread for Conroe

. Post benchmarks, and/or whatever information it comes out.

*Updated benchmarks*
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...oc.aspx?i=2795
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu...-shootout.html
Benchmark and Overclock of E6300: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu...duo-e6300.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/07/...out_athlon_64/
Top end Core 2 system vs. Top end A64 FX dual core: http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/08/02/thg_tuning_test/
Performance review from Hardwarezone: http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles...?cid=2&id=1980
Thermal and Power review: http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles...?cid=2&id=1984
E6400 and E6700 from Digit-Life: http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/...-2-13-ghz.html
E6600: http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/...duo-e6600.html
X6800: http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/...duo-x6800.html

Architecture overview:
14 stage pipeline
4-wide issue
Single cycle 128-bit SSE execution
Macro Op Fusion
Memory Disambiguation
Improved Prefetchers
Improved L1 and L2 caches in multi-threading environment
Improved power management
Better accuracy for temperature measurements across the platform

Performance overview:
Greater than 20% per clock faster than Athlon 64 FX on the AM2 platform and Intel's own Core Duo
Almost twice as fast per clock compared to Pentium D in general
Excellent scaling of performance in regards to clock speed

-First processor to exceed 3000 in SpecInt2000(X6800)
-Exceeds 3000 in SpecFP2000(X6800)

Some misconceptions based on architecture and its relation to performance:
1. 4-wide issue is the big reason to its performance increase

False. 4-wide issue alone is one of the smallest performance enhancing features. It won't bring more than 2-3% in most applications

2. 4MB L2 cache is the sole reason to Core 2's superiority in performance.

False. If you see the performance difference doubled caches bring for Athlon 64 and Pentium D, they lie in average of 4-5%. Not to mention 512KB to 1MB is different from 2MB to 4MB.

The added architectural features in Core 2 Duo allows it to take greater advantage of its 1066MHz FSB and 4MB L2 cache compared to other CPUs. You can see while Core 2 Duo is only 10% faster per clock than Core Duo when its at same clock speed, Core 2 Duo gains much greater advantage from its increased FSB speeds.

**Gorganzola** · 03-20-2006, 05:56 AM

Thanks for putting this all together. I definitely have my eye on the Conroe and look forward to its release. Hopefully more people will add Conroe specific stuff in here.

*Kage* · 03-20-2006, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intel_User

Summer of this year is gonna be exciting. Finally, where a Celeron version of a chip can perform or beat mainstream AMD.

I agree, it will be a very interesting time.
But all the same...Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Do you think AMD will have been sitting idle all this time, just waiting for Intel to overtake them?

Kimbo · 03-20-2006, 07:50 AM

*****

h20-ski · 03-20-2006, 01:12 PM

Conroe is supposed to arrive in Q3, with the EE topping out at 3.33GHz.
As for the cache, I believe that it will vary between 2MB shared to 4MB shared depending on what model you get, EE or regular. These chips I beleive will run at 1066FSB, with future 975X chipsets supporting Conroe

**Sandog** · 03-22-2006, 01:50 AM

Holy smokes, a 3GHz Yonah is whoopin' the chedder outta a OC 3.3GHz AMD FX-60

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30426

Ouch!!!

If Yonah => Robin
then Conroe => Batman

Any comments on this Intel_User or are you speechless

SteveC52 · 03-22-2006, 08:31 PM

Another speculation gamble for you current i975x board owners:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...1940319,00.asp

**Sandog** · 03-22-2006, 11:39 PM

I liked this read on Conroe.

http://www.realworldtech.com/page.cf...0906143144&p=1

Not sure if it has been posted already.

**Sandog** · 03-22-2006, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC52

Another speculation gamble for you current i975x board owners:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...1940319,00.asp

Quote:
"Core Logic for Conroe

Intel has indicated that Conroe will work in existing 975X motherboards, though a BIOS update will be needed. Intel will also be shipping the 965 Express chipset, which will support up to DDR2/800. Curiously, there are no plans to support DDR2/800 on the 975X. The good news in all this is that Conroe will chew up less power than past Intel desktop CPUs, so there's no need to scale up the voltage regulator section on the board. "

I mentioned it before that if the D965 boards have Intel Advanced Audio and you can get one without the onboard graphics GPU then it would be a great board to get IMO. It wouldn't have the fancy VR heat sinks or be Crossfire capable or have as good an OC potential but that is OK with a lot of folks I bet.

DeusExMachina · 03-23-2006, 12:21 AM

Intel makes the boards for the pros, and pros don't demand Crossfire/SLI rigs. They want serious CRUNCHING power, and multimedia optimization in workstations.

For the HPC it looks like I will have to go Intel for the m/bs (because Tech relative will sell and service them from a partner shop). Topped with some dual cores, and athies are going to have to do more than say, "look at these benchies".

Normally I don't buy the new stuff (prices are inflated), but I may get an early Conroe just because it'll be the same temps as this Northwood. Have stayed away from Prescotts for that reason (I hate heat in computing).

Conroe, DD2/800, Vista Ultimate --- ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.........

DXM

**Sandog** · 03-23-2006, 12:54 AM

Here's a great recipe on the cheap:
D965X**
Conroe E6700 (2.67GHz, 4MB L2, 1066MHz FSB)
Corsair 2GB DDR2/533
NVidia 7900GT

It would definately make you forget about upgrading for a while.

spookyload · 03-23-2006, 12:57 AM

I thought the 945 chipset was going to be conroe ready also. Atleast that is what the gigabyte website claimed when I was shopping for a new MB at christmas.

**Sandog** · 03-23-2006, 01:15 AM

I don't think we will know for sure until the chips come out. Right now it is just taking a BIOS update to get the boards ready. I guess if the board supports 533FSB it should work.

NeoXtremeX · 03-23-2006, 01:57 AM

Anybody have a clue on the pricing of these babies?

DeusExMachina · 03-23-2006, 02:42 AM

Doesn't look like the $1,000 range, since Intel's going to be very competitive with their dual core pricing (guess to make sure folks upgrade for Vista and use DDR2, since so many are hanging on DDR). Can't do that unless one can afford the motherboard/processor/memory.

Might come out of the chute in the $600 range (at least not the extreme models), since they're almost halving the prices on Smithfields and Presslers.

Intel's main meat and potatos come from businesses. And to entice them to upgrade they need an incentive any CFO can understand.

DXM

03-11-2006, 08:26 AM	#1
Intel_User Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Surrey, BC Posts: 445	Official Conroe information thread Since I felt some threads were getting out of topic, I decided I would make a new dedicated thread for Conroe . Post benchmarks, and/or whatever information it comes out. Updated benchmarks http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...oc.aspx?i=2795 http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu...-shootout.html Benchmark and Overclock of E6300: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu...duo-e6300.html http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/07/...out_athlon_64/ Top end Core 2 system vs. Top end A64 FX dual core: http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/08/02/thg_tuning_test/ Performance review from Hardwarezone: http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles...?cid=2&id=1980 Thermal and Power review: http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles...?cid=2&id=1984 E6400 and E6700 from Digit-Life: http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/...-2-13-ghz.html E6600: http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/...duo-e6600.html X6800: http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/...duo-x6800.html Architecture overview: 14 stage pipeline 4-wide issue Single cycle 128-bit SSE execution Macro Op Fusion Memory Disambiguation Improved Prefetchers Improved L1 and L2 caches in multi-threading environment Improved power management Better accuracy for temperature measurements across the platform Performance overview: Greater than 20% per clock faster than Athlon 64 FX on the AM2 platform and Intel's own Core Duo Almost twice as fast per clock compared to Pentium D in general Excellent scaling of performance in regards to clock speed -First processor to exceed 3000 in SpecInt2000(X6800) -Exceeds 3000 in SpecFP2000(X6800) Some misconceptions based on architecture and its relation to performance: 1. 4-wide issue is the big reason to its performance increase False. 4-wide issue alone is one of the smallest performance enhancing features. It won't bring more than 2-3% in most applications 2. 4MB L2 cache is the sole reason to Core 2's superiority in performance. False. If you see the performance difference doubled caches bring for Athlon 64 and Pentium D, they lie in average of 4-5%. Not to mention 512KB to 1MB is different from 2MB to 4MB. The added architectural features in Core 2 Duo allows it to take greater advantage of its 1066MHz FSB and 4MB L2 cache compared to other CPUs. You can see while Core 2 Duo is only 10% faster per clock than Core Duo when its at same clock speed, Core 2 Duo gains much greater advantage from its increased FSB speeds. Last edited by Intel_User : 08-18-2006 at 12:11 AM.
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03-20-2006, 05:56 AM	#2
Gorganzola ABXZone > Facebook Join Date: May 2001 Location: Hangin' with the fruits Posts: 9,397	Thanks for putting this all together. I definitely have my eye on the Conroe and look forward to its release. Hopefully more people will add Conroe specific stuff in here. __________________ TTFN. I wasn't asleep at the switch, I was drunk. -- Homer J. Simpson Q. How many dull people does it take to change a lightbulb? A. One. A very useful tool on these forums: You can Meebo in public.
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03-20-2006, 07:50 AM	#4
Kimbo Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Perth, W.A. Posts: 613	***** __________________ § Pimp of Mario's World. Hater of society. § Last edited by Kimbo : 05-07-2006 at 02:55 PM.
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03-20-2006, 01:12 PM	#5
h20-ski Forget Wakeboarding Join Date: May 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 2,460	Conroe is supposed to arrive in Q3, with the EE topping out at 3.33GHz. As for the cache, I believe that it will vary between 2MB shared to 4MB shared depending on what model you get, EE or regular. These chips I beleive will run at 1066FSB, with future 975X chipsets supporting Conroe __________________
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03-22-2006, 01:50 AM	#6
Sandog DP45SG/Q9650 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 6,199	Holy smokes, a 3GHz Yonah is whoopin' the chedder outta a OC 3.3GHz AMD FX-60 http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30426 Ouch!!! If Yonah => Robin then Conroe => Batman Any comments on this Intel_User or are you speechless __________________
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03-22-2006, 08:31 PM	#7
SteveC52 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: B.C. Posts: 18	Another speculation gamble for you current i975x board owners: http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...1940319,00.asp __________________ GA-8KNXP-1.0 2.4GHz FSB800 F-2-9-D1-Malay ATI Radeon 9800Pro Audigy2 LG-GSA4165B Pioneer SCSI 305 DVD-ROM Hitachi 7K250 PATA 120GB x2
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03-22-2006, 11:39 PM	#8
Sandog DP45SG/Q9650 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 6,199	I liked this read on Conroe. http://www.realworldtech.com/page.cf...0906143144&p=1 Not sure if it has been posted already. __________________
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03-23-2006, 12:21 AM	#10
DeusExMachina ABX Folder Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Empire State Posts: 477	Intel makes the boards for the pros, and pros don't demand Crossfire/SLI rigs. They want serious CRUNCHING power, and multimedia optimization in workstations. For the HPC it looks like I will have to go Intel for the m/bs (because Tech relative will sell and service them from a partner shop). Topped with some dual cores, and athies are going to have to do more than say, "look at these benchies". Normally I don't buy the new stuff (prices are inflated), but I may get an early Conroe just because it'll be the same temps as this Northwood. Have stayed away from Prescotts for that reason (I hate heat in computing). Conroe, DD2/800, Vista Ultimate --- ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......... DXM Last edited by Sandog : 03-23-2006 at 12:52 AM.
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03-23-2006, 12:54 AM	#11
Sandog DP45SG/Q9650 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 6,199	Here's a great recipe on the cheap: D965X** Conroe E6700 (2.67GHz, 4MB L2, 1066MHz FSB) Corsair 2GB DDR2/533 NVidia 7900GT It would definately make you forget about upgrading for a while. __________________
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03-23-2006, 12:57 AM	#12
spookyload IN-n-Out Expert Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Probably stuck in Iraq! Posts: 2,919	I thought the 945 chipset was going to be conroe ready also. Atleast that is what the gigabyte website claimed when I was shopping for a new MB at christmas.
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03-23-2006, 01:15 AM	#13
Sandog DP45SG/Q9650 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 6,199	I don't think we will know for sure until the chips come out. Right now it is just taking a BIOS update to get the boards ready. I guess if the board supports 533FSB it should work. __________________
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03-23-2006, 01:57 AM	#14
NeoXtremeX The_Ace Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Santo Domingo Posts: 956	Anybody have a clue on the pricing of these babies? __________________ So near...and yet..so far....
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03-23-2006, 02:42 AM	#15
DeusExMachina ABX Folder Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Empire State Posts: 477	Doesn't look like the $1,000 range, since Intel's going to be very competitive with their dual core pricing (guess to make sure folks upgrade for Vista and use DDR2, since so many are hanging on DDR). Can't do that unless one can afford the motherboard/processor/memory. Might come out of the chute in the $600 range (at least not the extreme models), since they're almost halving the prices on Smithfields and Presslers. Intel's main meat and potatos come from businesses. And to entice them to upgrade they need an incentive any CFO can understand. DXM
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