Face to Face of entry level dual core processors,AMD X2 4200+ V.S. Intel C2D E6300

[windwithme]

The evolution of dual core cell in second half 2006, the product line already
into stable situation, both Intel/AMD all have dual core series product line in
the market.
There will be more Quad Core processor products and exposures in 2007.


Let’s take a look on exist dual core processors,
The newest Intel processor Core 2 Duo, entry product is C2D E6300 with in
184USD.
The same price segment product


This time we test 2 processors due to same price segment compare when in
default clock.
Why not overclock to test?
Cause there already had lots of overclock review over the world, Intel Core 2
series limited up to 3.6~4GHz, AM2 is about 3GHz, no matter overclock or
not, Intel Core 2 series got better performance, besides, normal users will not
overclock especially for SI or business use.
So I use default frequency to test their basic performance to fulfill the normal
usage information with same price.


Here they are!
Right side: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
Left side: AMD Athlon64 4200+ X2




The motherboards:
Intel
MSI P965 Platinum




AMD
DFI INFINITY NF 570 SLI-M2/G




Test DDR
CORSAIR Dominator TWIN2X2048-8888C4DF
Although this is PC8888 with DDR2 1111MHz speed, but as long as we run on
DDR2 800 with same CL timing, that will not be an issue.




Test VGA
MSI NX7900GT-VT2D256EZ
I planed to use 7900GS or 8800GTX before, but 7900GT will be a suitable
level for this competition within mainstream segment.




The testing platform setup
Intel
CPU:Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
MB: MSI P965 Platinum
DRAM:CORSAIR Dominator TWIN2X2048-8888C4DF
VGA:MSI NX7900GT-VT2D256EZ
HD:Seagate 7200.7 80GB
POWER:Corsair HX620W Modular Power Supply
Cooler:Tower112




AMD
CPU:AMD Athlon64 X2 4200+
MB: DFI INFINITY NF 570 SLI-M2/G
DRAM:CORSAIR Dominator TWIN2X2048-8888C4DF
VGA:MSI NX7900GT-VT2D256EZ
HD:Seagate 7200.5 120GB
POWER:Corsair HX620W Modular Power Supply
Cooler:Tower112

[Okda]

waiting for more results

will u test them @ stock or overclocked or both ?

[windwithme]

Processor info
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300:266X7=>1866Mhz
AMD Athlon64 X2 4200+:201X11=>2210Mhz

Memory info
BIOS did run with same set up on DDR2 800 CL=3-3-3-9, AM2 got some issue
with the DDR frequency multiple, so the real frequency is DDR2 737 CL3-3-3-9, 1T.

Besides motherboards with different chipset, other conditional is all the same.

The most popular testing software: Super PI and CPU Mark.

Intel



AMD



PCMARK2005

Intel



AMD



3DMARK2006
3D performance and CPU score

Intel



AMD



CINEBENCH 9.5

Intel



AMD



CrystalMark

Intel



AMD

[afireinside]

waiting for more results

will u test them @ stock or overclocked or both ?

Why not overclock to test?
Cause there already had lots of overclock review over the world, Intel Core 2
series limited up to 3.6~4GHz, AM2 is about 3GHz, no matter overclock or
not, Intel Core 2 series got better performance, besides, normal users will not
overclock especially for SI or business use.
So I use default frequency to test their basic performance to fulfill the normal
usage information with same price.

Interesting results, I figured AMD would win just because of the massive clock differences, but it seems I'm wrong. Do you think you could try some audio/video encoding, rendering, photoshop, and winrar?

[Okda]

ya sorry for that

also some game benchmarks liek Fear or FarCry @ medium settings

[windwithme]

EVEREST performance test

Memory read test

Intel



AMD



Memory write test

Intel



AMD



Memory data copy

Intel



AMD




Intel



AMD




Due to the AM2 platform DDR2 multiple limited, DDR2 only run on 737MHz
But in EVEREST test, AM2 got better performance then Intel platform with DDR2 800.

CPU Queen

Intel



AMD



CPU PhotoWorxx

Intel



AMD



CPU ZLib

Intel



AMD



CPU test, AM2 got better score with higher frequency.
We use nForce 570 SLI motherboard, CPUZ also showed the nForce 570 SLI.
I wonder why AM2 platform showed the nForce4 SLI ?!


FPU Julia

Intel



AMD



FPU Mandel

Intel



AMD



FPU SinJulia

Intel



AMD



On the FPU test, Intel did clear leading position in first 3 of the test.
In the last FPU Julia test, AM2 get back some score.


In the final:
I used some of the popular testing program to have the numbers,
Beside AM2 take the lead on EVEREST and Intel got better performance with
SuperPI, their performance were equally the same with balanced test result
with other software.


In my opinion, AM2 can not beat Intel on SuperPI with big range result, in the
other test, AM2 could catch up Intel Core 2 Duo series with 350MHz~450
MHz higher, that’s also the frequency difference between AM2 4200+ X2 2.2G
and E6300 1.86G.


About the temperature,
65nm Core 2 Duo is almost the same temp. with 90nm AM2 procesors
between 2~4 degree.
This time we got 65W version on AMD 4200+ X2, the code is ADO means 65
W, Intel Core 2 Duo is also 65W refer to the formal information.
So they are both the same quality on temperature and watts.


Some performance user would like to focus on overclock performance, Intel
Core 2 series could have the chance up to 3.6~4GHz, but AM2 just only over
3GHz so far, so lead in 65nm procedure and reduce the watts will be the first
priority on AMD side.


But for normal DIY computer or local brand PC user,
These 2 different dual core platform got almost same performance,
consumers should consider more on motherboard,
memory and other components combination to consider!



I would like to have an entry level dual core platform test all the time, this
test review did a little bit late for readers, compare the performance with
same price segment CPUs.
Most of the dual core products will become vendor’s main benefit income, the
only thing we have to consider is cost and performance and what we need to
work on for a PC, we don’t need to focus on I or A brand with emotional
discuss, just need to take a look on test result and get what you really need
on the market!

[chema]

lots of thanks.
very nice comparisson.
i wanted to go from a x2 3800+ to an E6300,, but know i´m doubting about it.

[Charloz24]

Very nice review WWM.

Nevertheless, I don't see the point comparing those 2 processors here in XS if there is no overclock at all. Who here run a E6300 @ 1862 mhz! Even running @ 3000 mhz is no sweat....

[Sorrow13]

Nice review. I wasnt expecting such a large gap in 3dmark between the two.

[Okda]

Nice review. I wasnt expecting such a large gap in 3dmark between the two.

large

[erwinz]

very nice and in depth review..

we should have more of these reviews so that we will not be use by the marketing of manufacturers..

[m0da]

**Right side: AMD Athlon64 4200+ X2
Left side: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300

in-depth review, i like

[nn_step]

good review, though I wonder if it would be too much to ask for a couple games to be tested?

[Kunaak]

you seem to be using 1T for the AMD set up, and a 965 board for the Intel set up which is a 2T board, and has no options for 1T.

so the results arent exactly even, considering the AMD board has faster ram.

AMD in theoretical benchmarks tends to get big boosts from the 1T setting, so that makes the majority of the ram based testing kinda screwed up.

[chema]

you seem to be using 1T for the AMD set up, and a 965 board for the Intel set up which is a 2T board, and has no options for 1T.

so the results arent exactly even, considering the AMD board has faster ram.

AMD in theoretical benchmarks tends to get big boosts from the 1T setting, so that makes the majority of the ram based testing kinda screwed up.

but am2 setup is running at DDR2 737, so i think it´s even, as intel is runnig at 800

[nn_step]

you seem to be using 1T for the AMD set up, and a 965 board for the Intel set up which is a 2T board, and has no options for 1T.

so the results arent exactly even, considering the AMD board has faster ram.

AMD in theoretical benchmarks tends to get big boosts from the 1T setting, so that makes the majority of the ram based testing kinda screwed up.

well he can still drop AMD to T2 but it still is gonna kick ass on memory bandwidth and latency

[[cTx]Philosophy]

Very good review of the two setups..

I would have also liked to have seen a few games FPS VS' in there as well.