Once again Intel has launched another processorseries and unfortunately it’s not their dual-core models that we are looking at, but that doesn’t necesserily mean that the new 600-series is a temp solution on Intel’s singel-core line.
Unfortunately it seems that 600-serien is exactly that, if we are to believe the reviews released this weekend.
The 600-series introduces double L2-cache (2MB vs. 1MB on the 500-series), 64-bit support (EMT64), NX bit protection and an optimized power consumption.
Those are some really nice changes, but they don’t seem to add much to the Prescott-platform. According to Intel the optimizations made on the 600-series are equal to a 200MHz increase since the 600-series costs quite a bit more than the 500-series at the same frequency.
Unfortunately it’s rather common that the increased L2 cache doesn’t add much in performance thus the extra money used to pay for the extended L2-cache could just as good be spent on something else.
The 600-series doesn’t seem to be a complete failure though as the support for 64-bit is quite interesting as the launch of Microsoft’s launch of Windows XP 64-bit Edition is getting closer (?).
But as of today the 600-series doesn’t offer much for the regular consumer, something Anandtech’s made very clear:
“With dual core coming this year, performance where it is, and street prices showing up higher than we would like to see them, we have trouble recommending the Pentium 4 600 series to anyone who doesn’t need it.”
Below you can find a range of reviews of the new 600-series.
:: Anandtech :: The Tech Report :: Hot Hardware :: K-Hardware :: xbitlabs.com :: Hardcoreware.net :: TweakTown :: Viper Lair ::
