Chips have the capability to run just as fast, if not faster, than their predecessors, all while running cooler and drawing less power. One large benefit that comes with all die shrinks is better power efficiency and lower temperatures. I won’t delve deep into how 45nm improves on 65nm, as I explained all of that in our QX9650 review, but I will touch on things briefly. Instead, the processor we are taking a look at today is one of the few new models that effectively replace the Conroe-based chips that we came to love so dearly in summer of ’06. Besides speed bumps, those processors didn’t bring much to the table in way of new features, except for native 1333FSB support. The following summer, follow-up processors were released, including the E6750 Dual-Core which we evaluated at the time. Indeed, a 2.4GHz Conroe Dual-Core proved just how much better an efficient processor could be, and it quickly became the most common processor choice for the enthusiast. They put the industry through a blender and showed us how to be excited about processors again.Īlthough frequencies with Conroe were not as high as what we were used to seeing from Intel, the folks in Santa Clara proved that a high frequency didn’t mean much if the processor itself was inefficient. When said and done, Intel did accomplish what they planned to do. It was one product-launch that Intel didn’t want to hit lightly, especially since AMD were actively taking from their customer base – on the enthusiast side, most notably. In the summer of 2006, Intel released their 65nm Conroe-based processors, and to say they won the hearts of many would be an understatement.

Intel core 2 quad q9300 driver