Review: Core 2 Quad G0-stepping overclocking - Q6700 retail. How high will it go?

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The G0 stepping was massively hyped before launch but this was based on the strong overclocking performance of engineering samples that had found their way out on to the web.

Our testing of this retail Core 2 Quad Q6700 product suggests that, while the G0 stepping does improve overclocking headroom, it doesn't offer the quantum leap some people were hoping for.

While the Core 2 Quad Q6700 Kentsfield CPU can achieve higher speeds at lower voltages than a typical B3-stepping Q6600, it is still a hot-running processor and the majority of users will find that makes it thermally-limited.

Of course, what we're reporting is just the experience of one system and one CPU. It is entirely possible that this is an unrepresentative chip and that others will go further and faster. But that's precisely the gamble you take when you pin your hopes on overclocking.

There are also some fantastic B3-stepping chips out there, which just goes to show that a lot of what you get can be simply down to luck.

While we chose to look at the more expensive Q6700, most people will want to go for the 2.4GHz Core 2 Quad Q6600 - which comes in at half the price. At the time of writing, however, these are not readily available in the UK in G0 form, with stock of the older B3 stepping still shipping.

So sitting here, four cores chugging away at 3.4GHz - encoding a DVD as he works, with temperatures within sensible ranges and a quiet cooling solution - does your author find feel himself short changed?

Absolutely not. This is still a fantastically-fast processor - and that take is unlikely to change until Yorkfield and Agena turn up to convince me otherwise.

HEXUS Awards

The Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 receives the HEXUS Extreme Speed award for its strong overclocking potential. But the Q6600, even in B3 form, is a better choice when considering value for money.

HEXUS Where2Buy

The Core 2 Quad Q6700 is available from Scan, priced £334.04 inc VAT at the time of writing.

Those looking for G0-stepping Core 2 Quad Q6600 chips may have a struggle at present, though, as stock of B3-stepping chips is still clearing.

HEXUS Right2Reply

At HEXUS.net, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any of Intel's representatives choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.

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