Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700

The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 is a desktop processor released on 2006-10-31, built on Intel's 65 nm Kentsfield architecture. It packs 4 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 2.67 GHz, backed by 582 million transistors spread across a dual-die design (2x 143 mm²). The chip carries an 8 MB shared L2 cache and a 64 KB L1 per core, and it holds a launch MSRP of $999. Benchmark data places it at the 50th percentile among all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 0 serving as the reference baseline.

How It Compares

The QX6700 sits at the 50th percentile of all CPUs tracked in the database. This median placement means half of all recorded processors outperform it and half fall behind. For a 2006-era quad-core part, that positioning reflects a design that was competitive at launch but has since been overtaken by generational advances.

The average benchmark score of 0 is notable — it functions as the calibration point for the database's scoring scale. Every other CPU's score is measured relative to this baseline, which makes the QX6700 the anchor of the comparison framework rather than a participant with a meaningful absolute score.

Because no nearest rivals are listed in the data, the comparison must be drawn against the broader distribution. The 50th percentile placement suggests balanced performance — neither a flagship nor an entry-level part. The 4-core, 4-thread configuration with a 2.67 GHz clock and 8 MB of shared L2 cache positions it as a capable multi-threaded processor for its generation.

The absence of a boost clock is telling. Modern CPUs rely on dynamic frequency scaling to burst past their base clocks, but the QX6700 operates at a fixed 2.67 GHz. This makes its performance predictable and consistent, but it also means there is no headroom beyond the rated clock without manual tuning — which the unlocked multiplier does permit.

Power and Thermals

The QX6700 carries a 130W TDP, which places it in the high-power class of desktop processors. This figure is a direct consequence of the 65 nm manufacturing process and the dual-die layout: two 143 mm² dies, totaling 582 million transistors, all operating at a fixed 2.67 GHz.

The thermal implications are significant. A 130W TDP demands a robust cooling solution — a capable air cooler with a large heatsink and a high-static-pressure fan is the minimum for sustained operation. Enthusiasts seeking quieter operation would need to consider higher-end cooling options, though the data does not specify any particular cooler model.

The dual-die design has thermal consequences beyond raw wattage. With two separate dies on the package, heat generation is distributed across a larger physical area, which can complicate heat dissipation compared to a monolithic die. The 65 nm process node, while advanced for its time, produces more heat per transistor than later processes.

The 130W TDP also has implications for motherboard selection. Socket 775 boards must have adequate power delivery circuitry to feed the processor's demands, and the chipset must be rated for the QX6700's power draw. The data does not specify board requirements, but the TDP figure alone signals that this is not a drop-in upgrade for every Socket 775 motherboard.

Who Should Consider It

The QX6700 is an end-of-life product, so the primary audience is retro computing enthusiasts, collectors, or users maintaining legacy systems. Its 50th percentile standing means it delivers mid-pack performance in the database's current landscape.

For gaming workloads, the 4-core, 4-thread configuration at 2.67 GHz provides adequate single-thread performance for older titles, though modern games that favor higher clock speeds and newer architectures would see the QX6700 fall behind. The 8 MB shared L2 cache helps with data-heavy workloads, but the lack of a boost clock caps peak performance.

For content creation, the 4 physical cores are genuinely useful. Multi-threaded rendering, video encoding, and batch processing tasks can utilize all four cores simultaneously, and the 8 MB L2 cache reduces memory latency for working sets that fit within it. The 130W TDP means a serious cooling setup is required for prolonged all-core workloads.

For office productivity, the QX6700 is overkill in core count but limited in clock speed. Spreadsheets, document editing, and web browsing are largely single-threaded and benefit from higher clocks rather than more cores. The 2.67 GHz base clock is modest by modern standards, so office tasks would feel sluggish compared to contemporary processors. The dual-channel memory support for DDR1, DDR2, or DDR3 gives some flexibility for system builders, but the end-of-life status limits new builds.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 support ECC memory?

A: No. The ECC memory field is false, so the processor does not support error-correcting code memory.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: Yes. The multiplier is unlocked, allowing users to adjust the clock multiplier for tuning purposes.

Q: What socket does the QX6700 use?

A: It uses the Intel Socket 775 interface.

Q: What memory types are supported?

A: The processor supports DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Does the QX6700 have integrated graphics?

A: Integrated graphics are available on certain motherboards as a chipset feature, not as part of the processor itself.

Q: What is the part number?

A: The part number is SL9UL.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data for the QX6700 is unusual: the average benchmark score is 0, and the percentile rank is 50. A score of 0 in this database context indicates that the QX6700 serves as the reference baseline — the point from which all other scores deviate. This is not a measure of performance quality but a calibration artifact.

The 50th percentile placement is more informative. It tells us that the QX6700 outperforms exactly half of the CPUs in the database and is outperformed by the other half. For a processor released in 2006, this median position reflects a design that was strong at launch but has been surpassed by the march of generations.

The performance profile is shaped by the interaction of several specifications. The 2.67 GHz base clock, with no boost capability, sets a fixed frequency ceiling. The 4 cores and 4 threads provide parallel execution capacity that single-threaded benchmarks cannot exploit. The 8 MB shared L2 cache is generous for the era and helps workloads that exhibit data locality.

Because no nearest rivals are listed in the dataset, exact percentage deltas against specific competitors cannot be computed. The comparative picture is therefore drawn from the percentile rank: the QX6700 is a median performer, and its real-world behavior will vary by workload type — strong in multi-threaded tasks that use all 4 cores, weaker in single-threaded tasks that are clock-bound.

Platform and Compatibility

The QX6700 is built for the Intel Socket 775 platform, a socket that saw extensive use across Intel's Core 2 generation. The processor is part of the Core 2 architecture family under the Kentsfield codename, and it belongs to the Core 2 Extreme (Kentsfield XE) generation.

Memory support is unusually broad for a processor of its era: DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 are all listed as compatible, running in a dual-channel configuration. This flexibility allows system builders to reuse existing memory from different generations, though the dual-channel bus width means memory bandwidth is shared across the two channels.

PCIe Gen 2 is supported, which provides the interface for discrete graphics cards and other expansion cards. The absence of ECC memory support means this is not a workstation or server part — it is squarely aimed at the desktop market segment.

Integrated graphics are not built into the processor itself. The data notes that graphics are available "on certain motherboards" as a chipset feature, meaning the QX6700 relies on a discrete GPU for display output. The unlocked multiplier provides tuning headroom, and the part number is SL9UL.

The production status is end-of-life, which means the upgrade path is effectively closed for new purchases. Users on this platform would need to stay with the QX6700 or move to a different socket and platform entirely. The 65 nm process node, while advanced at launch, has been superseded by multiple process generations.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The QX6700's execution profile is defined by its 4 cores and 4 threads — there is no simultaneous multithreading, so each core handles exactly one thread. This means the processor can execute four threads concurrently, but no more. The 2.67 GHz base clock applies to all cores equally, and there is no boost clock to elevate single-core frequency under light load.

For single-threaded workloads, the QX6700 relies entirely on its 2.67 GHz clock speed and the 8 MB shared L2 cache. The L2 cache is particularly important here: a large shared cache can hold frequently accessed data, reducing the number of memory round-trips and improving effective single-thread performance. However, the fixed clock speed means there is no dynamic frequency headroom — single-thread performance is exactly what the 2.67 GHz rating delivers.

Multi-threaded workloads tell a different story. With 4 physical cores, the QX6700 can sustain parallel execution across four threads simultaneously. The 8 MB shared L2 cache is a benefit here as well, because threads running on different cores can share cached data without duplicating it. The 130W TDP reflects the power draw when all four cores are active at full clock speed.

The absence of a boost clock is the defining characteristic of this split. Modern processors raise their clock speed when only one or two cores are active, which boosts single-thread performance. The QX6700 cannot do this — its frequency is fixed. As a result, the gap between single-thread and multi-thread performance is determined solely by the number of cores and the efficiency of the cache hierarchy.

For real workloads, this means the QX6700 is best suited to applications that can use all 4 cores: video encoding, 3D rendering, scientific computing, and other parallel tasks. Single-threaded applications, such as older games or lightly threaded productivity tools, will not benefit from the extra cores and will run at the mercy of the 2.67 GHz clock.