Folding@Home benchmarked on quad core

Joe42 · 2 Nov 2006 at 15:51

Many websites have a review of the new Core 2 Extreme QX6700, but the Tech Report has taken this opportunity to introduce a folding benchmark to their benchmark suite here.

While it doesn't do as well as the faster cpus on single units, the fact that it can do 4 units at once gives it a whopping 748ppd.

Exciting to say the least.

I have my eye on one of these when the price comes down a bit.

Edit: Heat is a serious problem, it seems to get a decent overclock you need water cooling. This suggests to me that AMD 4x4 could be a very potent folding solution, as you get twice the space to dissipate the heat. By the looks of it prices will be about the same between the two.

Edit2: Now i've put this on imageshack and put it in the quick guide it may aswell go here too.

Joe42 · 2 Nov 2006 at 16:37

Where?

I don't think anyone has linked to the QX6700 benchies, those have only been published today.

Joe42 · 2 Nov 2006 at 17:00

There are no benchmarks of folding with quad core in there.
Or folding benchmarks on Core 2 Extreme QX6700, those are hot off the press. Stop trying to spoil my fun

Joe42 · 2 Nov 2006 at 22:24

oceaness said:
AMD 4x4 are also lower wattage to start with

Yes but they are only dual core, two of them = 120w x 2 (i think its 120) whereas Core 2 quad is 144w for all 4 cores.
The reason i think that 4x4 will be easier to cool is that 240w is spread over double the area so its only 120w per heatsink, whereas core 2 quad is 144w and only one heatsink.

Joe42 · 2 Nov 2006 at 22:48

joeyjojo said:
It's still 240W to 144W for the same number of cores. I'd say that was very inefficient on AMD's part, 100 more watts for the same core-age?

Conversely, 144W for a quad core intel is incredibly efficient. About the same as an oced single core opty, or a medium oced 805d.

Yes thats very true. They may well lower that to 89w or something for the 4x4 cpus.
But as i said, because its split between two heatsinks they should be easier to cool, although they aren't likely to be very overclockable. Its a shame that Core 2 Quad is temperature limited because it has the same potential as the Core 2 Duos.

Edit: The Inq did some temperature testing on Kentsfield here.