The site went down before I finished

Here is what I was going to post:

Core 2 Extreme X6800 2933 MHz 1066 MT/s 11x - retail price: $999
Core 2 Duo E6850 3000 MHz 1333 MT/s 9x - retail price: $266

Core 2 Duo E6700 2667 MHz 1066 MT/s 10x - retail price: $530
Core 2 Duo E6750 2667 MHz 1333 MT/s 8x – retail price: $183


The new Conroes "50s" do have a faster FSB speed but it doesn't make them better than the original Conroes. When it comes to fight simulators you need a processor that crunches number fast. This is determined by clock multiplier (which the 6700 has a 10x multiplier vs. the 7650's 8x). The E6700, E6750 and the E6850) processors have locked multipliers so you can’t OC them by increasing the multiplier. The price difference you see is to make the "50s" more competitive in performance and price with the new AMDs. Make no mistake when it comes to processing power - which is what you need in flight simulations, the X6800 is king followed by the E6700. That price difference is there for a reason - trust me.

Don’t get me wrong, the E6850 is a winner if you were considering a comperable AMD, but if you were thinking you got a cheaper and better X6800/E6700 – you are gravely mistaken.

Why do people think the E6850 out performs the X6800:

CPU Speed = FSB * Clock Multiplier

Thus:

(E6850) 3.000 GHz = X * 9, so X = ~333 MHz
(X6800) 2.933 GHz = X * 11, so X = ~267 MHz

The Duo Cores operate at quad speeds so, the actual processor speeds are:
E6850: 333 MHz * 4 = ~1333 MHz
X6800: 267 MHz * 4 = ~1066 MHz

Now to run CPU/DRAM at 1:1:

E6850 will need RAM running @ 667 MHz (don't know - SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) @ 7-7-7-18)
X6800 will need RAM running @ 533 MHz (PC2-8500 and up)

So it seems you end up shooting yourself in the foot because you are going to have to know a little about overclocking to get your system to run at its optimum performance. Not to mention 2G of DDR3 1600 will run atleast $600.

This is a perfect example of how computer manufactures take advantage of consumers. The "50s" are FSB overclocked "Es" but to keep the processor stable, they lowered the clock multiplier. Intel then lowered the price because a savvy consumer will know then are not getting a "true Conroe".

Thanks X_MAN,

You gave some great info explaining the difference between the E6800 and E6850's. Intel's marketing is very sly and hard to decipher. You also, on an earlier post recommended I get the 680i based motherboard instead of the 650i. So I'm glad to have ordered the evga 680i Mb.

I found out that most PC builders are not listing the E6700's and E6800's as a CPU choice at this time. I guess Intel is really pushing to sell the "50's" processors by giving them lower lot prices for PC builders.

I don't plan on doing much overclocking for now, but I have read where others have done it to the "50's".

Customer Review for Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor -

"PALESTINE
Tech Level: high
Ownership: 1 week to 1 month 8/4/2007


Pros: Its so fast! im running it in vista and i boot well under 40seconds! i have never seen this thing hit 100% load in anything yet! it overclocks like a dream with my zalman and evga680i mobo! im currently running it at 3.6ghz with stock voltage and idling at 36C!! it's a must buy!!

Cons: Its too fast lol

Other Thoughts: My new system!: Core2Duo E6850@3.6ghz, evga 680i motherboard, 4gb corsair xms2 ddr800 ram, evga8600gts(temporary until the 8900gtx comes out), 550w rosewill psu, Thermaltake Tsunami case, 226bw samsung moniter!"

I appreciate all of the suggestions that everyone made.

II/JG11_Rudorffer - I have not looked at Firingsquad (the only site I know of that includes PF and IL-2 FB in their hardware reviews) to see what kinda of a reviews they gave the "50s" vs the "00s". If you have a X6800 2.9GHz, and increase the FSB to 333 MHz (which you can do with stock cooling), you get 3.67 GHz. For similar speed with the E6850, you will need to increase the FSB to a wapping 407 MHz!!!

However, I would take anything I read on Tom's Hardware site with a grain of salt - didn't that website sell for $15 - $20 milion?

4GB is overkill - 4 sticks of RAM lock you in at 2T command rate with no added benefit. 2G with 4-4-4 or 5-5-5 timings is all you need.

Firingsquad and X-bit labs both used Pacific Fighters in their benchmark suite, but seemed to have dropped them in their latest reviews.;)

Thanks for info on the difference between the 6800 and 6850 X man. I was thinking of upgrading my 6400 to the 6850 because it was so cheap, but I think I'll wait awhile, as I really don't need the extra speed for IL-2. I'm just bored waiting for BOB SOW.

Anytime! I just want everyone to have all the information before purchase. I know its boring waiting for SOW too. I try to kill then time by tweaking rather than buying anything that will be obsolete in 3-6 month anyway. I would hold out to until SOW comes out which will be optimized for Quads and available at a lower in price by then.

"SOW comes out which will be optimized for Quads"

Thats interesting....where did you hear that.

Chivas - I am just speculating here. However, since the game is in development currently and the guys at Maddox Games program with the latest and greatest, it is safe to say that is Oleg's team is coding in with the Duo/Quads cores. Thus, BOB: SOW will play best with similar setups.