Intel Pentium 4 650

1. Introduction

Review Pages

1. Introduction
2. Test System - Configuration
3. SiSoft Sandra 2005
4. PCMark04 & 05
5. 3DMark03
6. 3DMark05
7. Performance Test v5.0
8. Prime95
9. Encoding
10. Games
11. Overclocking
12. Conclusion

Intel is amongst the largest, if not the largest, CPU manufacturer worldwide. Today, Intel supplies the computing and communications industries with chips, boards, systems and software building blocks that are the "ingredients" of computers systems, servers, networking and communications products. The Pentium 4 6xx series has been available for over a year now.

Intel's 6xx series of processors, were released in response to AMD's very popular 64bit processor. The 6xx series has many similarities with the Prescott and 5xx series, such as 800 MHz FSB and 31-stage pipelines, but it has some extra features such as:

EM64T : Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (Intel EM64T) is an enhancement to Intel's IA-32 architecture. The enhancement allows the processor to run newly written 64-bit code and access larger amounts of memory.
2MB L2 Cache : A larger cache size can help the processor more efficiently run many popular applications in digital imaging, music, video and gaming.
Enhanced SpeedStep : Enables cooler and quieter PC designs (depending on system implementation and usage).
Execute Disable Bit : Can improve protection against malicious "buffer overflow" attacks when properly enabled with a supporting operating system.

Processor Features & Definitions
Architecture	Basic design of a microprocessor. May include process technology and/or other architectural enhancements.
Cache (MB/KB)	A temporary storage area for frequently accessed or recently accessed data. Having certain data stored in a cache speeds up the operation of the computer. Cache size is measured in megabytes (MB) or kilobytes (KB).
Clock Speed (GHz/MHz)	Speed of the processor's internal clock, which dictates how fast the processor can process data. Clock speed is usually measured in GHz (gigahertz, or billions of pulses per second).
Front Side Bus (GHz/MHz)	The connecting path between the processor and other key components such as the memory controller hub. FSB speed is measured in GHz or MHz.

The full Pentium 4 6xx series is given below:

Model	Clock Speed	L2 Cache	Socket	FSB
Pentium 4 660	3.6GHz	2MB	LGA-775	800MHz
Pentium 4 650	3.4GHz	2MB	LGA-775	800MHz
Pentium 4 640	3.2GHz	2MB	LGA-775	800MHz
Pentium 4 630	3.0GHz	2MB	LGA-775	800MHz

The sample we received from Intel was the P4 650 running at 3.4GHz. Below you can see the 650 installed in the 775 socket. The method used to clamp down the processor in the socket, is one of the best possible. When uninstalling the cooler, there is no chance of damaging the CPU, as is the case with the AMD 939 socket processors, where most times the CPU comes off along with the cooler and could possibly damage the pins if you're not careful.

The CPU is a 775 socket, just like the Prescott series. As you can see, there are no pins on the CPU chip itself. Instead, they are located on the motherboard socket.

The Core of the 650...

The stock cooler included in the BOX version for the 6xx series has seven large blades and one four-pin power connector.

The base is made of aluminium. Other Intel processors we have reviewed have had a copper base.

When we removed the fan to reveal the heatsink, we found that the base the fan sits on is solid aluminum. In other 6xx processor we have seen, this base is hollow as shown in the photos below.