What do the extra 2MB of cash provide in Core 2 Duo?

A

abdul10000

New Member
So you have the option of buying the e6400 or the e6600. Clock frequencies alone don't justify the price difference. But how about the cash memory difference does that justify the price difference? More importantly when does the e6600 become more important?

For example, I plan to build a computer using a core 2 duo processor in the near future. I will be using it for games (CoH), video editing, movie making (use fraps while playing games), and photo editing (Photoshop). If I use the e6600 will I notice a difference with the extra 2MB of cash? If so, in which areas will I notice improvement over the e6400? Thanks so much for your help!
 
yes
you will notice a difference
the cache is used for storing data that the CPU accesses frequently
the 4 mb cache in the e6600 is shared between the 2 cores
if you're doing serious photoshoping and serious gaming..
get the 6600
 
the higher the multiplier, the less you have to overclock and/or overvolt the northbridge. in my case, thats a problem because the gigabyte boards have a passive cooler on the northbridge.
i'd go for the e6600 personally, if i bought a new proc. im probly gonna wait for quad core though.
i was held back by my motherboard at 2.66ghz when most people get around 3.3ghz. ridiculous.
if i try to overvolt my northbridge too much it burns my fingers to the touch lol.

extra cache normally helps under memory bandwidth and continuous processing such as prime95 or a stress test that fully utilizes both processors... this is why semprons and celerons are generally worse for gaming, because gaming continuously stresses the processor (depending on the game of course)
 
Thank you all for the input. Tom's hardware compressions are very interesting as they show very little difference among the two processors over several application including games. Nonetheless, those are all one application tests.

Therefore, let me throw this specific example. Let’s say you start a demanding game like Company of Heroes and then start Fraps to record the game. You know how fps drops once you start Fraps. Do you think that in this specific example a 4mb cash processor would be able to show its advantage over a 2mb processor? Hence, the e6600 would not suffer any where near what the e6400?

Because if again the difference is consistent with all those one application tests then really when does a 4mb cash make a significant difference? I yet have to see a practical merit for the extra cash and more importantly price! Your feedback is much appreciated as I don’t want to invest in one cpu over the other before figuring out accurately the differences. Thanks in advance.
 
i hate that error.

it's CACHE (pronounced CATCH) not CASH.

anyway.. you won't notice THAT much of a difference, but it is much preferred to have 4 than 2.
 
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uh...cache is pronounced /kæʃ/, like the English word cash

Cost being no issue I'd take the 4MB model. The extra 2MB might not help much in games now but sooner or later it will make a difference and the higher multiplier is nice as well.
 
I'd go up to the E6600 ONLY if it wasn't going to detract from another part in the computer. I'd rather spend that 100 dollars towards going up to 2GB of ram, or bumping the quality of ram, getting a better graphics card, etc etc.

If it wouldn't detract from your decision drastically elsewhere, then go for it. Otherwise, the E6400 IS a damn good proc still.
 
fade2green514 said:
the higher the multiplier, the less you have to overclock and/or overvolt the northbridge. in my case, thats a problem because the gigabyte boards have a passive cooler on the northbridge.
i'd go for the e6600 personally, if i bought a new proc. im probly gonna wait for quad core though.
i was held back by my motherboard at 2.66ghz when most people get around 3.3ghz. ridiculous.
if i try to overvolt my northbridge too much it burns my fingers to the touch lol.

extra cache normally helps under memory bandwidth and continuous processing such as prime95 or a stress test that fully utilizes both processors... this is why semprons and celerons are generally worse for gaming, because gaming continuously stresses the processor (depending on the game of course)
Click to expand...

why not get an aftermarket chipset cooler?

more cache = more cash, lol.
 
I keep being told by people that the 2mb of cash are going to increase performance, but never how. I really doubt it will make much difference with today’s applications. Every time I look at a review of an over clocked e6300 and e6400 vs, a regular e6600 or e6700 the over clocked processor beats the later ones with a healthy margin. Look at this review: http://www.techspot.com/article/13-intel-core2duo-e6300-e6700-overclocking/

Yes this is over clocked vs regular, but if extra cash was so good why would not keep up with over clocked lower versions Am I missing something?
 
The bus speed increases when you overclock so the smaller cache has faster RAM access. If they did a test where they just dropped the multiplier of a 6600 to that of a 6400 then we would have a good test.
 
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