Intel Responds to Phenom II X2 BE with Pentium E6500K

[Chilly]

With the 45 nm Phenom II AM3 architecture, AMD is able to offer two highly competitive mainstream dual-core processors: the Phenom II X2 (Callisto), and Athlon II X2 (Regor). The Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition chips not only serves as a notable sub-$100 choice for mainstream consumers, but also offers good value to overclockers with an unlocked bus multiplier, and with the right tools, the potential to unlock disabled physical cores. With its prime competitor from the blue camp being Pentium Dual-Core E5000 and E6000 series, Intel decided to up the stakes with a low-cost overclocker-friendly dual-core processor labeled Pentium Dual-Core E6500K, the company's first FSB multiplier-unlocked 45 nm dual-core chip.

Based on the 45 nm Wolfdale-2M core, the E6500K boasts of a default clock speed of 2.93 GHz (11.0 x 266 MHz). The bus multiplier is unlocked, leaving room to play with it. Placed in the Pentium E6000 series, the chip has a FSB frequency of 1066 MHz, compared to its E5000 cousins that sport 800 MHz FSB. Aided with a 2 MB L2 cache, the E6500K is expected to go head-on against competing AMD chips. Currently available in China for RMB 1299 (converts to $190) as part of bundle with Biostar T-Series TP45E motherboard, the E6500K is expected to retail soon for US $89. Incidentally, the "K" in E6500K refers to "black" in digital imaging jargon.

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[gingerbee]

did i read that right unlocked multiplier?

[bojangles]

Hey that's pretty sweet. Maybe they'll realize that their EE chips are worthless and prove no point to price them that high. These will go out of stock in no time for sure.

[geokilla]

Took Intel long enough to release a response to AMD's highly popular Black Edition CPUs. Now if only they'll drop their Extreme lineup....Who actually buys an Intel Extreme Edition?

[jcmaz]

but they are still using an older chipset compared to the AM3 one. Also, the AM3 chipset is way more futureproof that the LG775.

[Eagle Eye]

Wow didn't ever think we'd see the day of a mainstream Intel chip with an unlocked mutiplier.

I suspect "Back-Ordered" is something you'll likely be seeing on most websites shortly after they're released.

EE

[JD]

Sounds like a nice upgrade path for people with older dual-cores on the LGA775 platform assuming they like OC'ing.

[miggs78]

Originally Posted by jdrom17

Sounds like a nice upgrade path for people with older dual-cores on the LGA775 platform assuming they like OC'ing.

Yes very true.. for $90, if it overclocks well, and gives performance near an E8400, could be hell of a processor..

For the first time I see Phenom II having an early edge over Intel processors..

[Realityshift]

Futureproof is a story moms tell young computer nerds before they goto bed so they wont be afriad their computers will be obsolete when they wake up in the morning...

Honestly though good on intel, I hope to see this trend continue with their future lines and Id love to see the EEs either dropped or at very least price cut in half. Nice find chilly.

EDIT:

Yes very true.. for $90, if it overclocks well, and gives performance near an E8400, could be hell of a processor..

E8400 will still stomp it on cache size alone, which is good for close to 10% more performance. Price vs performance though the new CPU will take the crown on the intel side, hard to tell if it can touch AMD though, those new dual cores are looking fairly buyable to me right now.

[whatalamesite]

heh, it still doesn't change the fact that amd x2 BE offers a chance to unlock to a quad.

so hows intel gonna counter that :O