Intel Q8200 CPU


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Verdict:
A solid performer, made even better with some overclocking love.

By Justin Robinson
Sep 18, 2008 | 15 Comments
Tags: Intel | cpu | q8200

Intel presents its budget 45nm Quad, but is it worth your while?

When we arrived in the office this morning, a shiny blue box lay there. Ripping said box open, we pulled out the Q8200 CPU inside and whacked it into a mobo for some quick benchies.

The CPU itself is a 45nm Quad core with 4MB of L2 cache. This means that each core only gets 1MB of cache (though cores can share unused portions of cache if they need it). Running at 2.33GHz, on a 1333FSB, this means that the chip only has 7x multiplier. You can kiss any significant overclocking ability goodbye!

The stock cooler is similar to the half-height all-aluminium ones that come with the 45nm Dual cores, but has a copper slug in the center to improve heat transfer.

At roughly $290, this CPU is probably intended to replace the older Q6600, but at this limited speed and overclocking capability, you might think it's bit of a failure... but you'd be wrong. We've gotten it well over 3.0GHz in our testing, and we're still benching!

For final results, check out issue 94 of Atomic.

The all important numbers.

Product Info

Specs:

2.33GHz quad core; 45nm manufacturing process; ‘Yorkfield’ core; 4MB(4x1MB) L2 cache; 7x multiplier; 1333MHz Front Side Bus; E0 stepping; 65W TDP.

Supplier:

Intel

Price when reviewed:

AUD$290

price check*

$199.00	Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 CPU 2X2Mb; Quad Core EMT64T 2.66G Replaces Q8200 13... NetPlus (WA)

$247.00	INTEL CORE 2 CPUS (LGA775) Core 2 Quad Q8200/2.33GHz/4MB/1333FSB/LGA775/QUA Topcom Technology (QLD)

$255.38	Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 CPU, 2.33 GHz, FSB 1333MHz, 2x2MB L2 Cache, Socket ... Digitan Technology (NSW)

$395.50	LOW POWER!! Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 CPU, 2.33 GHz, FSB 1333MHz, 2x2MB L2 Ca... Digitan Technology (NSW)

See more results for Intel Q8200 CPU on staticice.com.au

*Products and prices sourced from staticICE and are in no way associated with Atomic MPC

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15 Comments

Thoughts on this article? Add a comment below.

battlefield_gir Sep 18, 2008 4:51 PM	i wonder why they locked the multiplier?
oddman Sep 18, 2008 5:02 PM	Oh noes. My Q6600.. ITS OUTDATED! Its the end.
MedicineBaby Sep 18, 2008 6:19 PM	They locked it because they are meanies X( I hope this chip is decent, because I am considering a CPU and motherboard upgrade soon, and considering I am starting to multi task a bit more, would be great to get a quad core to offset some of the crap going on.
Lambo Sep 19, 2008 9:19 AM	They've been floating around for a few weeks now. Given the price, they are certainly an attractive CPU over the now dated Q6600.
kithylin Sep 19, 2008 2:47 PM	The multi on Q6600 and Q9550 are all both locked as well, it's nto a big deal. Anyone knows you overclock with the base FSB figure anyway. also, tech peoples! PLEASE! PLEASE! Use something other than old, ancient single-threaded superpi. PLEASE use wprime so we can see how it does on a multi-threaded test.
emccat Sep 19, 2008 3:24 PM	well the Q8200 doesn't look like its going to be to special just wait a month or to and intel will have way better CPU's out (even though im not really an intel fan).
TheFrunj Sep 19, 2008 3:42 PM	Hi kithylin, we have used multithreaded apps with this CPU. Hence why the article says "For final results, check out issue 94 of Atomic." :P And there is a rumoured price drop for this chip, supposedly coming soon, so don't judge a chip by it's IHS. -JR
Jeruselem Sep 19, 2008 10:41 PM	Doesn't look too bad :) Pity about the multiplier.
strifus Sep 20, 2008 7:10 PM	+1 to Jeruselem. I'm just waiting on Nahelem to come online.
Fat_Bodybuilder Sep 21, 2008 7:54 PM	2 x 2mb Cache, or 4 x 1mb? This would be such a nice CPU if they didn't just up the FSB only to lower the Multiplier.
SyKRyD Sep 23, 2008 9:28 AM	"This means that each core only gets 1MB of cache (though cores can share unused portions of cache if they need it)."
SyKRyD Sep 23, 2008 9:30 AM	just noticed that the screenshot sez "2x2048 kilobytes"
TheFrunj Sep 23, 2008 10:29 AM	"just noticed that the screenshot sez "2x2048 kilobytes" That is because Intel Quad cores are essentially two Dual cores on the one chip. And since the Dual cores share that amount evenly (i.e 2MB = 1MB per core), double that gives you four equal parts of 1MB :) -JR
G-relk Sep 25, 2008 12:47 PM	this could be a very nice upgrade for my second pc, though considering its only a gaming box i might just get an e8400. @ FB: im going to guess that its 2 x 2mb. it wouldnt make any sense if they introduced a native quad design so close to the release of nehalem regards the multi: do you reckon it would be partially locked like th current core 2's, or fully locked??
kennedy712 Feb 18, 2009 9:53 PM	People interested in Intel's Q8200 might want to check this out before judging too quickly! http://www.legitreviews.com/article/896/13/

Editor's Choice

Area 53

Atomic Magazine

Issue: 111 | April, 2010

Atomic is a magazine aimed squarely at computer enthusiasts, gamers, and serious PC upgraders.

Every month we bring you the latest reviews of new technology and PC components, in depth features on everything from overclocking to console hacking, and gaming previews and interviews.

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