Memory Performance:

Bearing in mind that we are comparing DDR3-1333MHz at 7-7-7-20-1T and DDR2-800MHz at 4-4-4-12-2T between the Intel and AMD systems, in all the AMD processors still offer a greater memory performance over all of Intel's processors, including the Yorkfield. However, they need this because of the smaller of L2 cache, which is three times smaller than Penryn's per dual-core die.

Obviously Intel CPUs greatly rely on the efficiency and power of the northbridge to deliver memory bandwidth and data efficiently, however the QX9650 out-performs even the fastest AMD Athlon X2, the 6400+, in synthetic memory read tests and is the closest out of all current CPUs to date when it comes to write and copy speed.

Directly compared to the QX6850, the QX9650 outperforms it by 500MB/s in read bandwidth, over 1,000MB/s in write bandwidth and nearly 1,200MB/s in memory copying bandwidth. Despite not having any specific improvements to the front side bus (1,600MHz FSB CPUs will arrive sometime early-to-mid 2008) the QX9650 makes better use of the available memory bandwidth.