Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Review

High-end Desktop processor released in 2006 with 2 cores and 2 threads. With base clock at 3GHz, max speed at 3GHz, and a 65W power rating. Core 2 Duo E6850 is based on the Conroe 65nm family and part of the Core 2 Duo series.
Price 53%
Speed 27%
Productivity 15%
Gaming 42%
Category Desktop
Target high-end
Socket Compatibility LGA775
Integrated Graphics None
Cooler Included No
Overclock Potential 30 %
Year 2006 Model
Price 241.87 USD
Number of Cores 2 Cores
Number of Threads 2 Threads
Core Frequency 3 GHz
Boost Frequency 3 GHz
Max Stable Overclock 3.9 GHz
Power Consumption 65 W
Manufacturing Process 65 nm
L3 Cache 0 MB
Maximum Supported Memory 16 GB
Price-Value Score 53 %
Speed Score 27 %
Productivity Score 15 %
Gaming Score 42 %
Max 1080p Bottleneck 87.3 %
Max 1440p Bottleneck 43.7 %
Max 4K Bottleneck 21.8 %
Overall Score 25/100

The Core 2 Duo E6850 is one of Intel's high-end Desktop processors. It was released in 2006 with 2 cores and 2 threads. With base clock at 3GHz, max speed at 3GHz, and a 65W power rating. The Core 2 Duo E6850 is based on the Conroe 65nm family and is part of the Core 2 Duo series.

As the higher-priced version of the Core 2 Duo E6750, the Core 2 Duo E6850 has higher base and Boost frequencies of 3 and 3 GHz, respectively. That's an increase in base frequency and a bump to boost clocks, but the real advantage should lay in the higher Package Power Tracking (PPT) envelope, which is a measurement of the maximum amount of power delivered to the socket. The Core 2 Duo E6750's PPT tops out at 65W, while the motherboard can pump up to 142W to the Core 2 Duo E6850 at peak performance. That opens up much more aggressive boost behavior, on both single and multiple cores, that could widen the performance gap beyond what we see on the spec sheet.

If you're mostly playing games on your PC, you will be happy buying either processor. Both proved to be solid options and are evenly matched with a slight advantage to the AMD chip if you don't tune up the Athlon 64 X2 processor. The base performance we showed for the Core 2 Duo E6850 can be achieved with $90 memory, while the Athlon 64 X2 6000+ will require $110 - $120 memory in order to enable the frame rates shown here. It’s not a big cost difference and right now with anything less than an RTX 2070 or Vega 64 you’ll more than likely become GPU limited.

If extended overclocking and boost frequencies are trivial matters to you, Intel also offers the Core 2 Duo E6750 at $50.9. It’s still outfitted with 2-cores and 2-threads, but clocks in at a slower 2.66GHz and maxes out at only 2.667GHz.

That said, to squeeze out all the potential of this surprisingly potent high-end chip, you’ll want (and need) to splurge on an enthusiast-grade Q45, VIA P4M890, X38 motherboard.

Which GPU to Pick for Intel Core 2 Duo E6850

Below is a comparison of all graphics cards average FPS performance (using an average of 80+ games at ultra quality settings), combined with the Intel Core 2 Duo E6850.

Graphics Card Price Cost Per Frame Avg 1080p Avg 1440p Avg 4K
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 24GB $ 1,599 $ 31.9 50.2 FPS
170.5 FPS
150.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Ti 20GB $ 799 $ 17 46.9 FPS
159.1 FPS
140.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24GB $ 999 $ 22 45.4 FPS
151 FPS
121 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 16GB $ 1,199 $ 27.6 43.5 FPS
147.6 FPS
130 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12GB $ 799 $ 19.1 41.8 FPS
141.8 FPS
124.8 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB $ 899 $ 21.8 41.2 FPS
137.3 FPS
109.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24GB $ 1,499 $ 38.3 39.1 FPS
128.1 FPS
106.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT 16GB $ 1,099 $ 29.3 37.5 FPS
124.8 FPS
99.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti 24GB $ 1,999 $ 54.3 36.8 FPS
124.9 FPS
110 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB $ 999 $ 27.2 36.7 FPS
120.7 FPS
98.4 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 16GB $ 649 $ 18.8 34.5 FPS
113.7 FPS
92.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 20GB $ 799 $ 23.4 34.1 FPS
113.9 FPS
97.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 10GB $ 699 $ 20.5 34.1 FPS
111.6 FPS
92.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 12GB $ 599 $ 18.2 32.9 FPS
108.9 FPS
94.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 10GB $ 599 $ 20.4 29.3 FPS
96.5 FPS
81.4 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6800 16GB $ 579 $ 21.1 27.4 FPS
90 FPS
73.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB $ 499 $ 19.1 26.1 FPS
85.4 FPS
70.7 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN RTX 24GB $ 2,499 $ 104.1 24 FPS
80.9 FPS
67.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB $ 1,299 $ 55.8 23.3 FPS
78.8 FPS
65.7 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB $ 479 $ 20.8 23 FPS
76.3 FPS
61.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB 8GB $ 399 $ 17.7 22.6 FPS
75.9 FPS
64.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB $ 399 $ 18.6 21.4 FPS
71.8 FPS
60.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8GB $ 699 $ 33 21.2 FPS
70.8 FPS
58.7 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT 8GB $ 399 $ 19.6 20.4 FPS
68 FPS
55.7 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN V 12GB $ 2,999 $ 147.7 20.3 FPS
68.6 FPS
58.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB $ 299 $ 14.7 20.3 FPS
68.3 FPS
58.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7600 8GB $ 269 $ 13.3 20.3 FPS
67.6 FPS
55.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 8GB $ 699 $ 35 20 FPS
66.2 FPS
54.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT 8GB $ 379 $ 19.7 19.2 FPS
63.5 FPS
51.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB $ 759 $ 40.4 18.8 FPS
63.2 FPS
52.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8GB $ 499 $ 26.8 18.6 FPS
61 FPS
50.5 FPS
AMD Radeon VII 16GB $ 699 $ 38 18.4 FPS
60.6 FPS
49.4 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN Xp 12GB $ 1,199 $ 65.2 18.4 FPS
61 FPS
51.7 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB $ 399 $ 22.3 17.9 FPS
58.9 FPS
48 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB $ 499 $ 28.2 17.7 FPS
57 FPS
47.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 8GB $ 200 $ 11.3 17.7 FPS
58.9 FPS
50.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB $ 329 $ 18.8 17.5 FPS
57.6 FPS
48.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER 8GB $ 400 $ 24 16.7 FPS
53 FPS
43.7 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB $ 349 $ 21.3 16.4 FPS
54 FPS
44 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB $ 499 $ 31.4 15.9 FPS
51.7 FPS
42.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB $ 350 $ 22.3 15.7 FPS
48.8 FPS
39.4 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT 6GB $ 279 $ 18 15.5 FPS
50.5 FPS
41 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 295X2 4GB $ 1,499 $ 100.6 14.9 FPS
47.7 FPS
41.4 FPS
AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 8GB $ 499 $ 33.5 14.9 FPS
49 FPS
39.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti 8GB $ 409 $ 27.6 14.8 FPS
47.9 FPS
38.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 6GB $ 249 $ 17.3 14.4 FPS
46.5 FPS
38.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X 12GB $ 999 $ 69.4 14.4 FPS
46 FPS
37.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB $ 279 $ 19.9 14 FPS
45.5 FPS
37 FPS
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 8GB $ 399 $ 28.5 14 FPS
45.9 FPS
37.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB $ 399 $ 29.3 13.6 FPS
43.7 FPS
35.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB $ 229 $ 17.3 13.2 FPS
43 FPS
35 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB $ 649 $ 51.9 12.5 FPS
40.3 FPS
32.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 6GB $ 220 $ 17.6 12.5 FPS
40.4 FPS
32.8 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 590 8GB $ 279 $ 23.6 11.8 FPS
37.2 FPS
29.6 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 FURY X 4GB $ 649 $ 57.4 11.3 FPS
38.3 FPS
32 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER 4GB $ 160 $ 14.7 10.9 FPS
35.1 FPS
28.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8GB 8GB $ 199 $ 18.4 10.8 FPS
33.8 FPS
26.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 4GB $ 549 $ 51.3 10.7 FPS
34.2 FPS
28 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB $ 229 $ 21.8 10.5 FPS
33 FPS
26.1 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 Nano 4GB $ 649 $ 63 10.3 FPS
34.2 FPS
28.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK 6GB $ 999 $ 99.9 10 FPS
31.7 FPS
27 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 FURY 4GB $ 549 $ 56 9.8 FPS
32.2 FPS
26.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB $ 254 $ 26.2 9.7 FPS
30.8 FPS
25.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB 4GB $ 169 $ 17.6 9.6 FPS
30.4 FPS
24.1 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 390X 8GB $ 429 $ 45.6 9.4 FPS
30.9 FPS
25.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 3GB $ 170 $ 18.5 9.2 FPS
29.3 FPS
23.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB $ 329 $ 36.2 9.1 FPS
28.5 FPS
24.2 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 480 8GB $ 400 $ 45.5 8.8 FPS
28.8 FPS
24 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 390 8GB $ 329 $ 37.4 8.8 FPS
28.2 FPS
21.9 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 570 4GB $ 169 $ 19.4 8.7 FPS
27.8 FPS
22.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB $ 149 $ 18 8.3 FPS
26.6 FPS
21.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 470 4GB $ 179 $ 23.2 7.7 FPS
25 FPS
20.2 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 380X 4GB $ 229 $ 35.2 6.5 FPS
20.8 FPS
17.2 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 285 2GB $ 249 $ 42.9 5.8 FPS
18.7 FPS
14.6 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 380 2GB $ 199 $ 34.3 5.8 FPS
18.5 FPS
14.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB $ 169 $ 29.6 5.7 FPS
18.3 FPS
14.9 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 280 3GB $ 279 $ 49.8 5.6 FPS
18.3 FPS
14 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 2GB $ 199 $ 35.5 5.6 FPS
17.8 FPS
14.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 3GB $ 169 $ 34.5 4.9 FPS
15.5 FPS
12.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 560 4GB $ 99 $ 22 4.5 FPS
14.1 FPS
11.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 2GB $ 159 $ 36.1 4.4 FPS
13.8 FPS
11.5 FPS
AMD Radeon R7 370 2GB $ 149 $ 34.7 4.3 FPS
13 FPS
10.9 FPS
AMD Radeon R7 265 2GB $ 149 $ 34.7 4.3 FPS
12.6 FPS
10.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 460 4GB $ 140 $ 35 4 FPS
12.5 FPS
10.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB $ 149 $ 39.2 3.8 FPS
10.8 FPS
9 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 550 2GB $ 79 $ 25.5 3.1 FPS
9.9 FPS
7.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 2GB $ 79 $ 26.3 3 FPS
9.4 FPS
7.3 FPS

Related Discussions and Issues

C
ChefCurry3-1LeBum3-5 July 16, 2020

Dusting off an old friend. Help (re)build a PC?

I'm heading back to school in August and I'm thinking of bringing my old PC with me. I currently study with a 13'' Macbook Pro (2019) but truth be told, the small screen doesn't always cut it, and I also miss Windows in general.

I made this quite some time ago, and haven't really used it since I started shifting to laptops and space at home was limited. Here is a list of parts from Speccy:

  • CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 B55 (I thought I had a 965, but maybe I'm remembering wrong) Deneb 45nm Technology

  • RAM: 8.00 Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 666MHz (9-9-9-24)

  • Motherboard: BIOSTAR Gropu TA785G3

  • Graphics: 1024MB ATI AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series (Sapphire, and I think I got the 6850 version)

  • Storage: 250GB Samsung SSD 840 Evo

It turned on fine, using an old HP vs17 display I had lying around. I don't plan on doing any heavy gaming (or probably won't do much gaming at all) with this. It'll mostly be for studying, movies, some Photoshop/Lightroom work. I had a few questions for everyone here at r/buildapc :

  • Will this setup fulfill the tasks I listed above, or will I need to upgrade some parts (probably RAM, but which sets are good for my motherboard/CPU?)?

  • Will the graphics card be able to work with newer QHD displays? I was looking at this one because of a recent sale, but I'm not sure if my graphics card can display properly on that monitor.

Thanks in advance!

F
ficskala July 16, 2020

Will this setup fulfill the tasks I listed above

Kinda, the only component i'm unsure of is the cpu, it could be good enough though, but your gpu is gonna be giving you a headache

will I need to upgrade some parts (probably RAM

8GB of ram is plenty for most of these things, depends how deep into photoshop you get, but i don't see a reason to get more unless you really start noticing a lack of it, you can always get more ram, so i'd say go with what you've got until you decide you really need more

C
ChefCurry3-1LeBum3-5 July 16, 2020

your gpu is gonna be giving you a headache

In which tasks? Would it be able to work with modern displays, or will I need a new graphics card?

Q
qualtai July 16, 2020

Why don't you install windows on your Mac and get an external monitor?

C
ChefCurry3-1LeBum3-5 July 16, 2020

I could do that, but I'm thinking of bringing the old tower down anyways. Are you saying it's so old, I might as well not use it?

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