Intel launched its first Core 2 Duo processors on July 27, 2006. The Conroe architecture replaced NetBurst and restored Intel’s performance lead over AMD.
I went with a Q6600. Huge upgrade from my Athlon XP 2500+ despite initially getting criticised for buying a quad core. Many were convinced multi threaded software support would take longer to happen than it did in reality. Q6600 ended up having long legs, especially overclocked.
What a huge relief it was when they dumped NetBurst.
Core 2 Duo E6600 was my first Intel processor since 1994 and I stuck with them until Ryzen got good.
I went with a Q6600. Huge upgrade from my Athlon XP 2500+ despite initially getting criticised for buying a quad core. Many were convinced multi threaded software support would take longer to happen than it did in reality. Q6600 ended up having long legs, especially overclocked.