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Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Core i7-870


Description
The 4200+ is based on K8 architecture while the i7-870 is based on Nehalem.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the 4200+ gets a score of 17.9 k points while the i7-870 gets 67.1 k points.

Summarizing, the i7-870 is 3.7 times faster than the 4200+. To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
60fb1
106e5
Core
Brisbane
Lynnfield
Architecture
Base frecuency
2.2 GHz
2.933 GHz
Boost frecuency
2.2 GHz
3.6 GHz
Socket
Socket AM2
LGA 1156
Cores/Threads
2/2
4/8
TDP
65 W
95 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
2x128 kB
4x32+4x32 kB
Cache L2
2x512 kB
4x256 kB
Cache L3
0 kB
8192 kB
Date
January 2007
September 2009
Mean monothread perf.
8.86k points
18.13k points
Mean multithread perf.
17.94k points
67.13k points

Non-optimized benchmark
The benchmark in Mode 0 (FPU) measures cpu performance with non-optimized software. It uses the basic µinstructions from the i386 architecture with the i387 floating point unit. This mode is compatible with all CPUs so it's practical to compare very different CPUs
Monothread
4200+
i7-870
Test#1 (Integers)
1.15k
1.98k (x1.73)
Test#2 (FP)
3.85k
4.36k (x1.13)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
1.73k
2.24k (x1.29)
Test#1 (Memory)
0.18k
2.72k (x15.29)
TOTAL
6.91k
11.3k (x1.64)

Multithread

4200+

i7-870
Test#1 (Integers)
2.23k
4.46k (x2)
Test#2 (FP)
7.33k
13.95k (x1.9)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.37k
7.54k (x2.24)
Test#1 (Memory)
0.3k
1.7k (x5.64)
TOTAL
13.22k
27.65k (x2.09)

SSE3 optimized benchmark
The benchmark in mode I (SSE) is optimized for the use of SIMD instructions with 128 bits register and the SSE set up to version 3. Nearly every modern CPU has support for this mode.
Monothread
4200+
i7-870
Test#1 (Integers)
2.77k
7.43k (x2.68)
Test#2 (FP)
4k
4.96k (x1.24)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
1.92k
2.7k (x1.41)
Test#1 (Memory)
0.16k
3.04k (x18.63)
TOTAL
8.86k
18.13k (x2.05)

Multithread

4200+

i7-870
Test#1 (Integers)
5.81k
27.58k (x4.75)
Test#2 (FP)
7.85k
21.84k (x2.78)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.98k
13.55k (x3.41)
Test#1 (Memory)
0.31k
4.16k (x13.58)
TOTAL
17.94k
67.13k (x3.74)

Performance/W
4200+
i7-870
Test#1 (Integers)
89 points/W
290 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
121 points/W
230 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
61 points/W
143 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
5 points/W
44 points/W
TOTAL
276 points/W
707 points/W

Performance/GHz
4200+
i7-870
Test#1 (Integers)
1260 points/GHz
2063 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
1820 points/GHz
1379 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
872 points/GHz
750 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
74 points/GHz
845 points/GHz
TOTAL
4025 points/GHz
5037 points/GHz

Monothread performance graph
Monothread performance graphics gives the performance vs time. They are useful to measure the time it takes to the CPU to reach the maximum performance.

Usually, CPU's performance will be steady during these tests but if it has a slow frequency strategy, the first samples will show a lower score.


Test#1 (Integers) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#2 (FP) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#3 (Generic, ZIP) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#1 (Memory) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com

Multithread performance graph
Multithread graphs measure the performance against a heavy load during certain time.

If CPU's TDP doesn't limit the frequency and the machine is properly cooled, performance should remain steady vs time. Otherwise, the performance score will oscillate or decrease over time.


Test#1 (Integers) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#2 (FP) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#3 (Generic, ZIP) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#1 (Memory) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com

Hardlimit Benchmark Central - Ver. 3.11.4