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Core i5-3210M vs i7-870


Description
The i5-3210M is based on Ivy Bridge architecture while the i7-870 is based on Nehalem.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the i5-3210M gets a score of 53.7 k points while the i7-870 gets 67.1 k points.

Summarizing, the i7-870 is 1.2 times faster than the i5-3210M . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
306a9
106e5
Core
Ivy Bridge
Lynnfield
Architecture
Base frecuency
2.5 GHz
2.933 GHz
Boost frecuency
3.1 GHz
3.6 GHz
Socket
Socket G2 (988B)
LGA 1156
Cores/Threads
2 /2
4/8
TDP
35 W
95 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
2x32+2x32 kB
4x32+4x32 kB
Cache L2
2x256 kB
4x256 kB
Cache L3
3072 kB
8192 kB
Date
June 2012
September 2009
Mean monothread perf.
24.9k points
18.13k points
Mean multithread perf.
51.73k 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
i5-3210M
i7-870
Test#1 (Integers)
3.08k
1.98k (x0.64)
Test#2 (FP)
8.58k
4.36k (x0.51)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.76k
2.24k (x0.6)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.99k
2.72k (x0.68)
TOTAL
19.42k
11.3k (x0.58)

Multithread

i5-3210M

i7-870
Test#1 (Integers)
5.79k
4.46k (x0.77)
Test#2 (FP)
18.77k
13.95k (x0.74)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
8.74k
7.54k (x0.86)
Test#1 (Memory)
4.59k
1.7k (x0.37)
TOTAL
37.89k
27.65k (x0.73)

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
i5-3210M
i7-870
Test#1 (Integers)
8.59k
7.43k (x0.86)
Test#2 (FP)
8.88k
4.96k (x0.56)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.59k
2.7k (x0.75)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.45k
3.04k (x0.88)
TOTAL
24.51k
18.13k (x0.74)

Multithread

i5-3210M

i7-870
Test#1 (Integers)
20.18k
27.58k (x1.37)
Test#2 (FP)
19.96k
21.84k (x1.09)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
8.93k
13.55k (x1.52)
Test#1 (Memory)
4.6k
4.16k (x0.91)
TOTAL
53.67k
67.13k (x1.25)

Performance/W
i5-3210M
i7-870
Test#1 (Integers)
577 points/W
290 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
570 points/W
230 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
255 points/W
143 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
131 points/W
44 points/W
TOTAL
1533 points/W
707 points/W

Performance/GHz
i5-3210M
i7-870
Test#1 (Integers)
2772 points/GHz
2063 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
2864 points/GHz
1379 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
1157 points/GHz
750 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
1114 points/GHz
845 points/GHz
TOTAL
7908 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