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Core i7-860 vs Core 2 Quad Q9550


Description
The i7-860 is based on Nehalem architecture while the Q9550 is based on Core.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the i7-860 gets a score of 75.4 k points while the Q9550 gets 49 k points.

Summarizing, the i7-860 is 1.5 times faster than the Q9550 . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
106e5
1067a
Core
Lynnfield
Yorkfield
Architecture
Base frecuency
2.8 GHz
2.833 GHz
Boost frecuency
3.467 GHz
2.833 GHz
Socket
LGA 1156
LGA 775
Cores/Threads
4/8
4/4
TDP
95 W
95 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
4x32+4x32 kB
128+128 kB
Cache L2
4x256 kB
12288 kB
Cache L3
8192 kB
0 kB
Date
September 2009
March 2008
Mean monothread perf.
19.19k points
17.29k points
Mean multithread perf.
75.43k points
48.98k 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
i7-860
Q9550
Test#1 (Integers)
2.15k
2.6k (x1.21)
Test#2 (FP)
4.87k
6.67k (x1.37)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.82k
2.72k (x0.96)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.13k
4.43k (x1.42)
TOTAL
12.97k
16.42k (x1.27)

Multithread

i7-860

Q9550
Test#1 (Integers)
8.24k
9.92k (x1.2)
Test#2 (FP)
21.63k
25.37k (x1.17)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
14.65k
10.31k (x0.7)
Test#1 (Memory)
5.02k
3.37k (x0.67)
TOTAL
49.54k
48.96k (x0.99)

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
i7-860
Q9550
Test#1 (Integers)
7.87k
3.28k (x0.42)
Test#2 (FP)
5.25k
7.28k (x1.39)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.94k
2.83k (x0.96)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.13k
3.9k (x1.25)
TOTAL
19.19k
17.29k (x0.9)

Multithread

i7-860

Q9550
Test#1 (Integers)
31.5k
11.72k (x0.37)
Test#2 (FP)
23.47k
24.91k (x1.06)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
15.47k
9.77k (x0.63)
Test#1 (Memory)
4.98k
2.57k (x0.52)
TOTAL
75.43k
48.98k (x0.65)

Performance/W
i7-860
Q9550
Test#1 (Integers)
332 points/W
123 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
247 points/W
262 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
163 points/W
103 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
52 points/W
27 points/W
TOTAL
794 points/W
516 points/W

Performance/GHz
i7-860
Q9550
Test#1 (Integers)
2271 points/GHz
1159 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
1514 points/GHz
2568 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
847 points/GHz
1001 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
902 points/GHz
1375 points/GHz
TOTAL
5534 points/GHz
6103 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