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Core i7-870 vs i5-3210M


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

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the i7-870 gets a score of 42.5 k points while the i5-3210M gets 53.7 k points.

Summarizing, the i5-3210M is 1.3 times faster than the i7-870 . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
106e5
306a9
Core
Lynnfield
Ivy Bridge
Architecture
Base frecuency
2.933 GHz
2.5 GHz
Boost frecuency
3.6 GHz
3.1 GHz
Socket
LGA 1156
Socket G2 (988B)
Cores/Threads
4/8
2 /2
TDP
95 W
35 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
4x32+4x32 kB
2x32+2x32 kB
Cache L2
4x256 kB
2x256 kB
Cache L3
8192 kB
3072 kB
Date
September 2009
June 2012
Mean monothread perf.
15.44k points
24.9k points
Mean multithread perf.
42.53k points
51.73k 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
i7-870
i5-3210M
Test#1 (Integers)
1.98k
3.08k (x1.56)
Test#2 (FP)
4.36k
8.58k (x1.97)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.24k
3.76k (x1.68)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.72k
3.99k (x1.47)
TOTAL
11.3k
19.42k (x1.72)

Multithread

i7-870

i5-3210M
Test#1 (Integers)
4.46k
5.79k (x1.3)
Test#2 (FP)
13.95k
18.77k (x1.35)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
7.54k
8.74k (x1.16)
Test#1 (Memory)
1.7k
4.59k (x2.7)
TOTAL
27.65k
37.89k (x1.37)

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
i7-870
i5-3210M
Test#1 (Integers)
5.86k
8.59k (x1.47)
Test#2 (FP)
4.53k
8.88k (x1.96)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.36k
3.59k (x1.52)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.69k
3.45k (x1.28)
TOTAL
15.44k
24.51k (x1.59)

Multithread

i7-870

i5-3210M
Test#1 (Integers)
17.53k
20.18k (x1.15)
Test#2 (FP)
13.65k
19.96k (x1.46)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
7.93k
8.93k (x1.13)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.41k
4.6k (x1.35)
TOTAL
42.53k
53.67k (x1.26)

Performance/W
i7-870
i5-3210M
Test#1 (Integers)
185 points/W
577 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
144 points/W
570 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
83 points/W
255 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
36 points/W
131 points/W
TOTAL
448 points/W
1533 points/W

Performance/GHz
i7-870
i5-3210M
Test#1 (Integers)
1629 points/GHz
2772 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
1257 points/GHz
2864 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
655 points/GHz
1157 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
748 points/GHz
1114 points/GHz
TOTAL
4289 points/GHz
7908 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