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Core i7-870 vs Core 2 Duo E8400


Description
The i7-870 is based on Nehalem architecture while the E8400 is based on Core.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the i7-870 gets a score of 67.1 k points while the E8400 gets 27.1 k points.

Summarizing, the i7-870 is 2.5 times faster than the E8400 . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
106e5
1067a
Core
Lynnfield
Wolfdale
Architecture
Base frecuency
2.933 GHz
3 GHz
Boost frecuency
3.6 GHz
3 GHz
Socket
LGA 1156
LGA 775
Cores/Threads
4/8
2/2
TDP
95 W
65 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
4x32+4x32 kB
2x32+2x32 kB
Cache L2
4x256 kB
6144 kB
Cache L3
8192 kB
0 kB
Date
September 2009
January 2008
Mean monothread perf.
18.13k points
17.28k points
Mean multithread perf.
67.13k points
27.11k 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
E8400
Test#1 (Integers)
1.98k
2.47k (x1.25)
Test#2 (FP)
4.36k
6.74k (x1.55)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.24k
2.87k (x1.28)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.72k
4.47k (x1.64)
TOTAL
11.3k
16.55k (x1.47)

Multithread

i7-870

E8400
Test#1 (Integers)
4.46k
4.64k (x1.04)
Test#2 (FP)
13.95k
12.36k (x0.89)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
7.54k
4.86k (x0.65)
Test#1 (Memory)
1.7k
1.96k (x1.16)
TOTAL
27.65k
23.82k (x0.86)

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
E8400
Test#1 (Integers)
7.43k
3.3k (x0.44)
Test#2 (FP)
4.96k
7.28k (x1.47)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.7k
2.88k (x1.07)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.04k
3.83k (x1.26)
TOTAL
18.13k
17.28k (x0.95)

Multithread

i7-870

E8400
Test#1 (Integers)
27.58k
6.3k (x0.23)
Test#2 (FP)
21.84k
13.71k (x0.63)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
13.55k
5.32k (x0.39)
Test#1 (Memory)
4.16k
1.78k (x0.43)
TOTAL
67.13k
27.11k (x0.4)

Performance/W
i7-870
E8400
Test#1 (Integers)
290 points/W
97 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
230 points/W
211 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
143 points/W
82 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
44 points/W
27 points/W
TOTAL
707 points/W
417 points/W

Performance/GHz
i7-870
E8400
Test#1 (Integers)
2063 points/GHz
1099 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
1379 points/GHz
2426 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
750 points/GHz
959 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
845 points/GHz
1278 points/GHz
TOTAL
5037 points/GHz
5762 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