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Core 2 Duo E8400 vs Core i7-920


Description
The E8400 is based on Core architecture while the i7-920 is based on Nehalem Westmere.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the E8400 gets a score of 27.1 k points while the i7-920 gets 47.2 k points.

Summarizing, the i7-920 is 1.7 times faster than the E8400 . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
1067a
106a5
Core
Wolfdale
Bloomfield
Architecture
Core
Base frecuency
3 GHz
2.667 GHz
Boost frecuency
3 GHz
2.993 GHz
Socket
LGA 775
LGA 1366
Cores/Threads
2/2
4/8
TDP
65 W
130 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
2x32+2x32 kB
32+32 kB
Cache L2
6144 kB
256 kB
Cache L3
0 kB
8192 kB
Date
January 2008
November 2008
Mean monothread perf.
17.28k points
16.33k points
Mean multithread perf.
27.11k points
47.2k 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
E8400
i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
2.47k
1.97k (x0.8)
Test#2 (FP)
6.74k
4.43k (x0.66)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.87k
2.75k (x0.96)
Test#1 (Memory)
4.47k
2.53k (x0.57)
TOTAL
16.55k
11.68k (x0.71)

Multithread

E8400

i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
4.64k
7.71k (x1.66)
Test#2 (FP)
12.36k
18.81k (x1.52)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
4.86k
13.76k (x2.83)
Test#1 (Memory)
1.96k
5.07k (x2.58)
TOTAL
23.82k
45.34k (x1.9)

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
E8400
i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
3.3k
6.12k (x1.86)
Test#2 (FP)
7.28k
4.76k (x0.65)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.88k
2.78k (x0.97)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.83k
2.67k (x0.7)
TOTAL
17.28k
16.33k (x0.94)

Multithread

E8400

i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
6.3k
19.26k (x3.06)
Test#2 (FP)
13.71k
14.96k (x1.09)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
5.32k
8.05k (x1.51)
Test#1 (Memory)
1.78k
4.92k (x2.77)
TOTAL
27.11k
47.2k (x1.74)

Performance/W
E8400
i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
97 points/W
148 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
211 points/W
115 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
82 points/W
62 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
27 points/W
38 points/W
TOTAL
417 points/W
363 points/W

Performance/GHz
E8400
i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
1099 points/GHz
2044 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
2426 points/GHz
1591 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
959 points/GHz
930 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
1278 points/GHz
891 points/GHz
TOTAL
5762 points/GHz
5457 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