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Core 2 Quad Q8400 vs Core i7-920


Description
The Q8400 is based on Core architecture while the i7-920 is based on Nehalem Westmere.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the Q8400 gets a score of 51.9 k points while the i7-920 gets 47.2 k points.

Summarizing, the Q8400 is 1.1 times faster than the i7-920 . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
1067a
106a5
Core
Yorkfield
Bloomfield
Architecture
Core
Base frecuency
2.666 GHz
2.667 GHz
Boost frecuency
2.666 GHz
2.993 GHz
Socket
LGA 775
LGA 1366
Cores/Threads
4/4
4/8
TDP
95 W
130 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
128+128 kB
32+32 kB
Cache L2
4096 kB
256 kB
Cache L3
0 kB
8192 kB
Date
April 2009
November 2008
Mean monothread perf.
14.04k points
16.33k points
Mean multithread perf.
51.92k 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
Q8400
i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
2.44k
1.97k (x0.81)
Test#2 (FP)
6.24k
4.43k (x0.71)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.62k
2.75k (x1.05)
Test#1 (Memory)
1.43k
2.53k (x1.77)
TOTAL
12.73k
11.68k (x0.92)

Multithread

Q8400

i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
9.71k
7.71k (x0.79)
Test#2 (FP)
24.81k
18.81k (x0.76)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
10.51k
13.76k (x1.31)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.03k
5.07k (x2.5)
TOTAL
47.05k
45.34k (x0.96)

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
Q8400
i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
3.08k
6.12k (x1.98)
Test#2 (FP)
6.8k
4.76k (x0.7)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.73k
2.78k (x1.02)
Test#1 (Memory)
1.42k
2.67k (x1.88)
TOTAL
14.04k
16.33k (x1.16)

Multithread

Q8400

i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
12.25k
19.26k (x1.57)
Test#2 (FP)
26.84k
14.96k (x0.56)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
10.82k
8.05k (x0.74)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.02k
4.92k (x2.44)
TOTAL
51.92k
47.2k (x0.91)

Performance/W
Q8400
i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
129 points/W
148 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
283 points/W
115 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
114 points/W
62 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
21 points/W
38 points/W
TOTAL
547 points/W
363 points/W

Performance/GHz
Q8400
i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
1157 points/GHz
2044 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
2551 points/GHz
1591 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
1025 points/GHz
930 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
532 points/GHz
891 points/GHz
TOTAL
5265 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