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Core 2 Quad Q9550 vs Core i7-720QM


Description
The Q9550 is based on Core architecture while the i7-720QM is based on Nehalem.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the Q9550 gets a score of 49 k points while the i7-720QM gets 38.8 k points.

Summarizing, the Q9550 is 1.3 times faster than the i7-720QM. To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
1067a
106e5
Core
Yorkfield
Clarksfield
Architecture
Base frecuency
2.833 GHz
1.6 GHz
Boost frecuency
2.833 GHz
2.8 GHz
Socket
LGA 775
988-pin micro-FCPGA8
Cores/Threads
4/4
4/8
TDP
95 W
45 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
128+128 kB
4x32+4x32 kB
Cache L2
12288 kB
4x256 kB
Cache L3
0 kB
6144 kB
Date
March 2008
September 2009
Mean monothread perf.
17.29k points
13.13k points
Mean multithread perf.
48.98k points
38.78k 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
Q9550
i7-720QM
Test#1 (Integers)
2.6k
1.49k (x0.57)
Test#2 (FP)
6.67k
3.4k (x0.51)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.72k
1.95k (x0.72)
Test#1 (Memory)
4.43k
2.08k (x0.47)
TOTAL
16.42k
8.92k (x0.54)

Multithread

Q9550

i7-720QM
Test#1 (Integers)
9.92k
4.23k (x0.43)
Test#2 (FP)
25.37k
11.4k (x0.45)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
10.31k
7.17k (x0.7)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.37k
4.51k (x1.34)
TOTAL
48.96k
27.32k (x0.56)

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
Q9550
i7-720QM
Test#1 (Integers)
3.28k
5.49k (x1.67)
Test#2 (FP)
7.28k
3.55k (x0.49)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.83k
2.01k (x0.71)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.9k
2.09k (x0.54)
TOTAL
17.29k
13.13k (x0.76)

Multithread

Q9550

i7-720QM
Test#1 (Integers)
11.72k
15.06k (x1.28)
Test#2 (FP)
24.91k
12.15k (x0.49)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
9.77k
7.18k (x0.73)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.57k
4.39k (x1.71)
TOTAL
48.98k
38.78k (x0.79)

Performance/W
Q9550
i7-720QM
Test#1 (Integers)
123 points/W
335 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
262 points/W
270 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
103 points/W
160 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
27 points/W
98 points/W
TOTAL
516 points/W
862 points/W

Performance/GHz
Q9550
i7-720QM
Test#1 (Integers)
1159 points/GHz
1962 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
2568 points/GHz
1267 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
1001 points/GHz
717 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
1375 points/GHz
745 points/GHz
TOTAL
6103 points/GHz
4691 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