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Xeon W3550 vs Core i3-2120


Description
The W3550 is based on architecture while the i3-2120 is based on Sandy Bridge.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the W3550 gets a score of 73.2 k points while the i3-2120 gets 51.2 k points.

Summarizing, the W3550 is 1.4 times faster than the i3-2120 . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
106a5
206a7
Core
Bloomfield
Sandy Bridge
Architecture
Base frecuency
3.066 GHz
3.3 GHz
Boost frecuency
3.333 GHz
3.3 GHz
Socket
LGA 1366
LGA 1155
Cores/Threads
4 /4
2/2
TDP
130 W
65 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
64 kB
2x32+2x32 kB
Cache L2
256 kB
2x256 kB
Cache L3
8192 kB
3072 kB
Date
August 2009
February 2012
Mean monothread perf.
20.24k points
24.23k points
Mean multithread perf.
73.21k points
53.48k 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
W3550
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
2.3k
2.7k (x1.17)
Test#2 (FP)
5.21k
7.4k (x1.42)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.31k
3.82k (x1.15)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.09k
2.99k (x0.97)
TOTAL
13.92k
16.91k (x1.21)

Multithread

W3550

i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
8.75k
6.36k (x0.73)
Test#2 (FP)
19.8k
16.87k (x0.85)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
12.38k
9.4k (x0.76)
Test#1 (Memory)
6.17k
2.91k (x0.47)
TOTAL
47.09k
35.53k (x0.75)

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
W3550
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
8.34k
9.82k (x1.18)
Test#2 (FP)
5.56k
7.9k (x1.42)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.26k
3.98k (x1.22)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.08k
2.95k (x0.96)
TOTAL
20.24k
24.64k (x1.22)

Multithread

W3550

i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
32.5k
20.46k (x0.63)
Test#2 (FP)
21.59k
17.77k (x0.82)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
12.85k
10.03k (x0.78)
Test#1 (Memory)
6.27k
2.94k (x0.47)
TOTAL
73.21k
51.21k (x0.7)

Performance/W
W3550
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
250 points/W
315 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
166 points/W
273 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
99 points/W
154 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
48 points/W
45 points/W
TOTAL
563 points/W
788 points/W

Performance/GHz
W3550
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
2502 points/GHz
2974 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
1669 points/GHz
2393 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
978 points/GHz
1206 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
925 points/GHz
895 points/GHz
TOTAL
6073 points/GHz
7468 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