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Xeon W3550 vs Core i7-930


Description
The W3550 is based on architecture while the i7-930 is based on Westmere.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the W3550 gets a score of 73.2 k points while the i7-930 gets 69.4 k points.

Summarizing, the W3550 is 1.1 times faster than the i7-930 . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
106a5
106a5
Core
Bloomfield
Bloomfield
Architecture
Base frecuency
3.066 GHz
2.8 GHz
Boost frecuency
3.333 GHz
3.067 GHz
Socket
LGA 1366
LGA 1366
Cores/Threads
4 /4
4/8
TDP
130 W
130 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
64 kB
32+32 kB
Cache L2
256 kB
256 kB
Cache L3
8192 kB
8192 kB
Date
August 2009
February 2010
Mean monothread perf.
20.24k points
17.58k points
Mean multithread perf.
73.21k points
69.39k 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
i7-930
Test#1 (Integers)
2.3k
1.94k (x0.84)
Test#2 (FP)
5.21k
4.38k (x0.84)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.31k
2.64k (x0.8)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.09k
2.41k (x0.78)
TOTAL
13.92k
11.37k (x0.82)

Multithread

W3550

i7-930
Test#1 (Integers)
8.75k
7.3k (x0.84)
Test#2 (FP)
19.8k
19.36k (x0.98)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
12.38k
13.43k (x1.09)
Test#1 (Memory)
6.17k
2.01k (x0.33)
TOTAL
47.09k
42.11k (x0.89)

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
i7-930
Test#1 (Integers)
8.34k
7.28k (x0.87)
Test#2 (FP)
5.56k
4.82k (x0.87)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.26k
2.86k (x0.88)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.08k
2.62k (x0.85)
TOTAL
20.24k
17.58k (x0.87)

Multithread

W3550

i7-930
Test#1 (Integers)
32.5k
28.09k (x0.86)
Test#2 (FP)
21.59k
21.62k (x1)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
12.85k
14.83k (x1.15)
Test#1 (Memory)
6.27k
4.85k (x0.77)
TOTAL
73.21k
69.39k (x0.95)

Performance/W
W3550
i7-930
Test#1 (Integers)
250 points/W
216 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
166 points/W
166 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
99 points/W
114 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
48 points/W
37 points/W
TOTAL
563 points/W
534 points/W

Performance/GHz
W3550
i7-930
Test#1 (Integers)
2502 points/GHz
2372 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
1669 points/GHz
1571 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
978 points/GHz
933 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
925 points/GHz
855 points/GHz
TOTAL
6073 points/GHz
5732 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