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Xeon X3430 vs Core i7-920


Description
The X3430 is based on Nehalem architecture while the i7-920 is based on Nehalem Westmere.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the X3430 gets a score of 55.7 k points while the i7-920 gets 47.2 k points.

Summarizing, the X3430 is 1.2 times faster than the i7-920 . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
106e5
106a5
Core
Lynnfield
Bloomfield
Architecture
Nehalem
Base frecuency
2.4 GHz
2.667 GHz
Boost frecuency
2.8 GHz
2.993 GHz
Socket
LGA1156
LGA 1366
Cores/Threads
4/4
4/8
TDP
95 W
130 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
4x32+4x32 kB
32+32 kB
Cache L2
4x256 kB
256 kB
Cache L3
8192 kB
8192 kB
Date
October 2009
November 2008
Mean monothread perf.
15.74k points
16.33k points
Mean multithread perf.
55.66k 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
X3430
i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
1.75k
1.97k (x1.13)
Test#2 (FP)
3.95k
4.43k (x1.12)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.29k
2.75k (x1.2)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.66k
2.53k (x0.95)
TOTAL
10.65k
11.68k (x1.1)

Multithread

X3430

i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
6.81k
7.71k (x1.13)
Test#2 (FP)
15.37k
18.81k (x1.22)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
8.9k
13.76k (x1.55)
Test#1 (Memory)
4.42k
5.07k (x1.15)
TOTAL
35.49k
45.34k (x1.28)

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
X3430
i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
6.41k
6.12k (x0.96)
Test#2 (FP)
4.27k
4.76k (x1.11)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.38k
2.78k (x1.17)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.67k
2.67k (x1)
TOTAL
15.74k
16.33k (x1.04)

Multithread

X3430

i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
25.19k
19.26k (x0.76)
Test#2 (FP)
16.76k
14.96k (x0.89)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
9.33k
8.05k (x0.86)
Test#1 (Memory)
4.37k
4.92k (x1.13)
TOTAL
55.66k
47.2k (x0.85)

Performance/W
X3430
i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
265 points/W
148 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
176 points/W
115 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
98 points/W
62 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
46 points/W
38 points/W
TOTAL
586 points/W
363 points/W

Performance/GHz
X3430
i7-920
Test#1 (Integers)
2288 points/GHz
2044 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
1527 points/GHz
1591 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
852 points/GHz
930 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
954 points/GHz
891 points/GHz
TOTAL
5621 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