Core 2 Duo processors: shock and tremor
Date: 14.07.2006
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System benchmarks
We start with traditional system suites.
Both the new processors showed impressive results while
running PCMark05, however the most impressive "spikes" that finally
affected the overall PCMark Score were seen in the CPU and Memory
tests. Especially impressive were the peaks of performance boost while
handling 4 K and 192 K portions, which shows an effective organization
of the cache operation.
Tests run with SiSoft Sandra 2005 show simply a hurricane
performance boost. While formerly the results were compared on the base
of clock speeds alone, now can't regard the results for Intel Core 2
Duo E6700 and Core 2 Duo E6700 as other than tricks of
"extraterrestrial" technology – even the dual-core SmithField
was left well behind.
It should be noted that, as a continuation of this topic, in
the forthcoming material we intend to give a special emphasis to the
research of operation of new chips while running applications optimized
for multithreading – e.g. MP3-encoding, 3D rendering,
archiving etc., as well as simultaneous execution of several similar
tasks. However, in our first material in Core 2 Duo chips we decided to
give a maximum emphasis to the most spectacular 3D tests. There is
indeed something worth looking at.
3D benchmarks
While the old tests like AquaMark 3 or 3DMark03 can't thrill
anybody any longer with tens of thousands "marks", the substantial
superiority of the new architecture at the results of the most recent
3DMark05 and especially 3DMark06 simply invalidate all what was
formerly achieved.
We try hard to restrain our emotions, but we can't put it in a
different way: Intel simply knocked out its old NetBurst architecture.
It is even a nightmare to imagine how Athlon 64 will rank versus Core 2
Duo processors …
Well, next comes a cruel but needed Coup de Grâce.
Gaming tests.
A complete unconditional surrender. The white flag and
entreaty for mercy cried by the party biting the dust are neither seen
not heard because of the noise of tossed up hats and applause to the
winner.
Final Words
We see a complete victory of the Conroe core and the Core
micro architecture. The consolidated complex of new technologies
– increase in the number of commands executed per cycle up to
four; efficient power consumption, rearrangement of the cache memory
operation, distributed L2 cache; optimization of the memory subsystem
operation, handling 128-bit commands per cycle and much more - have
brought Intel to the cherished goal, sharp rise in the key indicators
of modern processors - performance per cycle, and performance per watt.
For so long we have not seen a new processor architecture that
is able showing a multiple superiority in
performance! In view of the fact that any new processor architecture
within half a year after the announcement is building up its
capabilities, it is even fearful to imagine the potential surprises the
Core 2 Duo series is bringing to us. We should note that the retail
will see forthcoming Core 2 Duo chips of even more power-saving
stepping that that presented in our tests.
What's next? How regrettable it is to inform, but it's high
time the chips built on the Intel NetBurst architecture retired, and
the niche of inexpensive low-end processors has to be cleared for the
Core 2 Duo so that they could earlier reach at least the mainstream
sector. As regards the rivals from the AMD camp, we need to run a
series of tests to make declare the final verdict. Anyway, the
intuition prompts you that the new Core 2 Duo are too tough for them.
And that seems to be that way for a long time.
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