CPU Intel E7200 (Wolfdale)
Performance tests
Since the graphs are vast enough, we advise that you should note the following points. First, we tested the performance of E7200 versus E6700 which offers closest clock speed. Secondly, we examined the effect of difference in L2 cache sizes in Wolfdale - 3 MB versus Conroe - 4 MB. For that, we configured E7200 in a way so that it match the E6550. That is, we reduced the multiplier to 7 and raised the FSB to 333 MHz. Therefore, both the processors were running at the same clock speed 2.33 GHz, and the difference in speed depends solely on the architectural differences of the cores (primarily by the different sizes of the L2 cache). Finally, we compared the performance at overclocking.
In our test setup, we used the following hardware:
| Test setup |
| Motherboard |
ASUS P5E3 Premium (Intel X48)
Gigabyte EP35-DS4 (Intel P35
|
| Cooler |
Gigabyte G-Power
|
| Video card |
ASUS 8800 GT (GeForce 8800 GT; PCI Express x16)
Driver version: 169.25 |
| Sound card |
- |
| HDD |
Samsung HD160JJ |
| Memory |
2x 1024 MB Qimonda DDR3-1333
|
| Housing |
FSP 550W |
| OS |
MS Vista |
Let's first take a look at the results of synthetic benchmarks.
Now on to the gaming benchmarks (performance in fps).
Tests of application software.
Video encoding (DivX, Xvid) was measured in seconds, i.e. the less the better.
Data compression (WinRAR) was measured in Kb/sec, i.e. the more, the better.
Final Words
From the viewpoint of the regular user, the new 45-nm dual-core processors make a minor difference in terms of attraction as compared to the 65-nm predecessors. Their major advantages are about the lower heat emission level (at that, nor 65-nm products had anything to complain about), as well as support for the SSE 4.1 instruction set which should add to the performance in the optimized software. Similarly, users will get a performance gain in those applications whose performance depends on the L2 cache size.
If we come back to the 4-core processors, here 45-nm products are more attractive since with this number of cores heat emission plays a more important part.
As regards the PC enthusiasts, 45-nm processors appear to be the best choice for them. The thing is, the clock speed 4 GHz becomes quite attainable without extreme overclocking and without using high-quality components. For instance, the highest clock speed for the 65-nm processor (retail) E6550 is 3.85 GHz (at our test lab), while overclocking of the 45-nm E7200 engineering sample allowed us to attain the 4 GHz mark. Therefore, retail processors of the 7th series will overclock even better than that!
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