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Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz Processor Review
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz Processor Review - PCSTATS
If you're a computer enthusiast, you're likely already familiar with Intel's Core i7 processors, which have been widely hailed as the fastest desktop processors available on the market today. Introduced at the end of 2008, Intel's newest desktop processors are finally maturing and becoming more accessible in the market. It's time to take a look a fresh look at the Core i7 processor.
 95% Rating:   
Filed under: CPU / Processors Published:  Author: 
External Mfg. Website: Intel Aug 15 2009   J. Apong  
Home > Reviews > CPU / Processors > Intel Core i7 920

CPU Power Consumption Tests


Intel claims that despite larger cache sizes and faster clock speeds, the Core i7 will actually give greater performance per watt than their previous quad-core processors. PCSTATS, of course, had to put this to the test.

As always, before any power measurements are taken the CPU power saving and clock speed throttling technologies like Cool 'n' Quiet, EIST (speedstep) and C1E power states are disabled. PCSTATS then set about stressing each core of the processor one by one, until all cores were loaded. For this we used Stress Prime (SP2004). The total system power consumption, measured in Watts, is monitored with an Extech Power Analyzer Datalogger (model 380803). T he power meter is located between the main 120AC supply and the PC's power supply so it measures the entire computer system, the difference between CPU loaded and unloaded states is the key value to pay attention to.

Total System Idle Power Draw
Processor Total System Power Draw
Intel Pentium 4 540 150 Watts
Intel Pentium D 840 165 Watts
Intel Pentium D 940 168 Watts
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 117 Watts
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 123 Watts
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 131 Watts
Intel Core i7 920 144 Watts
AMD Sempron 3600+ 120 Watts
AMD Athlon64 4000+ 163 Watts
AMD Athlon64 FX-60 127 Watts
AMD Athlon64 X2 4800+ 143 Watts
AMD Athlon64 X2 5000+ 156 Watts
AMD Athlon64 FX-62 168 Watts
AMD Athlon II X2 250 128 Watts
AMD Phenom II X2 550 BE

145 Watts

AMD Phenom II X3 720 155 Watts
AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE 148 Watts

The Core i7 920 is already holding up quite well against its closest competition, the AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition. Intel has managed to get their fastest quad-core processors to draw less power than their single-core processors from only a few years ago.

Total System Stressed Power Draw - All Cores/Threads
Processor Total System Power Draw (All Cores)
Intel Pentium 4 540 223 Watts
Intel Pentium D 840 (2 Core ) 240 Watts
Intel Pentium D 940 (2 Core Load) 253 Watts
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (2 Core Load) 156 Watts
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 (2 Core Load) 163 Watts
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 (2 Core Load) 158 Watts
Intel Core i7 920 (1 Thread Load) 161 Watts
Intel Core i7 920 (2 Thread Load) 172 Watts
Intel Core i7 920 (3 Thread Load) 185 Watts
Intel Core i7 920 (4 Thread Load) 197 Watts
Intel Core i7 920 (5 Thread Load)

197 Watts

Intel Core i7 920 (6 Thread Load) 204 Watts
Intel Core i7 920 (7 Thread Load) 209 Watts
Intel Core i7 920 (8 Thread Load) 213 Watts
AMD Sempron 3600+ 148 Watts
AMD Athlon64 4000+ 172 Watts
AMD Athlon64 FX-60 (2 Core Load) 196 Watts
AMD Athlon64 X2 4800+ (2 Core Load) 173 Watts
AMD Athlon64 X2 5000+ (2 Core Load) 207 Watts
AMD Athlon64 FX-62 (2 Core Load) 235 Watts
AMD Athlon II X2 250 (2 Core Load) 163 Watts
AMD Phenom II X2 550 (2 Core Load) 181 Watts
AMD Phenom II X3 720 (3 Core Load) 213 Watts
AMD Phenom II X4 955 (4 Core Load) 236 Watts

To simulate different CPU usage scenarios, we stressed the Core i7's four physical cores one by one, and then enabled HyperThreading and moved up to an eight-core load. Even with double the amount of threads running, the Core i7 920 is more efficient than the Phenom II X4 955 Black edition, and is still more efficient than the single-core Pentium 4 540 processor. Intel has made huge inroads with its focus on power efficiency.

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Contents of Article: Intel Core i7 920
 Pg 1.  Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz Processor Review
 Pg 2.  Intel Core i7 Technology
 Pg 3.  — CPU Power Consumption Tests
 Pg 4.  Overclocking Nahalem - eight cores, new architecture
 Pg 5.  32-bit CPU System Benchmarks: SYSMark 2007, PCMark Vantage
 Pg 6.  32-Bit CPU Synthetic Benchmarks: SiSoft Sandra Processor & Memory
 Pg 7.  32-Bit CPU Calculation Benchmarks: Super Pi, wPrime2.0
 Pg 8.  32-Bit CPU Calculation Benchmarks: ScienceMark2.3, WinRAR
 Pg 9.  32-Bit CPU Rendering Benchmarks: Cinebench R10, Bibble 5
 Pg 10.  32-Bit CPU Rendering Benchmarks: POV-Ray, 3.7, SPECviewPerf 10
 Pg 11.  32-Bit CPU Synthetic Gaming Benchmarks: 3DMark Vantage, 3DMark 06
 Pg 12.  32-Bit CPU Gaming Benchmarks: Crysis, FEAR
 Pg 13.  lots of power, is it what you want?

 
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