Overclocking: Core i7 Vs. Phenom II

[chaos23]

Looking forward to the Phenom II AM3 vs Core i7 review. Next time I hope Tom's hire a better writer.. one with both analytic and overclocking skills. Peace

 

[apache_lives]

Heh "Phenom II 6ghz" - it takes 600mhz more to beat a Q6600 at stock (P2 3ghz vs Q6600 @ 2.4ghz), what about this overclock of the 9 series - http://xtreview.com/addcomment-id-4128-view-Intel-QX9650-extreme-overclocking.html - 6+ghz validated etc - intels old series still has the performance crown if you want to compare those "extreme" overclocks 😉

 

[Mato]

Why didn't you test the Intel with the stock cooler like you did with the Phenom II? Because Ajigo MF091 is nothing more than a euphemism for AMD stock cooler!

 

[GustavVonSlayer]

Please bear in mind that the intel uses 6Gb of DDR3 memory and the amd is still on 4Gb of DDR2 memory, which will explain the performance bottle neck. I'm willing to bet that the amd will be doing alot better once the new DDR3 supporting chipsets are released.

 

[squatchman]

How much memory does a CPU benchmark take up ??

 

[GustavVonSlayer]

CPU benchmarking takes up about 25% to 50% of the installed memory. The problem is not just with the amount of memory used, but the speed and amount of channels availible between the memory and the CPU.
1. The intel has 2Gb more memory availible.
2. The intel uses DDR3 memory that's running at 1333Mhz. (Amd, DDR2 running at 1066Mhz)
3. DDR3 uses triple channel tech. while DDR2 is only duel channel tech.

 

[randomizer]

Tripple channel doesn't make a huge difference right now (ignoring synthetics), but with octa-cores on the horizon, it will soon.

 

[hannibal]

Yep! Randomizer is right. The tripple channel is not so big thing at this moment. And when you look AMDs own pictures, the DDR3 seems to introduce relative little more speed. It will be closer, but the more interesting thing is the power comsumption, where AMD should take even better lead. It's guite funny, because Intel should have advantage in that area because of their small electronic leakage...

 

[blmage]

JAN 15 2009, I built my first PhenomII System, EXACTLY my 100'th system build, I can very much say with my "limited" experience that the OC was all wrong for the processor in this Article, all purchased from Newegg using:
2 G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 Dual Channel Kit F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK Item #: N82E16820231148 $99.98 ($49.99 ea)
1 ASUS M3A78-T AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard Item #: N82E16813131331 $149.99
1 Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116493 $179.99
1 Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive Item #: N82E16822136260 $229.99
1 OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply Item #: N82E16817341017 $89.99
1 ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler Item #: N82E16835185125
$29.99
1 Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Item #: N82E16811129042 $47.99
1 AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor Model HDZ940XCGIBOX - Item #: N82E16819103471
2 ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-20B1LT - Retail Item #: N82E16827135183 $59.98 ($29.99 ea)

End stable system (confirmed 8hrs Prime95) : Phenom @ 3.8±Ghz, FSB @ 254 multiplier at 15, Memory was set to 667 due to FSB increase ending 847MHz *passed memtest86 test one pass* (this build was for someone else did not have time to "tweak" that further, wanted 8GB so went with memory on the QVL for the ASUS System for quick build) 5-5-5-20, in 8 HRS Prime95 the core temps did not exceed 53.375°c according to AOC with room ambient 68°f - all voltages were "auto" because it was a bit of a rush job...

 

[sighQ2]

Again you smokescreen your tests - and again I accuse you of bias and general cheating.

I refuse to read this. And I have heard you can't oclok on other sites already.

I stopped reading when you introduced the "slight-of-hand" in the spintel config = UNCLEAR - license to cheat.

"As a result, we’re benchmarking with Asus’ Rampage II Extreme and an engineering-sample processor. That particular motherboard isn’t going to be the budget-buyer’s choice, nor is an i7 920 ES going to be representative of retail product"

1st you show the config, then you switch systems immediately - bye bye loser!

You cred sux.

Try again, I will tell you again - u r paid by spintel to FUD.

sigh
.

 

[blmage]

Purpose of my previous message is that an Old School OC works well with PhenomII, try bumping the FSB! Stable 3.8+GHz at 254Mhz FSB 53.375°c per core (as per AOC), CPU Temp @ 46-47°c w/68°f ambient.

 

[Guest]

What an annoying thing to do: to change the semantics of the graphics in game benchmarks!
In synthetic benchmarks, processors are marked with individual colours.
In game benchmarks, processors are set in different groups while colours mark resolutions.
Some consistency, please!

 

[apache_lives]

Arrrrgggg geez DDR1 DDR2 DDR3 we have all see this pathetic BS in the past - go check out the first benchmarks comparing the old Socket939 (2xDDR1) vs SocketAM2 (2xDDR2) - performance was actually lost rather then gained because of additional latencies etc if i remember correctly, and the benifit wasnt the mhz (which was 667 at the time comparing to DDR1-400) but rather the IMC/memory change to DDR2 lowered the thermal/power figures and translated into higher clocks etc

BENCHMARKS: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-reinvents,1258-28.html


Go check out the latency/timings of DDR3-1333 vs DDR2-1066 - its a small % gain in raw MHz vs a high gain in timings/cycles etc - all noobs fall for it.

Tri-channel - same deal check out the gains from 1, 2 and 3 channels enabled - small numbers, but if your buying i7 then you would have the $$$ for more memory etc.

BENCHMARKS: http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1665/5/intel_core_i7_memory_analysis_can_dual_channel_cut_it/index.html



Most of the benchmarks listed and tested with are 32-bit limited and are LIMITED TO BELOW 4GB OF MEMORY - THEY CANT EVEN TOUCH THE FULL 4GB ON THE AMD SYSTEM.

 

[Guest]

Okay, AMD Recommends that you can overclock to 4GHz on "High-End Air Cooling". The air cooling listed is a not very good CPU Cooler for overclocking.
Honestly, I look up to this reviewer. Investigate your facts before you go around jumping to false overclocking conclusions.

 

[weinheimer]

The Phenom II is in an entirely different price category than the i7.

The i7 is at least $300 more and likely $400-500 if buying quality components on both sides. The Phenom II should be compared with the Q9400 with ONE video card and all other components the same. Customers are this smart even if editors and web authors are not.

 

[Guest]

I would have like to have seen a more fair test. The Intel rig had ddr3 RAM yet you put more of it then the ddr2 in the AMD rig. It would have been a better CPU vs. CPU bench-mark-off. PS: There are only two reasons that I can deduce too. 1 - You didn't have money for it or the MB only supported 4Gb. 2 - It takes a heavy breath out of me to call this Intel propaganda. There's no reason to have any more of a PC in your house then that AMD rig anyways.

{G-skill RAM}NewEgg
6 Gb. DDR3 1600Mhz $170.00
8 Gb. DDR2 1066Mhz $90.00

 

[chaos23]

Hey Mr. Chris "Overclocker" Angelini you can talk to Team Finland (Sampsa & SF3D)if you don't have much experience in overclocking maybe they'll give you a free lesson. lol

 

[apache_lives]

heh reguardless of all this crap "4ghz on air" and whatever, at the end of the day the motherboard makers have to revise the bios to get a better overclock, new revision motherboards, and AMD will revise the cpu a little too so sooner or later you will also get those few hundred extra mhz anyhow - take a look at the Original Intel Q6600 vs the Later G0 Stepping Q6600 - big difference for a chip "of the same specs and make" etc, aswell as gigabyte's P35 series motherboards - 3 bios releases made a difference!

These are early P2's - its a good think to see 4 cores running at near 4ghz NOW, and concidering the last disaster - Phenom (original) (3ghz if your lucky, Core2 not clocking near as high etc).

 

[justchuck69]

so the price difference( in the configured systems intel vs amd) is almost enough to buy another ati 4870 x2 i wonder how much difference that would make in game ( mostly fps) play?
thanks chris for a good review
also i wonder how much a am3 mother board will help the performance of the phenom 2 when they come out ? any speculation ?
take care and good luck
chuck

 

[justchuck69]

would make the amd about 250 dollars more ( 4870 x2 about 550 each)^

 

[tester24]

Not that it would matter much but I think once am3 motherboards come out with DDR3 supported you might get better numbers. As for overclocking I did see an article where they got 4Ghz with a Phenom II on air cooled but as stated above everyone's results will vary. I do see AMD with a price advantage for both the processor price and RAM, the fact you don't have to buy a tri channel kit just to run it.

 

[GoDM1N]

I have to question their over clock on the AMD CPU. If their other lap in Germany were able to get it stable at 3.8ghz, why cant they?

 

[Guest]

Why they didn't run the test with not overlocked systems too? It would have been great to see how overlocked AMD would perform against not overlocked Intel.

 

[cybalex]

I think that phenom's upgradability is cool..
It would be nice to see a benchmark comparison like Athlon64x2 Vs PhenomII on the same Am2+
platform (upgrade).
what would one gain by going this way ....

 

[apache_lives]

[citation][nom]cybalex[/nom]I think that phenom's upgradability is cool..It would be nice to see a benchmark comparison like Athlon64x2 Vs PhenomII on the same Am2+platform (upgrade).what would one gain by going this way ....[/citation]

THG at least used to do that - see if they bother.