Test Systems
| System Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Processors | AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ EE Model ADO4600IAA5CUAMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Model ADA3800IAA5CUAMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ EE SFF Model ADD3800IAT5CUIntel Core 2 Duo E6400, 2.13 GHz, FSB1066, 2 MB Cache |
| Motherboards | Asus M2NPV-VM, GeForce 6150, Socket AM2Gigabyte GA-965G-DS3, Intel G965 Express, LGA775 |
| RAM | A-Data Vitesta DDR2-5332x 1 GB, CL3-3-3-9 |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD150 GB, 10,000 RPM, 16 MB Cache, SATA/150 |
| Networking | Marvell Yukon Gigabit PHY, enabled, offline |
| Graphics | GeForce 6150 Integrated, 128 MB (AM2)Intel G965 Integrated, Dynamic Memory Allocation (LGA775) |
| Power Supply | OCZ ModStream OCZ52012U - 520 W modular |
| System Software & Drivers | |
| OS | Windows XP Professional 5.1.2600, Service Pack 2 |
| DirectX Version | 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904) |
| Platform Driver | Nvidia nForce C51/MCP51 Chipset Driver V8.24 (AM2)Intel INF 8.1.0.1006 (LGA775) |
| Graphics Driver | Nvidia GeForce 61X0 Display Driver V8.2.0.5Intel Graphics 6.14.10.4642 |
Benchmark Results
Energy Efficient Athlon 64 X2 models provide exactly the same performance as standard voltage versions, allowing us to refer to our Interactive CPU Charts for performance comparisons. This also lets us to limit the scope of this article to measuring power consumption at maximum and minimum CPU load, using our Prime95 torture test.
Power Consumption Test Setup
Extech's model 380803 power analyzer was used for both platforms. The remaining configuration was based on parts available at our new lab in Culver City.
The Asus M2NPV-VM uses Nvidia's GeForce 6150 chipset for ultimate power savings with onboard graphics. A PCI Express x16 slot enables the use of higher performance graphics cards when desired.
The Gigabyte GA-965G-DS3 works with Intel's latest G965 chipset to provide power savings to Core 2 Duo processors, again offering a PCI Express x16 graphics upgrade path.
