A Brief Interlude: Phenom II Versus Core i5
Before we dig into the complete Phenom II X4 965 BE review, let's look at our approximated Core i5 comparison:
We’re used to seeing big bandwidth numbers from Core i7’s integrated memory controller and triple-channel DDR3 configurations. Pull one 64-bit channel out of contention and you’re still going to see significant throughput. In both test cases here, we’re looking at memory bandwidth using 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) DDR3-1333 at 7-7-7.
This represents a worst-case scenario for Core i5, since iTunes is not threaded. Normally, the chip would surge to 3.2 GHz in a situation like this one, with a single core active. Instead, it earns its win at 2.8 GHz—the best our Core i7-920 could muster.
Heavily optimized for threading, WinRAR is perhaps more demonstrative of how a Core i5 might perform in a situation with all four cores simultaneously taxed. The gain is, not surprisingly, more significant.
In both DivX and Xvid encoding, performance between the Core i5-750 and Phenom II X4 965 is close. DivX is able to take advantage of multiple cores, so its result isn’t expected to change much when Core i5 actually starts shipping. Xvid only hits 25% utilization on a quad-core platform, though, so there’s a fair chance that extra Turbo-induced frequency will give Intel’s offering a larger lead.
We only ran a handful of benchmarks here. These numbers are simulated, after all. Also, this is an AMD Phenom II review, and what matters most is how the Phenom II X4 965 fares against its competition today.
Even still, we think it’s important to be cognizant of what’s coming, so if you want to draw your own comparisons between today’s AMD launch and Intel’s planned roadmap, bear in mind that Core i5 loses one memory channel and Hyper-Threading, but gains significant one- and two-core performance thanks to a beefed-up Turbo feature. Depending on the application, that should let you derive your own expectations of Core i7-920 and Core i5-750, both with 2.66 GHz stock clocks.
Related Stories :
- AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE: Same Speed, Less Power
- AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Review
- Meet Zosma: AMD's Quad-Core Phenom II X4 960T Gets Unlocked
- AMD's Phenom II X4 TWKR: We Give It The LN2 Treatment
- DDR3 Memory Scaling On AMD's Phenom II X4
- AMD Phenom II X4 955 Overclocked to 7.1 GHz
- Phenom II X4 955: AMD's Dragon Platform Evolves
- AMD's 3.2 GHz Phenom II X4 955 Dated
- AMD 3.2GHz Phenom II X4 Coming in April
- Phenom II X4 3.6GHz and RV740 This Year?
Hmmm...i hope the rest of the OC better. I also hope that AMD won't have to price cut too much to compete with i5. Either way, AMD really needs something new and fast....Hopefully they'll do well with the dx11 cards.
ugh... i want to love AMD but I'm not sure this cuts it. I mean, if you get an AMD Phenom II 955 and the 965, they're completely identical except for multiplier. And you can get both processors to 3.8Ghz most of the time. So really whats new???? The 965 has just got a faster stock frequency. But anybody who buys a 955 or 965 is prolly an enthusiast that will end up OCing them to ~3.8Ghz. So just go for the cheaper 955. The 965 sounds like AMD is trying to make something "new", but it's just another Phenom II 45nm chip w/ the same 6mb cache, etc. They need to release a new line for these up coming Intel chips.
Excellent timing, i was just wondering when i was going to see a performance review for the new 965. Though i would like to see a benchmark comparing the overclocking potential of the 955 to the 965, im curious if its just a higher binned processor or the same one just clocked higher.
I better pick up the 955 BE before they are all gone. Doesn't seem like the 965 has any advantage other than the stock clock, and of course I don't plan on leaving it at stock
.
Good article! Judging from what AMD did with 65nm Phenom, they would perhaps release 125W version in early 2010. However, that's pure projection. I will probably get this one and wait for AMD 32nm. Somebody got to support the underdog. Unfortunately, this is the same situation AMD faced during mid 2006 all over again. Intel 32nm is going to be awesome, and it seems that AMD is going to be left without an answer in H1 2010 until they can upgrade production for 32nm.
but that Q9550 can overclock well, to the level of the phenom II 965 here and beyond, and clock for clock it is faster than phenom II.
Can't wait for a AM3 vs LGA 1156 battle soon!
AMD has a looong way to go.
Will this run on an old AsuS Crosshair NV590A-SLI motherboard? I surely do hope so...
Pleasant surprise. I love you AMD!
wow, those are some pretty ordinary results for AMD.
AMD got rox0red by Intel.
Why_Me
In what?
Games, your everiday programs? I think not.
Your useless synthetic benchs? As it would matter...
Actually the prices on street are:
PII 945 95w $169
PII 955 125w $199
*newegg
intel fanboism, dont like it
Why_Me
In what?
Games, your everiday programs? I think not.
Your useless synthetic benchs? As it would matter...
Actually the prices on street are:
PII 945 95w $169
PII 955 125w $199
*newegg
I'l explain my comment. The i7 920 can easily be over clocked to 4.0GHz or better (air cooling)...especially with these new D0 stepping i7 920's that are commonly hitting 4.4GHz on air cooling. The i7 in the review was run at stock speed. Down below is an i7 920 OEM that goes for $251.88 w/the promo code. Over clock the 17 920 and it destroy's that AMD 955 even more so than what was showed in that review. AMD is moving backwards, not forward.
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=I7-920 $271.88 Free Ground Shipping
$20 off with Code MINIPICO20 Intel Core i7 Processor i7-920 2.66GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU, OEM
Where did this thing come from?
I must be out of the loop.
Not bad,I guess but it is only closing the gap between the Phenom chips and the i7 920 in minute levels.
I want to see AMD bitch slap intel like they did during the 2003-2006 era.
You have your years mixed up. AMD was owning Intel way before 2003, and it came to an end in 2004 when Intel came out the the core2duo. Since then Intel hasn't looked back.
Would anyone buy this over the i7? Not seeing any reason why
core2duo was released in 2006.
The AMD owning saga started in 2000 with the Athlons. A bit more performance at same mhz but for less price. The only con was the lack of quality mobos.
C2D came out in late August 2006