Efficiency Analysis: Core i3 Trumps Atom On The Desktop
Features
By
Patrick Schmid and Achim Roos
published
Atom was designed to be a low-cost, low-power solution, but its value in the desktop space is debatable if you consider performance. We pit the cheapest Core i3 against Intel's Atom on a performance-per-dollar and a per-watt basis to see which is better.
Processor Comparison Table
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| Processor Comparison Table | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Intel Core i3-530 | Intel Atom D510 | Intel Atom 230 |
| Code Name | Clarkdale | Pineview | Diamondville |
| Launch Date | Q1'10 | Q1'10 | Q2'08 |
| Processor Number | i3-530 | D510 | 230 |
| # of Cores | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| # of Threads | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Clock Speed | 2.93 GHz | 1.66 GHz | 1.6 GHz |
| Cache | 4 MB Smart Cache | 1 MB L2 Cache | 512 KB L2 Cache |
| Bus/Core Ratio | 22 | Row 8 - Cell 2 | 12 |
| Bus Type | DMI | DMI | FSB |
| System Bus | 2.5 GT/s | Row 10 - Cell 2 | 533 MHz |
| FSB Parity | Row 11 - Cell 1 | Row 11 - Cell 2 | No |
| Instruction Set | 64-bit | 64-bit | 64-bit |
| Instruction Set Extensions | SSE4.2 | SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
| Embedded | No | Yes | No |
| Supplemental SKU | No | No | No |
| Lithography | 32 nm | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Max TDP | 73W | 13W | 4W |
| VID Voltage Range | 0.6500V-1.400V | 0.800V-1.175V | 0.9V-1.1625V |
| 1ku Bulk Budgetary Price (4/10) | $113.00 | $63.00 | $29.00 |
| Max Memory Size (dependent on memory type) | 16GB | 4GB | n/a |
| Memory Types | DDR3-1066/1333 | DDR2-667/800 | n/a |
| # of Memory Channels | 2 | 1 | n/a |
| Max Memory Bandwidth | 21 GB/s | 6.4 GB/s | n/a |
| Physical Address Extensions | 36-bit | 32-bit | n/a |
| ECC Memory Supported | Row 25 - Cell 1 | No | n/a |
| Graphics Specification | |||
| Integrated Graphics | Yes | Yes | n/a |
| Intel® HD Graphics | Yes | No | n/a |
| Graphics Base Frequency | 733 MHz | 400 MHz | n/a |
| Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI) | Yes | n/a | n/a |
| Intel® Clear Video HD Technology | Yes | n/a | n/a |
| Dual Display Capable | Yes | Yes | n/a |
| Expansion Options | |||
| PCI Express Revision | 2 | n/a | n/a |
| PCI Express Configurations | 1x16, 2x8 | n/a | n/a |
| # of PCI Express Ports | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Package Specifications | |||
| Max CPU Configuration | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Tcase | 72.6°C | Row 39 - Cell 2 | 85.2°C |
| Tjunction | Row 40 - Cell 1 | 100°C | Row 40 - Cell 3 |
| Package Size | 37.5 mm x 37.5 mm | 22 mm x 22 mm | 22 mm x 22 mm |
| Lithography | 32 nm | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Processing Die Size | 81 mm2 | 87 mm2 | 26 mm2 |
| # of Processing Die Transistors | 382 million | 176 million | 47 million |
| Graphics and IMC Lithography | 45 nm | n/a | n/a |
| Graphics and IMC Die Size | 114 mm2 | n/a | n/a |
| # of Graphics and IMC Die Transistors | 177 million | n/a | n/a |
| Sockets Supported | FCLGA1156 | FCBGA559 | PBGA437 |
| Halogen Free Options Available | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Technologies | |||
| Intel® Turbo Boost Technology | No | No | No |
| Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) | Yes | No | No |
| Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) | No | No | No |
| Intel® Trusted Execution Technology | No | No | No |
| AES New Instructions | No | No | Row 56 - Cell 3 |
| Intel® 64 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Idle States | Yes | No | No |
| Enhanced Intel® Speedstep Technology | Yes | No | No |
| Intel® Demand Based Switching | No | No | No |
| Thermal Monitoring Technologies | No | No | No |
| Execute Disable Bit | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Source: Intel ark (ark.intel.com)
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