Benchmark Results: Synthetics
Starting with 3DMark, we see that the CPU score results (in blue) rise dramatically from two to four CPU cores. After that, there is a notable increase in performance that coincides with price. But it appears that this benchmark favors the Intel processors (a pattern we've observed for years).
PCMark also shows the Intel platforms in an advantageous position. The only anomaly is a strange drop in hard disk performance when the Phenom II X2 560 processor is installed.
The CPU arithmetic benchmark shows that the Dhrystone iSSE4.2 tests perform better on Intel's architecture, while the Whetstone iSSE3 tests do better on AMD processors priced similarly.
The CPU multimedia scores wind up higher on the Phenom II processors, while the Intel chips demonstrate superior memory bandwidth, especially in the case of the Core i7-920 with its triple-channel memory interface.
