Games performance
Most 3D games are still not optimised for multi-core chips, which means that graphics cards remain the chief factor affecting game performance. However, the CPU test in the 3DMark Vantage benchmark does exploit several cores and reveals big differences between the processors.
Even so, the overall 3DMark score does not reveal any significant advantages for the new Nehalem processors. To a large extent, this result is confirmed by the tests with real games, including Farcry 2, Crysis, F.E.A.R and Call of Juarez.
3D Mark Vantage tests: longer bars are better.
3D gaming tests (frames per second): longer bars are better.
Conclusion
It's clear that Intel has now implemented a great many of the features long offered by AMD processors. It's equally clear the Intel has taken those features and improved them. For example, the integrated memory controller in the new Nehalem processors is an impressive demonstration of what's possible with this technology. The re-emergence of the hyperthreading technology that originated with the Pentium 4 is also extremely successful.
In numerous tests, the 2.66GHz Core i7 920 is a better proposition at AU$2800.00 than Intel's previous fastest processor, the Core 2 Extreme QX9775, at around AU$2600. However both are painfully expensive in Australia.
Direct comparisons between the two 3.2GHz chips — the older Penryn Core 2 Extreme QX9775 and the new Nehalem Core i7 Extreme 965 — show the latest processor to be well over 50 percent faster. That advantage is not only confined to professional rendering applications; it also holds true for image editing with software such as Jalbum and Paint .NET, which fully exploit the features of the new architecture. That performance improvement should ensure Nehalem is a success.
Intel's Nehalem processors don't just make the competition look outdated — even its own Core 2 chips can hardly keep up with the new architecture. The first Nehalem processors are priced from AU$600 to AU$2900 but the Lynnfield chips, due in early 2009, for LGA1160 sockets should be cheaper. These desktop chips have only a binary DDR3 memory interface and offer no QPI. But both types of processor should work without problems in desktops.
It is in Intel's interest to make a swift transition to the new architecture. With about 90 million fewer transistors, the Nehalem chip surface is smaller than that of Penryn quad cores. So the potential profit margins on Nehalem processors should be greater, assuming the yield for single-die quad core can approach that for dual-die quad core. Dual-core variants code-named Havendale that use the Nehalem technology are expected in the second quarter of 2009. These processors will be followed by the two-core Auburndale and the four-core Clarksfield mobile versions.
At the moment, AMD can only keep up with Intel chips in the lower part of the desktop range. With Nehalem, Intel has again opened up a large lead for high-end desktops. AMD should strengthen its position in dual- and four-processor servers with the Shanghai chip, due this month. According to existing plans, Intel's Nehalem architecture will only become available for four-processor servers in the second half of 2009.
* VMware Workstation 6.5 may not be optimised for the Nehalem architecture. Nehalem CPUs should deliver better virtualisation performance thanks to direct memory access via EPT (Extended Page Table).
Translation by Toby Wolpe
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The charts that accompany this article are difficult to read because the order of the bars and the legends keep changing. What's up with that?