Mainstream Quad Core Processors Compared from AMD and Intel

CPU by massman @ 2008-04-30

In this review we compare AMD´s latest AM2+ based Phenom X4 9850 to Intel´s mainstream Q9300 Processor. Which one gives you more performance for the buck? Answering this question is not as straightforward as you might think. With AMD aggressive pricing and new B3 revision does it stand a chance against an upgraded Q6600? Let us find out.

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3DMark01, 3DMark06, PCMark and Cinebench

Futuremark benchmarks

These synthetic 3D benchmarks from Futuremark allow you to evaluate the expected performance of a system with different generation games. As each 3DMark uses different feature and quality settings, it allows you to get an idea of how a video card will perform in games. But be aware that since Futuremark takes DirectX guide lines to build their stress tests with all features available, performance can differ from real world games when those games don’t fully support/implement all DX features. So take these results with a grain of salt, and always compare them to our game benchmarks.

3DMark2001SE

The 3rd product in the 3DMark line has been around for ages now and still is used by many people to measure their system's power. Over the years, the benchmark has become more a system benchmark than a pure graphics benchmark.

Madshrimps (c)


Yorkfield clearly ruling the ranks here, most due to the large L2 cache and the higher FSB.

3DMark06

The last of the DX9 benches in their series is still a graphics card benchmark; however, there's a place for CPU testing as well, as Futuremark developed a CPU test for this benchmark. The more cores, the merrier, so results with four cores will always be better than with two cores.

Madshrimps (c)


The Yorkfield shows its muscles in the CPU test, but overall, the Phenom manages to perform pretty much the same. Looking at the overall score we see that the CPU has a rather small impact. Will this reflect in the game performance as well?

PCMark05

PCMark05 is the lastest benchmark of the PCMark series which works in Windows XP and it still offers the simplicity of multiple small benchmarks in one. We've selected the most interesting subtest and put the all in one chart.

Madshrimps (c)


Cinebench R10

Cinebench is a benchmark that fully stresses the CPU and measures the raw power of your processing unit by rendering a high-quality image.

Madshrimps (c)


The biggest defeat of the Phenom so far and I have no explanation for the low performance results.

Let's go for real world applications/games test now, video decoding and gaming performance ->
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Comment from Gamer @ 2008/05/01
Great article there Massman !!!
Comment from Massman @ 2008/05/01
Thank you Gamer :-)
Comment from goingpostale1 @ 2008/05/13
Great article, surprised me to see the Phenom so close to the Core Quad. Thanks for another great review.
Comment from jmke @ 2008/05/13
if you're not into overclocking the AMD Phenom offers a very interesting price/performance ratio, only in the power usage department will it lag behind due to the larger manufacturing process

 

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