iXBT Labs :: Computer Hardware In Detail

Platform

Video

Multimedia

Mobile

Other

How CPU Features Affect CPU Performance, Part 5

Intel Core i7, number of cores.

Stanislav Garmatyuk; November 23, 2009.

ShareThis

<< Previous page

     Next page >>

3D rendering

Without Turbo Boost and Hyper-Threading





  1 core 2 cores 3 cores 4 cores
3ds max ↑ 4.71 9.17 95% 12.44 36% 15.6 25%
Lightwave ↓ 332.32 182.23 82% 124.98 46% 94.48 32%
Maya ↑ 10:35 05:22 97% 03:36 49% 02:44 32%
Group Score ↑ 40 77 93% 110 43% 143 30%

Rendering is the quietest group of our tests. It's hard to imagine that this operation may cause problems with performance scalability as the number of cores grows. Especially as rendering is not sensitive to insignificant fluctuations of cache size (see the explanations above). However, we can see no super-linear performance growth here, which was demonstrated by Phenom II X4 in 3ds max and Lightwave.

With Turbo Boost and Hyper-Threading





  2 cores 4 cores 6 cores 8 cores
3ds max ↑ 6.02 11.61 93% 15.08 30% 18.69 24%
Lightwave ↓ 275.89 136.88 102% 94.06 46% 71.5 32%
Maya ↑ 08:25 04:07 104% 02:50 45% 02:09 32%
Group Score ↑ 50 100 100% 140 40% 181 29%

Super-linear performance growth appears as soon as we switch to the normal mode. But the set of applications is a little different here: there is Lightwave, as in case of Phenom II X4, but it's accompanied with Maya instead of 3ds max. As the number of core is doubled with Hyper-Threading, 3ds max rendering engine (V-Ray) starts having difficulties with scalability -- it's noticeably worse than in Maya and Lightwave.

Compared to AMD Phenom II X4



However, even in this group, despite Intel HT technology, which performs well in rendering, Core i7 fails to outperform Phenom II X4 in relative scalability in any mode. We already discussed a possible reason in the analysis of results in the previous group of tests.


<< Previous page

Next page >>



  Most Popular Reviews More   RSS  

59 CPU Roundup

Summarizing results obtained with CPU Test Method v4.0.
Mar 12, 2010 · General Platform

Intel H55, H57 Chipsets

Integrated chipsets for lower-end Nehalem processors.
Jan 18, 2010 · Chipsets

E-MU 0404 USB

A top-class external audio interface.
Nov 23, 2006 · ProAudio

How CPU Features Affect CPU Performance, Part 7

Intel Core i7, memory subsystem.
Feb 18, 2010 · General Platform

AMD Athlon II X3 425, 435 Processors

Three cores for the price of two.
Oct 30, 2009 · Processors: AMD
  Latest Reviews More   RSS  

Intel DP55WB "Whitesburg" Motherboard

One of the cheapest LGA1156 solutions.
Mar 19, 2010 · Motherboards

AMD 890GX Chipset Overview

Newer integrated graphics core, Dual Graphics, SATA 3.0 support.
Mar 16, 2010 · Chipsets

ATI Radeon HD 5850/5870/5970 Graphics Cards

From AFOX, Manli, Sapphire, XFX.
Mar 15, 2010 · Video cards: ATI GPUs

59 CPU Roundup

Summarizing results obtained with CPU Test Method v4.0.
Mar 12, 2010 · General Platform

MSI 770-C35 Motherboard

A solution for conservative users.
Mar 11, 2010 · Motherboards
  Latest News More   RSS  
  Useful Links Get listed  

Platform  ·  Video  ·  Multimedia  ·  Mobile  ·  Other  ·  Compare Prices  ||  Feedback  ·  Advertise at iXBT Labs  ·  About us  ·  Affiliates  ·  Forum


21

Copyright © Byrds Research & Publishing, Ltd., 1997—2010. All rights reserved.