Early Nehalem (Core i7) Benchmarks Show Off Performance Gains

[MacRumors]

Bit-tech.net has benchmarked the new Nehalem (Core i7) processors from Intel ahead of their official launch. The hardware site compares the new processors to Intel Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Duo and AMD Phenom X4. From a Mac perspective, the Intel Core 2 Quad (3.2GHz QX9770) most closely resembles the high end Xeon processor available in the Mac Pro.

Bit-tech found that the memory benchmarks were dramatically better on the new processors even at the same clock speeds. This improvement reflects the new underlying architecture technologies found in the Core i7. Overall, these improvements did result in substantial real world improvements for many tasks. In encoding video, they found the new processors showed improvements ranging from 18%-22% at the same clock speeds as existing chips. Even more impressive improvements were seen in Cinebench 10 testing with clock-for-clock improvements of 29% at the high end. Gaming results, however, were a bit more mixed with only modest improvements in Crysis and Half Life 2, and performance decreases in Far Cry 2.

Based on these findings, they concluded:

If you're very interested in video encoding, transcoding, image editing or you need to compress files that much faster Core i7 is the de facto choice - even the least expensive Core i7 920 is worth the upgrade.

While this should be a good marker for performance improvements coming to the Mac Pro, it's still not clear when Intel will be introducing the appropriate server-class (Xeon) versions of Nehalem. Apple has traditionally used Intel's Xeon chips for their Mac Pro line.



Article Link: Early Nehalem (Core i7) Benchmarks Show Off Performance Gains

 

[nep61]

SWEET !!! Now put it in a 17" MBP !!!

We have the need for SPEED

 

[ipedro]

Nehalem in MBP's?

I'm trying to find justification every day to hang on to my original MBP Core Duo but this ain't helping!

When's the Nehalem planned to be out for the MacBook Pro's? I'm holding off for a 17".. hopefully I don't have to wait longer than WWDC2009.

Thoughts?

 

[Santa Rosa]

Waiting on this architecture to come to the iMac (guessing late next year?), then I think the trigger will be pulled to relieve the 8 year old, and counting, Dell from its duty

 

[arn]

I'm trying to find justification every day to hang on to my original MBP Core Duo but this ain't helping!

When's the Nehalem planned to be out for the MacBook Pro's? I'm holding off for a 17".. hopefully I don't have to wait longer than WWDC2009.

Thoughts?

Mobile Nehalem aren't expected until late 2009, last I heard.

arn

 

[Santa Rosa]

Mobile Nehalem aren't expected until late 2009, last I heard.

arn

Wonder if Apple will get some special treatment though? Could be a little earlier if so?

 

[Bleestha]

When are they going to put an Xeon like chip in the MBP?
That would be cool to see
Sorry man I don't think the G5 MBP will ever come

 

[nanvinnie]

i really hope they put this in the mbp's....ooh~

 

[PeterQC]

i really hope they put this in the mbp's....ooh~

Q3 2009 at the earliest.

 

[diamond.g]

Yeah, this is why I am not getting a new Macbook. Nehalem is going to be so sweet when it is released for mobiles. I actually wonder if Apple will finally do MP xServes (4 physical CPU, 16 core, 32 logical core monsters).

 

[tgildred]

When I first read this I thought, "what is 'off performance?'"

Derrr.

 

[BornAgainMac]

Good enough. It is time to ship the new Mac Pros.

 

[andiwm2003]

confirms what i thought. nice speed increase but not revolutionary. in day to day computing 10%-20% increase is barely noticable.

The upgrade will only be useful for Mac pro owners with professional projects where time is money.

When Nehalem is out for notebooks the speed increase for most users is negligible. The jump form dual to quadcore will be much more important.

It's always the same: the hype from core duo to core2duo, from core2duo to penryn, from penryn to nehalem is always huge, the real world benefit for office work, fun and similar uses is rather limited.

Other factors like battery life, GPU, HD speed should be more important for the average user. No need to delay a purchase.

 

[k2spitfire88]

this sounds pretty sweet...can't wait to see this when it comes out!

 

[The Tall One]

Thats a bummer about games. Hopefully that will improve with nicer GPU chipsets? So its definitely a good idea to wait for the mac pro, 'aint it?

 

[Rocketman]

These are relatively modest speed boosts (5-20%) with emphasis on video encoding which is still going to be the bottleneck going forward, even after these chips are installed in computers.

The main benefits are core counts, low power, power management, smaller die sizes, and better form factor package options, enabling a range of smaller AND more capable devices.

Rocketman

 

[sfh]

imagine this with the ability to process through the GPU, video and graphic rendering will be a dream ... I cant wait till I get my tax money back

 

[JFreak]

Bring on the new Mac Pro

 

[Daniel0418]

Hmm...

I bet it will be out for PC first. The wierd thing is the intel core 2 extreme is much faster than this even without hyperthreading. I don't understand why this is big news? Is it because intel wont put the core 2 extreme in macs? The core 2 extreme is a 3.7ghz quad core with 1666 fsb and 8mb of L2 cache... why not have this?

 

[twoodcc]

glad to see the speed improvements. even if it's not in the gaming department, it's fine with me.

 

[some12b]

But I thought Nehalem's mobile lifespan is preety short? Isn't Auburndale http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Nehalem_(microarchitecture) coming out pretty much straight afterwards?

I think this will be the case of the Core to Core Duo transition again - a short and swift upgrade in Jan 2010.

 

[CWallace]

Apple does not have any models that are based on single-unit desktop CPUs so you can be sure PC's will have this before Apple.

Apple needs to wait for the dual-unit desktop/sever CPU to put in the Mac Pro. They were originally due effectively now, but I expect Intel wants to put the screws to AMD and is pushing forward the single-unit desktop CPU models first - especially since they can command high prices for them from the "gotta have it!" crowd in Winteldom.

 

[diamond.g]

Apple does not have any models that are based on single-unit desktop CPUs so you can be sure PC's will have this before Apple.

Apple needs to wait for the dual-unit desktop/sever CPU to put in the Mac Pro. They were originally due effectively now, but I expect Intel wants to put the screws to AMD and is pushing forward the single-unit desktop CPU models first - especially since they can command high prices for them from the "gotta have it!" crowd in Winteldom.

Pretty much. I will go on record and say that Apple may surprise us all and use the Desktop variant of Core i7 in the "new" iMac. Although it may be only for the high-end model.

 

[ntrigue]

For everyone that wants one in your MBPro now...

What about cooling? All three of the processors have a die size of 263 mm2, transistor count is 731M and a TDP of 130 Watts. Even with the 45nm die processing in use all of these factors still generate a lot of heat. In my testing of the Core i7-965 Extreme Edition I opted to try the stock Intel cooler which was provided in addition to the Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme RT. The stock cooler yielded idle temps in the mid 40° Celsius range and load temps approaching 70° Celsius.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.p...k=view&id=229&Itemid=63&limit=1&limitstart=11

Bit toasty outside a Desktop casing.

 

[djole]

Yesterday I finally decided to leave PC behind and spend $2500 on a 2x2.8 MP, then this morning I start reading about Nehalem.

So the question for all of you guys who do follow things like this more closely: it is estimated that the PC's will Nehalem will start shipping by the end of this month. When do you expect to see Xeon's in MP?