Quad or dual core?

[js81]

Core i5/i7 is based on a newer microarchitecture than Core 2 so you get more performance per GHz.

Any tests to back that up? Its not that I don't believe you (I can't imagine a newer CPU NOT being faster than an older one), but I'd love to see how much so. Basically, I need to see if its worth it.

EDIT: I stand corrected. Apparently no C2D has hyperthreading. Where in the world did I get that from??? Must be losing my mind... **Bows in respect to iMacmatician's knowledge...**

Though it does make my decision a bit easier - definitely want to get the i5... no need to consider the 3.33 C2D at all. If I absolutely can't afford the i5, then I'll just get the 3.06. If I'm gonna put money toward the 3.33, then I might as well save a bit more and get the i5.

 

[iMacmatician]

Any tests to back that up? Its not that I don't believe you (I can't imagine a newer CPU NOT being faster than an older one), but I'd love to see how much so. Basically, I need to see if its worth it.

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2009/09/07/intel_lynnfield_core_i5_i7_processors/4 - Note that Turbo is OFF.

And for Turbos:

CPU          Clock    4 cores  3 cores  2 cores  1 core
Core i5-750  2.67GHz  2.80GHz  2.80GHz  3.20GHz  3.20GHz
Core i7-860  2.80GHz  2.93GHz  2.93GHz  3.33GHz  3.47GHz

There's only a Turbo bin at all four cores if there's enough of a thermal overhead to allow it. The processor will otherwise run at the base clock speed with all four cores.

Some applications use different portions of the core differently so there will be overhead left to add clock speed. With others you'll be limited to the base clock due to the heat.

 

[js81]

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2009/09/07/intel_lynnfield_core_i5_i7_processors/4 - Note that Turbo is OFF.

And for Turbos:

CPU          Clock    4 cores  3 cores  2 cores  1 core
Core i5-750  2.67GHz  2.80GHz  2.80GHz  3.20GHz  3.20GHz
Core i7-860  2.80GHz  2.93GHz  2.93GHz  3.33GHz  3.47GHz

Two things:

One, from the results you linked to, it looks like the i5 will either be faster, or at least equivalent, to the 3.2 C2D they tested - and that's at the 2.66 base speed.

Two, does the turbo boost work on all cores? Am I reading the info correctly? That it works even when using multi-cores, just not at as high of boost level? If that's the case, there's no comparison (as I'm already beginning to see...).

 

[ntrigue]

Core i5/i7 is based on a newer microarchitecture than Core 2 so you get more performance per GHz.

Core i7 does, but Core 2 doesn't.

Nehalem is superior at the same GHz as the poster noted above. Its an entirely new architecture between memory and CPU.

 

[Mork]

Core i5/i7 is based on a newer microarchitecture than Core 2 so you get more performance per GHz.

Core i7 does, but Core 2 doesn't.

I'm sold already!