X-bit labs

Intel Pentium D 920 and Pentium D 930 Processors

Category: CPU

by Ilya Gavrichenkov

[ 03/21/2006 | 08:24 AM ]

Let’s see how Intel’s shift to 65nm Presler core has affected the youngest dual-core Intel processors. This article offers you a detailed study of the performance and overclocking potential of the new Pentium D processors. Maybe it is high time we started expressing more excitement about dual-core Intel CPUs?

Table of contents:

• Pricing
  
• Closer Look at Pentium D 920 and Pentium D 930
  
• Overclocking
  
• Testbed and Methods
  
• Performance
  
• Synthetic Benchmarks: PCMark05, 3DMark06 and ScienceMark 2.0
  
• General Performance
  
• Audio and Video Encoding
  
• Image and Video Processing
  
• 3ds max 7
  
• Gaming Tests
  
• Conclusion
  

Almost three months have passed since the dual-core Intel Pentium D processors on the Presler core appeared in the market. The CPUs of this type managed to get pretty widely spread since then and now you can easily buy one almost anywhere. Until today our testlab has been working mostly with the top-of-the-line Presler based processors with the price point exceeding $600.

Of course, products like that are not for the mass market and are very unlikely to become the sales leaders because of that. Only dedicated hardware enthusiasts will go for them. So sooner or later we had to turn to more “mass” solutions from the dual-core Pentium D product family on Presler core. Especially, since they have been significantly improved. They acquired larger L2 cache than the predecessors based on the older Smithfield core. And if the slower Pentium D models could be regarded as competitors to AMD Athlon 64 X2 only thanks to their lower price, now the situation has every chance to change.

It is important that Intel decided to change the processor core of its dual-core CPUs without raising the price of the processors. According to the official price-list, the slower Pentium D models on the new core sell at exactly the same price as their predecessors based on the older 90nm core. It means that Intel has acquired a new weapon in the mainstream market segment that can help the company to win back some of the market from AMD Athlon 64 X2. On the one hand the new younger Pentium D processors cost considerably less than the best value dual-core competitor CPU – Athlon 64 X2 3800+.

On the other hand, Pentium D can now boast higher performance, lower heat dissipation and greater overclocking potential due to the transition to finer 65nm manufacturing process. Are these changes enough for the users to change their mind in favor of the Intel Pentium D processor? This is exactly what we are going to find out in our today’s test session that will be devoted to two youngest Pentium D CPUs on Presler core: Pentium D 920 and Pentium D 930.