Advanced Micro Devices has published scores of its dual-core AMD Opteron processors in SPEC CPU benchmarks at SPEC.org web-site. A brief look at the figures indicates that AMD’s dual-core chips is at least as fast as 2-way AMD Opteron based systems, but are sometimes slightly outperformed by Intel Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 840 processor.
Within the next few months AMD is expected to have processors for 1-way, 2-way and 4/8-way servers in its lineup. Currently the company only offers AMD Opteron chips for multiprocessor servers that have from 4 CPUs. While such processors can function in 1P or 2P configurations as well, their pricing is unlikely to be competitive in entry-level server market segments. However, as soon as the company has top-to-bottom lineup of dual-core chips, at least some of its clients may pay more attention to 1P dual-core and 2P dual-core configurations instead of 2-way and 4-way systems.
CINT2000 Rates |
Processor(s) name | Peak | Base | Processor(s) price | Processor(s) TDP |
Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 840 (3.20GHz) | 33.3 | 33.1 | $999 | 130W |
AMD Opteron x75 (2.20GHz) | 34.6 | 32.8 | $581* | 95W |
AMD Opteron x70 (2.00GHz) | 31.9 | 30.3 | - | 95W |
AMD Opteron 246 (2.00GHz) x2 | 30.5 | 28.8 | $316 x2 | 89W x2 |
AMD Opteron 148 (2.20GHz) | 17.1 | 16.3 | $278 | 89W |
*Pricing of similarly configured AMD Athlon 64 X2 (2.20GHz, 2MB cache) microprocessorAMD Opteron 870 (which is similar to 270 and 170, but can operate in MP servers) scored 30.3/31.9 base/peak CINT2000 rates, by contrast, 2P AMD Opteron 246 system with processors operating at 2.20GHz attained 28.8/30.5 CINT2000 rates. Dual-core AMD Opteron 870 also demonstrated slightly higher CFP2000 rates: 29.1/30.3 base/peak versus 28.1/29.9 base/peak of 2P AMD Opteron 246 machine.
CFP2000 Rates |
Processor(s) name | Peak | Base | Processor(s) price | Processor(s) TDP |
Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 840 (3.20GHz) | 30.5 | 30.5 | $999 | 130W |
AMD Opteron x75 (2.20GHz) | 30.3 | 29.1 | $581* | 95W |
AMD Opteron x70 (2.00GHz) | 28.3 | 27.1 | - | 95W |
AMD Opteron 246 (2.00GHz) x2 | 29.9 | 28.1 | $316 x2 | 89W x2 |
AMD Opteron 148 (2.20GHz) | 17.6 | 17.5 | $278 | 89W |
*Pricing of similarly configured AMD Athlon 64 X2 (2.20GHz, 2MB cache) microprocessorIn real-word applications the results may be higher on a 2-way system because of higher memory bandwidth per core, still, in applications that fully rely on integer and float performance, dual-core processors look very strong. Furthermore, AMD dual-core chips consume less power compared to a couple of AMD microprocessors.
Dual-core server chips from AMD and Intel are projected to reshuffle the market of multiprocessor servers; for instance, HP already rejected plans to make 8-way servers based on the recently unveiled Intel Xeon processors MP.
Currently AMD-based top performing server according to SPEC CPU2000 is 4-way AMD Opteron 875-based Pogo Linux PerformanceWare 3566 that scores base/peak 106/109 CFP2000 rates and 124/132 base/peak CINT2000 rates. Still, there are faster systems in the list, AMD Zone web-site notes, mentioning 16-way Intel Itanium 2, Intel Xeon MP as well as HP Alpha-based computers. The top performing machine in SPEC.org’s list is SGI Altix 3700 Bx2 powered by Intel Itanium 2 that provides 2437 SPECfp_rate_base2000.
Comments currently:
7
Discussion started: 05/05/05 03:25:29 AM
Latest comment: 05/06/05 12:21:56 PM
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[1-4]
1.
"AMD Opteron 875 Outperformed by Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 840"
In what?!
Power dissipation?
Price?
This "news" is not news. And since when PEE840 is a server chip?
Put it on ECC memory and see it struggling....
I reconsider you to write this thing again.
[
Posted by: kaz
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Date: 05/05/05 03:25:29 AM]
+ expand thread (3 answers)
- collapse thread
Oupterformed in SPEC CPU 2000 performance by a small margin.
Intel Pentium Extreme Edition-based system uses JEDEC certified 667MHz CL5 memory modules, whereas AMD Opteron 875-based machine uses CL2.5 400MHz DDR memory, which is not a JEDEC standard, by the way.
Intel's Smithfield processors will be used in 1P servers later during the year:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20050424064830.ht ml
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Posted by: Anton
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Date: 05/05/05 05:14:19 AM]
The Intel Pentium Extreme 840 costs $30.18 per CINT2000 point, and $32.75 per CFP2000 point.
Meanwhile, the AMD Opteron X75 costs $17.71 and $19.97 respectively.
We're talking about a 40-42% cost difference for at most a 5% performance increase.
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Posted by: Mallissin
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Date: 05/05/05 10:50:04 AM]
In honor of the Kentucky Derby, perhaps you guys should replace the sub-headline:
"AMD Opteron 875 Outperformed by Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 840"
..with:
"Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 840 wins by a nose over AMD Opteron 875."
[
Posted by: Mallissin
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Date: 05/05/05 10:53:48 AM]
2.
Okay, and I am guessing that an X2 will be faster than the Opteron too. They are comparing a niche desktop chip to an enterprise class server chip. Call me when Intel gets a DC server chip out the door that beats the Opteron x75 and x70.
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Posted by: mamisano
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Date: 05/05/05 09:40:12 AM]
3.
Dual core process to compete favorably against more expensive dual processor systems? No WAAAAaaaaaay!
[
Posted by: Marvin the Martian
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Date: 05/05/05 08:29:11 PM]
4.
From the very start, dual-core could pose a situation where its a favourable alternative to dual processor.
HOWEVER, dual processor motherboards have features that single-socket mobos don't. (huge memory capacity, true dual 16x SLI implementation, etc.)
To merely say dual-core is better shows only but a narrow view. One would need to assess the package as a whole system before making such a bold statement.
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Posted by: 22
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Date: 05/06/05 12:21:56 PM]
[1-4]
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