Monday, September 8th 2008

Atom Dual-Core Performance Numbers Emerge

A spy-shot of the dual-core Intel Atom processor has surfaced. The picture reveals an important bit about the design of the processor. Dual-core Atom isn't about two processor cores integrated onto one die, but two dies sharing a package and front-side bus, much in the same way its distant ancestor, the Pentium D was built. This design allows modularity and helps Intel cut manufacturing costs. They don't have to build separate wafers of dual-core dice but rather use two single core dice and integrate them onto one package. The Atom 330 will be the first product based on this design. Early performance tests with arithmetic and memory bandwidth reveal a good level of scaling, close to 100% that of the N270, a single-core 1.6 GHz part:
Processor Arithmetic Test

Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz - 8291 kpixels/s
Intel Atom 330 1.6GHz Dual Core - 16920 kpixels/s
Intel Core 2 Duo U7700 1.3GHz - 24742 kpixels/s

Memory Bandwidth Test

Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz - 3.54 GB/s
Intel Atom 330 1.6GHz Dual Core - 7.18 GB/s
Intel Core 2 Duo U7700 1.3GHz - 9.53 GB/s

The tests show Core 2 Duo U7700 to outperform these, though it is to be noted that Atom 330 isn't based on the Core architecture and that the Atom is expected to be priced much lower, to cater to the ULPC industry. EeeUser forum has a set of numbers from tests that can be read here.
Sources: Expreview, Engadget
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30 Comments on Atom Dual-Core Performance Numbers Emerge

#1
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
btarunrmuch in the same way its distant ancestor, the Pentium D was built.
Or the way the Current Core 2 Quads are built.
Posted on Reply
#2
$ReaPeR$
dont be so harsh newtekie1 although its an intel(evil empire) processor it might be a usefull product IMO.OLPCs could help most of the poor people of the world:)
Posted on Reply
#3
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
$ReaPeR$dont be so harsh newtekie1 although its an intel(evil empire) processor it might be a usefull product IMO.OLPCs could help most of the poor people of the world:)
I wasn't being harsh, there is nothing wrong with the method, I was just adding information to the original post.

I own a Eee PC with an Atom in it, I love the little thing.
Posted on Reply
#4
Betty (Kung Pow)
OMG!!
A CPU that scales its 100% as it should do :eek::eek::eek:
Posted on Reply
#5
Darkrealms
That is pretty impressive scaling. Good job intel.

However I'd like to know how much more power is used by that dual core. It may not be worth it if it is doubled as well : (
Posted on Reply
#6
cdawall
where the hell are my stars
i wonder if you can buy one and swap it for the original atom?
Posted on Reply
#7
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
DarkrealmsThat is pretty impressive scaling. Good job intel.

However I'd like to know how much more power is used by that dual core. It may not be worth it if it is doubled as well : (
Yes, the power used will most likely be close to double.
cdawalli wonder if you can buy one and swap it for the original atom?
Atom chips aren't socketed, so no. Though after seeing these numbers, I kind of wish I had waited on buying my Eee PC, but oh well. If I did that I would always be waiting.
Posted on Reply
#8
cdawall
where the hell are my stars
newtekie1Yes, the power used will most likely be close to double.



Atom chips aren't socketed, so no. Though after seeing these numbers, I kind of wish I had waited on buying my Eee PC, but oh well. If I did that I would always be waiting.
thanks ugh i guess i just have to wait
Posted on Reply
#9
MilkyWay
about time i think they couldve did dual core sooner, those type of pcs will benefit from dual core
Posted on Reply
#10
Morgoth
Fueled by Sapphire
it got hyperthreading so 2 threads
Posted on Reply
#11
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
The single core version has Hyperthreading, but I'm not sure about the dual-core version. It might be like the old Pentium 4 and Pentium D situation. Where the single core processors had HT and the dual cores didn't.
Posted on Reply
#12
cdawall
where the hell are my stars
Morgothit got hyperthreading so 2 threads
actually on a dual core that would make 4 threads ;)
newtekie1The single core version has Hyperthreading, but I'm not sure about the dual-core version. It might be like the old Pentium 4 and Pentium D situation. Where the single core processors had HT and the dual cores didn't.
actually intel's roadmap lists them as having HT also
Posted on Reply
#13
Morgoth
Fueled by Sapphire
ht is the future ;)
Posted on Reply
#14
hat
Enthusiast
ht is the past
Posted on Reply
#15
Morgoth
Fueled by Sapphire
realy? why is nehalem and atom fully supporting ht ?
Posted on Reply
#16
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
Because Intel wants to use an old out-dated technology to hype marketting. HT on a single core processor is nice to have, but once you have a dual-core or higher, HT is pretty useless.
Posted on Reply
#17
Morgoth
Fueled by Sapphire
no its not useless
the HT of today is tottaly more advanced then p4 got
Posted on Reply
#18
BrooksyX
Glad I waited and haven't picked up a netbook yet. Hopefully these will be available by the holdiay season when i will probably be in the market for one.
Posted on Reply
#19
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
Morgothno its not useless
the HT of today is tottaly more advanced then p4 got
HT on a dual core processor is useless. And no, it isn't really any different than what was implemented in the P4 days. The Replay System performance hit has been fixed, but other than that it is the same old SMT.

Again, in a single core processor, it is nice to have. But once you have a dual core, or more, the usefullness really goes away. As the chances of it actually being used is reduced to almost nothing. Any work that would be helped out by HT, the second core would take care of instead.
Posted on Reply
#20
Morgoth
Fueled by Sapphire
more threads is allways bether
Posted on Reply
#21
cdawall
where the hell are my stars
Morgothmore threads is allways bether
your thick headed aren't you?

here is a typical one of your posts

"HT is god i have a P4 oh and AMD sucks"

get over it your views are not backed by ANYTHING
Posted on Reply
#22
Morgoth
Fueled by Sapphire
what i am not saying ht is god ur saying that ht is rubish
yes i have a p4 that wil change soon and you probaly dont have the funds to buy what i am getting
and yes amd sucks at high end, extreme cpu's
and as i said before HT is the future on intels road map dont like it? go amd!
..zucht...
Posted on Reply
#23
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
Morgothmore threads is allways bether
:laugh:More threads are useless right now. The common user, or even the high end power user, barely makes use of 2 threads. Having more is, in fact, useless. A nettop/netbook users is never going to make use of more than the 2 threads provided by the cores themselves on tha Atom Dual-Core, and enthusiust users aren't going to really use anything more than the two threads provided by the two cores used in a Core 2 Duo.

The extra threads provided by HT are useless in the current situation of computing except in computers with a single core. More threades, that go unused, are useless.
Posted on Reply
#24
MilkyWay
multi programs running is why this cpu is a lot better for notebooks ect
Posted on Reply
#25
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
MilkyWaymulti programs running is why this cpu is a lot better for notebooks ect
The dual-core part of it yes, but not the HT part of it. And multiple programs run just fine on my single core Atom actually(though part of that is due to the HT in the single core).
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