Thursday, December 1st 2011

Ivy Bridge Official Benchmarks - Markedly Better Performance Than Sandy Bridge

Dec 1st, 2011 00:52 Discuss (66 Comments)

Previous preliminary reports have suggested that the forthcoming Ivy Bridge CPUs will have single threaded performance on par with the existing Sandy Bridge CPUs and will mainly deliver improvements to power consumption and integrated graphics - nothing for PC enthusiasts to get excited about. However, in leaked documents sent to partners, Intel have now revealed official performance figures for IB and they look rather good. They've produced a raft of benchmarks, which reveal improvements such as 56% in ArcSoft Media Expresso, 25% in Excel 2010 and a 199% gain in the 3D Mark Vantage GPU benchmark. Unfortunately, they haven't released any benchmarks based on high performance 3D games, but it's probably safe to say that they will be similarly improved. Now, on to the benchmarks, which compare their new 3.4 GHz i7-3770 (4 cores + HT) with the current 3.4 GHz i7-2600, also with 4 cores + HT:

+7% higher overall SYSmark 2012 score
+14% higher overall HDXPRT 2011 score
+15% higher Cinebench 11.5 score
+13% better ProShow Gold 4.5 result
+25% faster performance in Excel 2010
+56% faster performance in ArcSoft Media Expresso
+192% higher overall 3DMark Vantage score
+17% faster performance in 3DMark Vantage CPU benchmark
+199% faster performance in 3DMark Vantage GPU benchmark

The key architectural enhancements delivering these improvements are:

Intel's new 22nm 3D Tri-Gate technology. More on this here
Enhanced AVX acceleration
IGP performance improved by 30% compared to its predecessor
IGP supports DX11 and OpenCL 1.1
PCI Express 3.0 x16 interface, including a PCI Express 2.0 x4 controller

The new processor range is slated for release in March or April 2012, so if one can wait a few months to upgrade their existing system, then it looks like those few months will be well worth it - especially as they're likely to make for excellent overclockers. It's interesting to note that while Windows 8, due to be released just a few months later, will support the DX11.1 point revision, these new CPUs will not. How much this will matter in real-life applications remains to be seen, however.

Finally, TechPowerUp will keep a lookout for those all-important gaming benchmarks.

Source: xbit labs

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66 Comments on Ivy Bridge Official Benchmarks - Markedly Better Performance Than Sandy Bridge

#26

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit

kyussgrSorry I missed that somehow... maybe too eager to tease :D

I am in the same situation as you are but I decided to wait... but its too hard..... :D Let us know what you decided as you final PC setup.....:toast:

No sweat, it sounds like you a have a sense of humour. ;) As you know, I'm perfect and never miss anything. :laugh: :toast:

I've actually got a thread about my new build here. I've got two candidate mobos in mind and I'll be posting about them once I have researched their respective websites and reviews a bit more.

#27

kyussgr

qubitNo sweat, it sounds like you a have a sense of humour. ;) As you know, I'm perfect and never miss anything. :laugh: :toast:

I've actually got a thread about my new build here. I've got two candidate mobos in mind and I'll be posting about them once I have researched their respective websites and reviews a bit more.

Yes I know I made a 'lengthy' recommendation in that thread based on my own research (based on the Greek market prices) and got into an argument with John Doe who was.... a bit stubborn.... :D

#28

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit

kyussgrYes I know I made a 'lengthy' recommendation in that thread based on my own research (based on the Greek market prices) and got into an argument with John Doe who was.... a bit stubborn.... :D

And now it's my bad for missing it. :o lol

Thanks and I'll read it later, when I post about my two candidate mobos. :)

#29

Sasqui

This confirms my plan of keeping my E8600 for another year, then going nuts with an IB system sometime in 2012 when motherboards have matured.

#30

PaulieG

Yup, I'll be buying week 1, as long as prices are reasonable like SB.

#31

brandonwh64

Addicted to Bacon and StarCrunches!!!

Are these the Ivy Bridge chips the 1155 socket variety?

#32

ensabrenoir

Will ivy have a six core? Debating hard between SB-e and Ivy....coming from 1156. And while 2011 is a beast don't feel its refined enough yet

#33

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit

brandonwh64Are these the Ivy Bridge chips the 1155 socket variety?

Yes, afaik they only fit into 1155 boards, but don't quote me.

ensabrenoirWill ivy have a six core? Debating hard between SB-e and Ivy....coming from 1156. And while 2011 is a beast don't feel its refined enough yet

I doubt it. That's the point of SB-E and LGA2011, to feed six or eight bandwidth-hungry cores. I'll bet money that in time, we will see an "Ivy Bridge Extreme" or IB-E that fits into LGA2011.

#34

wurschti

Future Compatibility?

Well if this is real and it can seat itself in the 1155 socket than all I can say is that Intel is making progress for the common mortal enthusiasts! Well, we are not all Richie Rich! 600$ for a CPU and 300$ for MB is not acceptable to me!

#35

radrok

In my opinion this is one of the most interesting architectural changes on Ivy Bridge

Some structures within the chip are now better optimized for single threaded execution. Hyper Threading requires a bunch of partitioning of internal structures (e.g. buffers/queues) to allow instructions from multiple threads to use those structures simultaneously. In Sandy Bridge, many of those structures are statically partitioned. If you have a buffer that can hold 20 entries, each thread gets up to 10 entries in the buffer. In the event of a single threaded workload, half of the buffer goes unused. Ivy Bridge reworks a number of these data structures to dynamically allocate resources to threads. Now if there's only a single thread active, these structures will dedicate all resources to servicing that thread.

Source : www.anandtech.com/show/4830/intels-ivy-bridge-architecture-exposed/2

So probably the single threaded performance boost is given by this change and I completely agree with this

WyverexMy personal opinion is that these performance boosts primarily come from better IGP and memory controller, not from an increase in IPC.

#36

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder

Meh... The entire second graph was entirely due to the better GPU, which most of us will never use.

And the first graph was only better because of higher turboboost frequencies.

I'll wait for some real reviews, but I'm guessing performance per clock won't be all that much higher than SB, if higher at all. But the chips will likely clock higher on air, which will be nice...

#37

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit

newtekie1Meh... The entire second graph was entirely due to the better GPU, which most of us will never use.

And the first graph was only better because of higher turboboost frequencies.

I'll wait for some real reviews, but I'm guessing performance per clock won't be all that much higher than SB, if higher at all. But the chips will likely clock higher on air, which will be nice...

I agree about waiting for independent reviews before judging it and deciding on your purchase. However, if you look at that Anand articke that radrok pointed to, you can see that Intel have indeed worked the core to make it more efficient, so I'd expect at least some improvement in IPC performance. I'll bet it overclocks like a banshee. ;)

#38

radrok

Still I can't see a reason to wait if you need/want to upgrade unless you need a stronger IGP :confused:

#39

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit

radrokStill I can't see a reason to wait if you need/want to upgrade unless you need a stronger IGP :confused:

It depends on someone's personal requirements, really. If their system is mostly up to scratch and is only showing its age in a couple of areas, it may make sense to wait for the better processor. However, in my case, I'm running an E8500 (see specs) and got the 2700K (still need a mobo and RAM, lol) for top gaming performance, but I'm fine with the 2700K for now. Heck, there's nothing to stop me selling it and getting IB if I really want it. ;)

Oh, my processor came in a dinky little blue box. Almost don't wanna open it. :)

#40

ayban

They should probably compare HD3000 with that HD4000, or maybe there's no actual difference.

you almost fooled me Intel

#41

jagjitnatt

15th WarlockGeez! That's even faster than I expected! I might replace my 2600K once IB is released, Z68 will support it with a simple BIOS upgrade, do you guys have any idea if intel plans to release a new 1155 chipset to go along with IB?

The upgrade just won't be worth it. The only domain where IB would be faster would be graphics intensive apps, for which all of us would be using a dedicated card.

In General CPU applications, the performance difference would be close to 10%, which can easily be reached with a mild overclock. I'd rather spend that 200 grand on a newer Graphcs card, or an SSD, now that would be something.

#42

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit

aybanThey should probably compare HD3000 with that HD4000, or maybe there's no actual difference.

you almost fooled me Intel

No, it really is considerably better than HD3000 graphics, if you're interested in an IGP. It also supports DX11, which HD3000 does not.

You might find the following TPU news article interesting: Super-High 4096 x 4096 Display From An IGP? The Upcoming Ivy Bridge Can Do It

Welcome to TPU. :toast:

#43

Rowsol

So it's 15% faster. The improved graphics is pointless to most that are shelling out the dough for these.

#44

radrok

qubitIt depends on someone's personal requirements, really. If their system is mostly up to scratch and is only showing its age in a couple of areas, it may make sense to wait for the better processor. However, in my case, I'm running an E8500 (see specs) and got the 2700K (still need a mobo and RAM, lol) for top gaming performance, but I'm fine with the 2700K for now. Heck, there's nothing to stop me selling it and getting IB if I really want it. ;)

Oh, my processor came in a dinky little blue box. Almost don't wanna open it. :)

We are in a diametrical situation :laugh:, I have my LGA2011 mobo and RAM but here in Italy i7 39xx processors are still on *not in stock* :banghead:

I still think that if someone skips Sandy Bridge because they have a good but a tad old CPU should be better off skipping Ivy Bridge too as it isn't much more faster than SB, I know that the upgrade itch could be a major reason behind purchasing Ivy since skipping more than 1 tick tock cadence is hard to :D

#45

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit

radrokWe are in a diametrical situation :laugh:, I have my LGA2011 mobo and RAM but here in Italy i7 39xx processors are still on *not in stock* :banghead:

I still think that if someone skips Sandy Bridge because they have a good but a tad old CPU should be better off skipping Ivy Bridge too as it isn't much more faster than SB, I know that the upgrade itch could be a major reason behind purchasing Ivy since skipping more than 1 tick tock cadence is hard to :D

Mobo but no CPU? I'll bet that's a headbanger! :shadedshu Any idea when you'll be able to get your paws on them?

And yeah, I've got upgrade itch all right. I can't wait to build my 2700K system and really start pushing those frames with the GTX 580. :rockout:

#46

BrooksyX

If the prices arnt to high and my motherboard supports it I am deffinitely going to be picking up an ivybridge k chip and a 7xxx in the spring/summer. :P

#47

EarthDog

This is from Intel...let me grab my salt block...

#48

radrok

qubitMobo but no CPU? I'll bet that's a headbanger! :shadedshu Any idea when you'll be able to get your paws on them?

And yeah, I've got upgrade itch all right. I can't wait to build my 2700K system and really start pushing those frames with the GTX 580. :rockout:

As you already know games completely love Sandy Bridge IPC, can't wait for you to begin using the 2700K, really :toast:

On my side the shop still hasn't an ETA for the CPU arrival so I still have to blindly wait for it, can't really wait to see with my eyes the time improvements when rendering on Maya.

#49

Spaceman Spiff

radrokWe are in a diametrical situation :laugh:, I have my LGA2011 mobo and RAM but here in Italy i7 39xx processors are still on *not in stock* :banghead:

I still think that if someone skips Sandy Bridge because they have a good but a tad old CPU should be better off skipping Ivy Bridge too as it isn't much more faster than SB, I know that the upgrade itch could be a major reason behind purchasing Ivy since skipping more than 1 tick tock cadence is hard to :D

Man you're telling me. I love my 9550 but if microcenter still has some bangin deals come xmas I may jump on a z68 and 2600k. I want m0ar giggahurtzz!

#50

mik

This is a bit like saying Intel changed the on-chip GPU for something an upgrade twice the performance than before. Look, Intel HD graphics 2000 vs (upcoming) Intel HD graphics 4000.
The Intel HD 4000 takes casual gaming up one tier. The other productivity gains seems small, seeing as overclocking CPU would have more gains.
I just bit the bullet when Microcenter had their Black Friday deal on the 2500k+mobo combo, so I know it's cliche, but this news makes upgrading seem... "can never catch up".. but I'm still happy with my choice.
As for gaming, it's all about the dedicated GPU upgrade.

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Ivy Bridge Official Benchmarks - Markedly Better Performance Than Sandy Bridge

66 Comments on Ivy Bridge Official Benchmarks - Markedly Better Performance Than Sandy Bridge

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