Intel i7 Tests by 3dspeedmachine.com

[jogshy]

Interesting but the review lack some information ( memory configuration? motherboard? FSB? power consuption? ) and comparisons ( what about vs a phenom 2 BE or a QX9650? running winxP? or vs a cheap e1200 OCd render farm by the same price. )

The results are very dissapointing too... with OC takes 11'27s and without 12'02s. That's just a subtle improvement(a 5%). If you see real overclockers in www.hwbot.org (http://www.hwbot.org) you'll see that 50-80% improvements are common and 24/7 stable (tested with orthos,occt,linx,memtest,etc).

[Venkman]

Do they mean true overclocking, or the "turbo" ability of an i7 CPU?

[JML]

this article shows overclocking a core i7 from 2.66 to 4 Ghz
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-core-i7,2268.html

[greyface]

It's a beast. You can easily get a 40-50% performance boost overclocking it. I suspect they used the auto-overclock or something similar, because I have mine running at 3.6ghz on air cooling, through the manual config.

[mustique]

There's a benchmark for the Q9450 with hyperthreading "on".
But the Q9450 has no hyperthreading feature.

A bad typo.

BTW, a benchmark site for 3D artists is a good idea.
But there have to be test scenefiles available for people to download
and post their own benchmark results.

[posterus]

Hi guys,
To clarify, we were not overclocking the i7. We only enabled auto-overclocking or "turbo" mode. Which as you know isn't the same as true overclocking. The Q9450 has no hyper threading you are right. It was a typo, sorry.

Additional notes about the tests...
In the context of your statements the 920 is overclockable and as an example is overclocked to 4 GHz in this article from Tom's Hardware that we now refer you to (a well as one on the Phenom-II):
i7-920
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-core-i7,2268.html (from above)

Phenom-II
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/phenom-ii-overclock,2267-9.html

Now looking at Tom's processor scorecard as of Q3/2008:
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desktop-cpu-charts-q3-2008/3D-Studio-Max-9,836.html

QX9650 runs their 3DSMax benchmark in 36 seconds for $1140 and the i7-920 stock runs it in 31 seconds for $295 per processor.

RenderStream has built dual X5482 3.2 GHz boxes with 8 GB EEC memory but they have not measured them with the 3DSpeedmachine benchmark yet (the one in the article) but on other benchmarks they ran, this 3.2 GHz X 2 took in 28 seconds versus 43 seconds for this i7-920 at 72 F room temperature. Interestingly enough is that if you you multiply the amount of time processed by the number of cores (and ignore hyperthreading) the two X5482 processors had a total processing time of 224 seconds compared to 172 seconds for the i7-920 (thus saying you really can't ignore hyperthreading but still it is a reasonable core-to-core argument).

As for the other questions and comments:
Memory: DDR3-1333MHz Non-ECC memory (3 x 2GB Module, CL9)
We use the X58 chipset on an Asus board there is no FSB whose functionality has been moved to on-processor and now called the QPI, a great article concerning this can be found at:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/Intel-Core-i7-Nehalem,2057.html

OS: Vista Ultimate 64-bit

Render-servers in a farm as stated can bring the same speed or better yet they generally cannot do it for the power consumed. The RenderStream's Q6600 stock 2.4 GHz and overclocked 3.2 GHz render servers are very cost-effective solution; however the i7-920 or especially the 3.0 GHz 940 Render Server for computational volume is the most overall cost-effective way to go even with the expense of DD3 memory and the early life cycle of the overall architecture.


BTW, a benchmark site for 3D artists is a good idea.
But there have to be test scenefiles available for people to download
and post their own benchmark results.
I don't understand what you mean here. Thats the whole point of the site. If you go to http://www.3dspeedmachine.com/?page=3 you can register your workstation profile, download any scene file you wish and compare it to others. If you wish you can go to the benchmark page for the scene used in the article and submit your results. http://www.3dspeedmachine.com/?page=3&scene=33
Best,
-joe
www.3dspeedmachine.com (http://www.3dspeedmachine.com)

[vfx]

Well I can finally chip in on this conversation now I have a similar setup. I recently built a new machine as my old one was starting to hamper and I was getting fustrated with the waiting... counter-productive.

Anyways, I've got a Asus P6T Deluxe v2 (OC dream board), I have an i7 920 overclocked to 3.7Ghz from the standard 2.6. I'm running 6gb of Corsair at about 1450Mhz (stock is 1300) and I am on Vista 64bit and I can honestly say I've never had a machine that runs so well! It's as if I've suddenly got a machine that does what I've always wanted. The render times are soo much better and the biggest advantage is the hypershade loads instantly with numerous shaders and textures in there which is a BIG improvement... no waiting. The overclocking speed increases really made some differences too.. halfed my test scene render time.

The trick for the overclocking for me was getting a stable temperature... something I am happy to explain more with regard to my OC settings. So, just wanted to pipe in and state how impressed I am with this spec setup.. well worth every penny.

[Mic_Ma]

A question to those who run the i7 920 overclocked: Is it stable over long times at full load and high ambient temps? When I run mine on just 3Ghz the temp goes up to almost 90C within maybe 20 mins. That's still 10 degrees below max but I wonder how that would work out in the blistering summer over a weekend holiday.

[joshbare]

Well I can finally chip in on this conversation now I have a similar setup. I recently built a new machine as my old one was starting to hamper and I was getting fustrated with the waiting... counter-productive.

Anyways, I've got a Asus P6T Deluxe v2 (OC dream board), I have an i7 920 overclocked to 3.7Ghz from the standard 2.6. I'm running 6gb of Corsair at about 1450Mhz (stock is 1300) and I am on Vista 64bit and I can honestly say I've never had a machine that runs so well! It's as if I've suddenly got a machine that does what I've always wanted. The render times are soo much better and the biggest advantage is the hypershade loads instantly with numerous shaders and textures in there which is a BIG improvement... no waiting. The overclocking speed increases really made some differences too.. halfed my test scene render time.

The trick for the overclocking for me was getting a stable temperature... something I am happy to explain more with regard to my OC settings. So, just wanted to pipe in and state how impressed I am with this spec setup.. well worth every penny.

Out of interest, what was your old setup like if you are now getting twice the render speed? :)

[ZacD]

Most people don't suggest going much past 80 temp-wise. Get an aftermarket heat sink if your going to OC.

[vfx]

A question to those who run the i7 920 overclocked: Is it stable over long times at full load and high ambient temps? When I run mine on just 3Ghz the temp goes up to almost 90C within maybe 20 mins. That's still 10 degrees below max but I wonder how that would work out in the blistering summer over a weekend holiday.

I have heard that the chips do differ and some can be OC better than others.. but I am on 3.7Ghz and only hit 80c when rendering. Use RealTemp to get accurate temp readings - do not go by the values in your bios.

joshbare - I was running a dual 2. something Ghz AMD on an Asus A8n board with max 3gb as seen in vista 32bit.

[joshbare]

Ah cool thx,
Was wondering as I have 2 quad core machines
and am looking at either getting (then overclocking) a i7 machine
or a new dual nehalem xeon setup.
Doing a lot of rendering these days :)
Thx

[richcz3]

A question to those who run the i7 920 overclocked: Is it stable over long times at full load and high ambient temps? When I run mine on just 3Ghz the temp goes up to almost 90C within maybe 20 mins. That's still 10 degrees below max but I wonder how that would work out in the blistering summer over a weekend holiday.Good question because most OC bench tests are run in ideal temp environments. There are individual mem and calc stress tests that can give a good idea for stability over a few hours.
LINK (http://www.pugetsystems.com/blog/2009/02/26/intel-core-i7-temperatures/) - Our recommendation is to keep Intel Core i7 CPUs under 80C. That gives you a healthy margin in case you’re running a heavy load on your CPU on a particularly hot summer day. Due to the manufacturing process of Intel Core i7, and the improved power management features, we’re comfortable at up to 80C, even though this would be considered a very hot temperature with an Intel Core 2 Quad CPU.

[BoostAbuse]

A question to those who run the i7 920 overclocked: Is it stable over long times at full load and high ambient temps? When I run mine on just 3Ghz the temp goes up to almost 90C within maybe 20 mins. That's still 10 degrees below max but I wonder how that would work out in the blistering summer over a weekend holiday.

80c as Rich pointed out is where people tend to cut it off at. Personally I would never run the chip at 80c for long periods of time as there's much more at risk in these chipsets than just frying your CPU. I've got mine running daily at 3.6ghz and during Rendering I don't see load temperatures above 65 degrees when doing rendering operations.

Just because you've got 10 degrees until the chip begins to throttle itself or shut down in a safety attempt doesn't mean you should run it that high as well :) 70 degrees has always been my cap with CPU's even though most are rated to 100 degrees before failure.

[ZacD]

my q9450 barely hits 50 (while rendering) and its OC'd to 3.4GHz. :shrug:
I wouldn't want it to hit 70 ever.

[Mic_Ma]

A couple of months back, when it was winter, it wouldn't go over 70C much, but now I'm hitting 80 relatively easily after a few tens of mins at 100%. I have a laptop with a Pentium M that's supposedly safe until 100C too. It runs almost constantly over 90C, sometimes over 100C (realtemp) and has done so for several years, without adverse effects. I wonder if it is even possible nowadays to break these things.

I'll just reset the cooler socket and see if's any better.

[CHRiTTeR]

70 degrees has always been my cap with CPU's

same here.

It runs almost constantly over 90C, sometimes over 100C (realtemp) and has done so for several years, without adverse effects. I wonder if it is even possible nowadays to break these things.

Sure you can, but pc's get replaced so much quicker today, you almost dont get the chance to break it, unless you really go over the top with the temperatures.

Every time a new cpu gets released (every 1,5 year?), everyone needs to have it, or you wont be able to run the new version of the software you're using at reasonable/comfortabel speed. :D

[ZacD]

Seems like they get 30% faster every year.

[GatorNic]

my q9450 barely hits 50 (while rendering) and its OC'd to 3.4GHz. :shrug:
I wouldn't want it to hit 70 ever.

True, but its a different processor. The i7's run hot.


BoostAbuse - Thats a pretty good temp at that overclock, what cooler are you using?

[richcz3]

The right Motherboard and memory make a huge difference. Once you start to really hike up the FSB+mem one needs to eye voltages, the CPU temps are only part of the equation. I keep my my C2D duals under 55c under load - quads under that.
For the work I do right now, I have zero reasons to up to upgrade i7's, but those things put up some impressive numbers. :drool:

[vfx]

BoostAbuse is most definitely running an aftermarket cooler on his machine to get those temps. I have 4 fans running in my machine and the last update is a new CPU cooler - then I'll settle as a happy chappy.

I'm looking at either getting:

Noctua NH-U12P SE1366
or
CoolIt Domino ALC Liquid Cooling all in one

[vfx]

Just thought I'd throw this out there.. would anyone be interested in a review of the CoolIt Domino ALC Liquid Cooling system (the first user friendly, affordable water cooled system) and its benefits when used with the 1366 i7 processor when under constant stress - i.e. rendering etc. I'd be happy to pass on my findings in a report.

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