Intel Pentium 4 2.8GHz Processor

The Pentium 4 2.8GHz Processor
Intel ups the ante once again

By, Dave Altavilla
August 26, 2002

 
We're not quite sure what to make of MadOnion's PCMark 2002 tests, as of yet.  On one hand they represent an easy to use suite of benchmarks focused on isolating various subsystem performance levels, as well as specific computational tasks.  On the other hand, it has a "light-duty" feel to it that leaves us wondering how it equates to real world performance metrics.  Regardless, we have our results for you here.

MadOnion PCMark 2002 Synthetic benchmarks using real world compute functions.

PCMark 2002's CPU Performance Module runs the following tests.

CPU Test:

• JPEG decompression

• Zlib compression & decompression

• Text search

• MP3 Audio Conversion

• 3D Vector Calculation

Although the 2.8GHz Pentium 4 rules the roost here, the Athlon XP 2600+ definitely makes a very strong showing.  Delivering every ounce of performance that its branding suggests, the 2600+ edges out both 2.53GHz P4 setups.  The 2.8GHz Pentium 4 only shows a smallish lead over all, within 7% of its nearest rival.

PCMark 2002 Memory Test Technical details: (quoted from MadOnion documentation)

"Raw read, write, and read-modify-write operations are performed starting from a 3072 kilobytes array decreasing in size to 1536 KB, 384 KB, 48 KB and finally 6 KB. Each size of block is tested two second and the amount of accessed data is given as result. In the STL container test a list of 116 byte elements is constructed and sorted by an integer pseudo-random key. The list is then iterated through as many times as possible for 2 seconds and the total size of the accessed elements is given as result. There are 6 runs of this test, with 24576 items in the largest run corresponding to a total data amount of 1536 KB, decreasing in size to 12288 items (768 KB), 6144 items (384 KB), 1536 items (96 KB), 768 items (48 KB) and 96 items in the smallest run corresponding to 6 KB of total data."

System Memory Bandwidth is an entirely different ball of wax, when comparing Athlon's to Pentium 4s.  As you can see, every Pentium 4 based system in this test, even the DDR based i845, is in another league versus the Athlon XP test-beds.  This test is all about front side bus speed and with only a clock doubled 133MHz bus, the Athlon is no match for a 133MHz Quad Pumped, 533MHz P4 bus.

Alright then, let's game a bit...

Gaming Performance - Comanche and 3DMark 2001SE