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LOSTCIRCUITS
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| Low Power and Energy-Efficient CPUs from Intel and AMD Core2 Duo E6300 vs. X2-3800+ (ADD) and X2-4600+ (ADO) | |
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(Review by MS, August 20, 2006) |
Windows Power Conumption (Idle)
We measured the X2-4600+ without C'n Q and then enabled C'n Q and also installed the latest AMD CPU drivers. The result was an additional drop in power consumption from 13.6 W to 11.2 W (*: no C'n Q; **: C'n Q enabled with latest drivers). In the case of the 3800+ "ADD" processor, all power measurements were done with C'n Q enabled and the latest CPU drivers installed.
Throughout the entire article, the Energy-Efficient processors are labelled in red font to avoid confusion with the same models or, for example Socket 939 processors. All AM2 processors are in light green, Socket 939 CPUs are in dark green, Core2 Duos are in pink and Pentium 4 / Dothan CPUs in blue.
In a proper configured system, the "ADD" processor draws approximately 8W through the VRM, which translates into roughly 6.5 W actual processor power and sets a new record for low power consumption. Also, the "ADO" 4600+ is extremely power efficient and comes in at 11.2 W measured before the VRM. Suffice it to say that the two processors fit exactly into our calculated power relation, that is: 8W * 1.4 = 11.2W.
Originally we were a bit stunned by the fact that the E6300 does not show any power reduction compared to its faster brethrens, however, after factoring in all parameters as explained two pages ago, the results appear to be right on target as well.
All data shown are with all physical and logical cores running a separate instance of Prime95, which in our experience is the highest load we can subject any processor to. That does not mean that under catastrophic conditions, even higher power consumption levels might be achievable but overall, the numbers shown are pretty much the highest power consumption that can be accomplished in any standard environment.
With ~25W, the "ADD" 3800+ once again sets new records in power efficiency. Likewise, the 4600+ "ADO" processor sits at 44 W very comfortably within the margins defined by the "Energy- Efficient" specs. The theoretical 1.67 x increase from the 3800+ to the 4600+ would come out to 42W, which is once again very close to the measured numbers. The E6300 Core 2 Duo holds its own at 53.6W under full load but overall, it is no danger to the new AMD CPUs.
The power measurements shown are independent of any real computing benchmark results, however, actual efficiency needs to take performance into account as well in order to generate any relevance in form of an instructions per Watt metric.
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Athlon64 X2-3800+ (ADA3800DAA5CD) | |
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Core2 Duo E6300 (HH80557PH0362M) |
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