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CPU History Tour (2003 - 2008)

Published: (last update )


Fourth part of the CPU benchmark project. Explore the golden age of AMD when Athlon 64 was the top processor. Later, Intel's comeback with Core 2 completely changed the balance of power.

Introduction

This article is the fourth part of huge benchmark project. The purpose of this project is to follow development of x86 processors starting in year 1995 and up to present time. The whole project is too big to fit into single article, so there will be multiple parts, each of them with slightly adjusted methodology but still similar enough to compare processors from one part to another. The point is to measure performance of software newer than tested HW, to determine how future-proof were the selected architectures and processors based on them. You can find popular benchmarks, games and real-life applications tested here.






Tested Processors

Athlon 64 FX-51Athlon 64 3400+Athlon 64 3200+Athlon 64 3700+Athlon 64 X2 3800+2 × Opteron 248Opteron 2542 × Opteron 2542 × Opteron 280
SocketSocket 940Socket 754Socket 939Socket 939Socket 939Socket 940Socket 940Socket 940Socket 940
Cores / Threads1/11/11/11/11/12/21/12/24/4
Frequency2200 MHz2400 MHz2000 MHz2200 MHz2000 MHz2200 MHz2800 MHz2800 MHz2400 MHz
Multiplier11×12×10×11×10×11×14×14×12x
Bus Speed2000 MHz / 32bit1600 MHz / 32bit2000 MHz / 32bit2000 MHz / 32bit2000 MHz / 32bit2000 MHz / 32bit2000 MHz / 32bit2000 MHz / 32bit2000 MHz / 32bit
Bus TypeHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHT
FSB Bandwidth8 GB/s6.4 GB/s8 GB/s8 GB/s8 GB/s8 GB/s8 GB/s8 GB/s8 GB/s
ArchitectureK8K8K8K8K8K8K8K8K8
Code NameSledgeHammerNewCastleWinchesterSan DiegoManchesterTroyTroyTroyItaly
Technology130 nm130 nm90 nm90 nm90 nm90 nm90 nm90 nm90 nm
Transistor Count105,9 mil.68,5 mil.77 mil.114 mil.154 mil.2 × 114 mil.114 mil.2 × 114 mil.2 × 233 mil.
Die Size193 mm2144 mm284 mm2115 mm2147 mm22 × 115 mm2115 mm22 × 115 mm22 × 199 mm2
Transistor Density0.55 M / mm20.48 M / mm20.92 M / mm20.99 M / mm21.05 M / mm20.99 M / mm20.99 M / mm20.99 M / mm21.17 M / mm2
L1 Cache I / D64 / 64 kB64 / 64 kB64 / 64 kB64 / 64 kB2 × 64 / 64 kB2 × 64 / 64 kB64 / 64 kB2 × 64 / 64 kB4 × 64 / 64 kB
L2 Cache1024 kB512 kB512 kB1024 kB2 × 512 kB2 × 1024 kB1024 kB2 × 1024 kB4 × 1024 kB
L3 Cache---------
RAM Capacity4 GB2 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB
RAM TypeECC Reg. DDRDDRDDRDDRDDRDDRDDRDDRDDR
RAM Speed400 MHz / 128-bit400 MHz / 64-bit400 MHz / 128-bit400 MHz / 128-bit400 MHz / 128-bit400 MHz / 128-bit400 MHz / 128-bit400 MHz / 128-bit400 MHz / 128-bit
RAM Bandwidth6.4 GB/s3.2 GB/s6.4 GB/s6.4 GB/s6.4 GB/s6.4 GB/s6.4 GB/s6.4 GB/s6.4 GB/s
MotherboardMSI K8N Master2Asus K8N4-E DeluxeAsus A8N-EAsus A8N-EAsus A8N-EMSI K8N Master2MSI K8N Master2MSI K8N Master2MSI K8N Master2
ChipsetNvidia nForce ProNvidia nForce4-4XNvidia nForce4Nvidia nForce4Nvidia nForce4Nvidia nForce ProNvidia nForce ProNvidia nForce ProNvidia nForce Pro
TDP89 W89 W67 W89 W89 W2 × 85 W68 W2 × 68 W2 × 68 W
Launch Date23.09.2003200414.10.200404.05.200501.08.200512/200408/200508/200526.09.2005
Launch Price$733   $354 $851$1702$2598


Athlon 64 3000+ (AM2)Athlon 64 LE-1640Athlon 64 X2 4000+Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (Brisbane)Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (Winsdor)Athlon 64 X2 6400+Phenom X4 9100ePhenom X4 96502 × Opteron 2218
SocketSocket AM2Socket AM2Socket AM2Socket AM2Socket AM2Socket AM2Socket AM2+Socket AM2+Socket F
Cores / Threads1/11/12/22/22/22/24/44/44/4
Frequency1800 MHz1800 MHz2100 MHz2600 MHz2600 MHz3200 MHz1800 MHz2300 MHz2600 MHz
Multiplier10.5×13×13×16×11.5×13x
Bus Speed2000 MHz / 32bit2000 MHz / 32bit2000 MHz / 32bit2000 MHz / 32bit2000 MHz / 32bit2000 MHz / 32bit3200 MHz / 32bit3600 MHz / 32bit2000 MHz / 64-bit
Bus TypeHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHT
FSB Bandwidth8 GB/s8 GB/s8 GB/s8 GB/s8 GB/s8 GB/s12.8 GB/s14.4 GB/s16 GB/s
ArchitectureK8K8K8K8K8K8K10K10K8
Code NameOrleansOrleansBrisbaneBrisbaneWinsdorWinsdorAgenaAgenaSanta Rosa
Technology90 nm90 nm65 nm65 nm90 nm90 nm65 nm65 nm90 nm
Transistor Count81 mil.164 mil.154 mil.154 mil.154 mil.227 mil.450 mil.450 mil.2 × 227 mil.
Die Size103 mm2144 mm2118 mm2118 mm2183 mm2230 mm2285 mm2285 mm22 × 230 mm2
Transistor Density0.79 M / mm21.14 M / mm21.31 M / mm21.31 M / mm20.84 M / mm20.99 M / mm21.58 M / mm21.58 M / mm20.99 M / mm2
L1 Cache I / D64 / 64 kB64 / 64 kB2 × 64 / 64 kB2 × 64 / 64 kB2 × 64 / 64 kB2 × 64 / 64 kB4 × 64 / 64 kB4 × 64 / 64 kB4 × 64 / 64 kB
L2 Cache512 kB1024 kB2 × 512 kB2 × 512 kB2 × 512 kB2 × 1024 kB4 × 512 kB4 × 512 kB4 × 1024 kB
L3 Cache------2048 kB / 1.6 GHz2048 kB / 1.8 GHz-
RAM Capacity4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB8 GB
RAM TypeDDR2DDR2DDR2DDR2DDR2DDR2DDR2DDR2ECC Reg. DDR2
RAM Speed800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit650 MHz / 256-bit
RAM Bandwidth12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s20.5 GB/s
MotherboardMSI K9A2 PlatinumMSI K9A2 PlatinumMSI K9A2 PlatinumMSI K9A2 PlatinumMSI K9A2 PlatinumMSI K9A2 PlatinumMSI K9A2 PlatinumMSI K9A2 PlatinumTyan n3600M
ChipsetAMD 790FXAMD 790FXAMD 790FXAMD 790FXAMD 790FXAMD 790FXAMD 790FXAMD 790FXNvidia nForce Pro
TDP62 W45 W65 W65 W89 W125 W65 W95 W2 × 95 W
Launch Date23.05.200607.01.200805.12.200605.12.200623.05.200620.07.200727.03.200827.03.200815.08.2006
Launch Price  $169$301$696$239 $215$1746


2 × Opteron 2224 SE2 × Opteron 2356Sempron 2600+Sempron 3000+Pentium 4 531Pentium 4 640Pentium 4 651Pentium 4 651 @ 4.8 GHzPentium D 805
SocketSocket FSocket FSocket 754Socket 939Socket 775Socket 775Socket 775Socket 775Socket 775
Cores / Threads4/48/81/11/11/21/21/21/22/2
Frequency3200 MHz2300 MHz1600 MHz1800 MHz3000 MHz3200 MHz3400 MHz4800 MHz2666 MHz
Multiplier16x11.5×8x15x16×17×17×20×
Bus Speed2000 MHz / 64-bit2000 MHz / 64-bit1600 MHz / 32bit1600 MHz / 32bit800 MHz / 64-bit800 MHz / 64-bit800 MHz / 64-bit1129 MHz / 64-bit533 MHz / 64-bit
Bus TypeHTHTHTHTQDRQDRQDRQDRQDR
FSB Bandwidth16 GB/s16 GB/s6.4 GB/s6.4 GB/s6.4 GB/s6.4 GB/s6.4 GB/s9 GB/s4.3 GB/s
ArchitectureK8K10K8K8NetburstNetburstNetburstNetburstNetburst
Code NameSanta RosaBarcelonaPalermoPalermoPrescottPrescottCedar MillCedar MillSmithField
Technology90 nm65 nm90 nm90 nm90 nm90 nm65 nm65 nm90 nm
Transistor Count2 × 227 mil.2 × 450 mil.76 mil.76 mil.125 mil.169 mil.188 mil.188 mil.230 mil.
Die Size2 × 230 mm22 × 285 mm284 mm284 mm2112 mm2135 mm281 mm281 mm2206 mm2
Transistor Density0.99 M / mm21.58 M / mm20.90 M / mm20.90 M / mm21.12 M / mm21.25 M / mm22.32 M / mm22.32 M / mm21.12 M / mm2
L1 Cache I / D4 × 64 / 64 kB4 × 64 / 64 kB64 / 64 kB64 / 64 kB16 / 12 kB16 / 12 kB16 / 12 kB16 / 12 kB2 × 16 / 12 kB
L2 Cache4 × 1024 kB4 × 512 kB128 kB128 kB1024 kB2048 kB2048 kB2048 kB2 × 1024 kB
L3 Cache-2 × 2048 kB / 1.8 GHz-------
RAM Capacity12 GB12 GB2 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB
RAM TypeECC Reg. DDR2ECC Reg. DDR2DDRDDRDDR2DDR2DDR2DDR2DDR2
RAM Speed640 MHz / 256-bit666 MHz / 256-bit400 MHz / 64-bit400 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit533 MHz / 128-bit
RAM Bandwidth20.5 GB/s21.3 GB/s3.2 GB/s6.4 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s8.5 GB/s
MotherboardTyan n3600MTyan n3600M Asus K8N4-E DeluxeAsus A8N-EAsus P5WDG2Asus P5WDG2Asus P5WDG2Asus P5WDG2Asus P5WDG2
ChipsetNvidia nForce ProNvidia nForce ProNvidia nForce4-4xNvidia nForce4Intel 975XIntel 975XIntel 975XIntel 975XIntel 975X
TDP2 × 119 W2 × 115 W62 W62 W84 W84 W65 W120* W95 W
Launch Date05.08.200709.04.200808/200410/200512.06.200520.02.200516.04.200616.04.200612/2005
Launch Price$1746$1380  $68$273$273$273$143


Pentium D 820Pentium D 945Core 2 Duo E6300Core 2 Duo E6600Core 2 Duo E6750Core 2 Extreme QX6700Core 2 Extreme QX9650Xeon 5080 (5000P)Xeon 5080 (P35)
SocketSocket 775Socket 775Socket 775Socket 775Socket 775Socket 775Socket 775Socket 771Socket 771
Cores / Threads2/22/22/22/22/24/44/42/42/4
Frequency2800 MHz3400 MHz1866 MHz2400 MHz2666 MHz2666 MHz3000 MHz3733 MHz3733 MHz
Multiplier14×17×10×14x14x
Bus Speed800 MHz / 64-bit800 MHz / 64-bit1066 MHz / 64-bit1066 MHz / 64-bit1333 MHz / 64-bit1066 MHz / 64-bit1333 MHz / 64-bit1066 MHz / 64-bit1066 MHz / 64-bit
Bus TypeQDRQDRQDRQDRQDRQDRQDRQDRQDR
FSB Bandwidth6.4 GB/s6.4 GB/s8.5 GB/s8.5 GB/s10.7 GB/s8.5 GB/s10.7 GB/s8.5 GB/s8.5 GB/s
ArchitectureNetburstNetburstCore 2Core 2Core 2Core 2Core 2NetburstNetburst
Code NameSmithFieldPreslerConroeConroeConroeKentsfieldYorkfieldDempseyDempsey
Technology90 nm65 nm65 nm65 nm65 nm65 nm45 nm65 nm65 nm
Transistor Count230 mil.376 mil.291 mil.291 mil.291 mil.582 mil.820 mil.376 mil.376 mil.
Die Size206 mm2162 mm2143 mm2143 mm2143 mm2286 mm2214 mm2162 mm2162 mm2
Transistor Density1.12 M / mm22.32 M / mm22.03 M / mm22.03 M / mm22.03 M / mm22.03 M / mm23.83 M / mm22.32 M / mm22.32 M / mm2
L1 Cache I / D2 × 16 / 12 kB2 × 16 / 12 kB2 × 32 / 32 kB2 × 32 / 32 kB2 × 32 / 32 kB4 × 32 / 32 kB4 × 32 / 32 kB2 × 16 / 12 kB2 × 16 / 12 kB
L2 Cache2 × 1024 kB2 × 2048 kB2048 kB4096 kB4096 kB2 × 4096 kB2 × 6144 kB2 × 2048 kB2 × 2048 kB
L3 Cache---------
RAM Capacity4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB8 GB4 GB
RAM TypeDDR2DDR2DDR2DDR2DDR2DDR2DDR2FB-DDR2DDR2
RAM Speed800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit667 MHz / 256-bit800 MHz / 128-bit
RAM Bandwidth12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s21.3 GB/s12.8 GB/s
MotherboardAsus P5WDG2Asus P5WDG2Asus P5WDG2Asus P5WDG2Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3Asus P5WDG2Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3Intel S5000PSLGigabyte GA-P35-DS3
ChipsetIntel 975XIntel 975XIntel 975XIntel 975XIntel P35Intel 975XIntel P35Intel 5000PIntel P35
TDP95 W95 W65 W65 W65 W130 W130 W130 W130 W
Launch Date26.05.200523.07.200627.07.200627.07.200616.07.200714.11.200611.11.200723.05.200623.05.2006
Launch Price$241$163$183$316$183$999$999$851$851


2 × Xeon 50502 × Xeon 51302 × Xeon E5335Celeron D336Celeron 420Pentium E2180Pentium E2180 @ 3.33 GHz
SocketSocket 771Socket 771Socket 771Socket 775Socket 775Socket 775Socket 775
Cores / Threads4/84/48/81/11/12/22/2
Frequency3000 MHz2000 MHz2333 MHz2800 MHz1600 MHz2000 MHz3333 MHz
Multiplier18x21×10×10×
Bus Speed667 MHz / 128-bit1333 MHz / 128-bit1333 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 64-bit800 MHz / 64-bit800 MHz / 64-bit1333 MHz / 64-bit
Bus TypeQDRQDRQDRQDRQDRQDRQDR
FSB Bandwidth10.7 GB/s21.3 GB/s21.3 GB/s6.4 GB/s6.4 GB/s6.4 GB/s10.7 GB/s
ArchitectureNetburstCore 2Core 2NetburstCore 2Core 2Core 2
Code NameDempseyWoodcrestClovewtownPrescottConroe-LConroe-1MConroe-1M
Technology65 nm65 nm65 nm90 nm65 nm65 nm65 nm
Transistor Count2 × 376 mil.2 × 291 mil.2 × 582 mil.125 mil.105 mil.105 mil.105 mil.
Die Size2 × 162 mm22 × 143 mm22 × 286 mm2112 mm277 mm277 mm277 mm2
Transistor Density2.32 M / mm22.03 M / mm22.03 M / mm21.12 M / mm21.36 M / mm21.36 M / mm21.36 M / mm2
L1 Cache I / D4 × 16 / 12 kB4 × 32 / 32 kB8 × 32 / 32 kB16 / 12 kB32 / 32 kB2 × 32 / 32 kB2 × 32 / 32 kB
L2 Cache4 × 2048 kB2 × 4096 kB4 × 4096 kB1024 kB512 kB1024 kB1024 kB
L3 Cache-------
RAM Capacity8 GB8 GB8 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB4 GB
RAM TypeFB-DDR2FB-DDR2FB-DDR2DDR2DDR2DDR2DDR2
RAM Speed333 MHz / 256-bit667 MHz / 256-bit667 MHz / 256-bit533 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit800 MHz / 128-bit
RAM Bandwidth10.6 GB/s21.3 GB/s21.3 GB/s8.5 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s12.8 GB/s
MotherboardIntel S5000PSLIntel S5000PSLIntel S5000PSLAsus P5WDG2Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3
ChipsetIntel 5000PIntel 5000PIntel 5000PIntel 975XIntel P35Intel P35Intel P35
TDP2 × 95 W2 × 65 W2 × 80 W84 W35 W65 W65 W
Launch Date23.05.200626.06.200614.11.200627.06.200506/200726.08.200726.08.2007
Launch Price$354$632$1380 $39$84$84


Note: values marked with * are estimated. Official information is either unavailable or these are overclocked units.


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