CPU Help? What to choose?

[mikeo01]

Also yeah I am going to reinstall Windows

[cv1324]

should I wait for the new intel cpus?

[kalniel]

should I wait for the new intel cpus?

You're not the OP, but from what you say in your other thread (that you're waiting for the GPU anyway), yes, wait.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Never tried benchmarking a cpu, what tools could I use to do this?

I have Prime95 installed for benchmark, any other tools available? Futuremark, passmark?

Would personally like to see the performance boost also if there is any too

Also yeah I am going to reinstall Windows

The improvements(if any) will be seen on applications which use 2 to 4 threads on your CPU.

Let me think of some free applications you could use and benchmark settings.

What games do you have?

[mikeo01]

ARMA II, Battlefield series (except BF3), Company of heroes, Crysis series.

I dont play many games, and games I do run are quite old

Some benchmarking programs would be useful, would probably give better results than the games I have

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Crysis and Crysis Warhead would be good benchmarks as they are lightly threaded and there is a benchmark tool available. Games like WoW and SC2 should be useful tests too.

The other games are multi-threaded so in theory should not see an increase.

CineBench should be a good negative control. SuperPi is a waste of time since Bulldozer lacks an X87 unit.

I will try to think of a few others.

Edit!!

I would run the tests mentioned in this thread:

http://forums.hexus.net/pc-hardware/...ded-power.html

The first pass should see some gains and hence improve the overall score.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

OK,the following are the list of benchmarks I suggest.

1.)Crysis and Crysis Warhead benchmark tools:

http://downloads.guru3d.com/Crysis-B...load-1791.html

http://downloads.guru3d.com/Crysis-W...load-2072.html

Run at lowest resolution and at the native resolution you play at.

You should see some gains here.

2.)CineBench 11.5:

http://www.maxon.net/downloads/cinebench.html

Use both the single threaded and multi-threaded benchmarks. You should see no gains here.

3.)Hexus HandBrake benchmarks:

http://forums.hexus.net/pc-hardware/...ded-power.html

You should see some gains here.

[mikeo01]

My FX and motherboard should be arriving very soon (Amazon promised by the 1st!) so should be able to test it very soon

[mikeo01]

CAT-THE-FIFTH where is the average FPS in the handbrake activity log?

I have completed benchmarks. Overall with the hotfix it did feel quicker. Should I post all results for or just average FPS and total time for handbrake?

Crysis Warhead is a game FX won't run unfortunately Crysis runs, not warhead though which is strange.

[mikeo01]

Right, fair testing, ran all same settings, unnecessary processes closed with program.

Without FX Hotfix 800x600
Crysis Benchmark

02/02/2012 17:16:45 - Vista 64
Beginning Run #1 on Map-island, Demo-benchmark_cpu
DX10 800x600, AA=No AA, Vsync=Disabled, 64 bit test, FullScreen
Demo Loops=3, Time Of Day= 9
Global Game Quality: VeryHigh
==============================================================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 1500, Recorded Time: 44.62s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 42.68s, Average FPS: 35.14
Min FPS: 16.76 at frame 196, Max FPS: 52.33 at frame 296
Average Tri/Sec: -49362724, Tri/Frame: -1404685
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -0.51
!TimeDemo Run 1 Finished.
Play Time: 32.39s, Average FPS: 46.30
Min FPS: 16.76 at frame 196, Max FPS: 55.30 at frame 108
Average Tri/Sec: -64811436, Tri/Frame: -1399684
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -0.51
_____________________________________________________________________________________

1440x960

02/02/2012 17:20:31 - Vista 64
Beginning Run #1 on Map-island, Demo-benchmark_cpu
DX10 1440x960, AA=No AA, Vsync=Disabled, 64 bit test, FullScreen
Demo Loops=3, Time Of Day= 9
Global Game Quality: VeryHigh
==============================================================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 1500, Recorded Time: 44.62s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 42.58s, Average FPS: 35.23
Min FPS: 22.44 at frame 197, Max FPS: 53.11 at frame 354
Average Tri/Sec: -49342976, Tri/Frame: -1400729
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -0.51
!TimeDemo Run 1 Finished.
Play Time: 33.29s, Average FPS: 45.06
Min FPS: 22.44 at frame 197, Max FPS: 53.47 at frame 113
Average Tri/Sec: -63038108, Tri/Frame: -1399114
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -0.51
!TimeDemo Run 2 Finished.
Play Time: 32.98s, Average FPS: 45.48
Min FPS: 22.44 at frame 197, Max FPS: 55.95 at frame 110
Average Tri/Sec: -63451460, Tri/Frame: -1395214
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -0.52
TimeDemo Play Ended, (3 Runs Performed)
==============================================================

Completed All Tests

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>>--SUMMARY--<<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

02/02/2012 17:20:31 - Vista 64

Run #1- DX10 1440x960 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: VeryHigh ~~ Overall Average FPS: 45.27
____________________________________________________________________________________

Handbrake
Handbrake - Big Buck Bunny

[18:24:27] work: average encoding speed for job is 27.964169 fps

x264 [info]: frame I:153 Avg QP:13.17 size:261454 PSNR Mean Y:50.60 U:54.54 V:55.36 Avg:51.54 Global:49.74
x264 [info]: frame P:11384 Avg QP:17.56 size: 29299 PSNR Mean Y:46.71 U:50.31 V:51.06 Avg:47.59 Global:46.62
x264 [info]: frame B:2778 Avg QP:23.33 size: 9088 PSNR Mean Y:45.38 U:51.49 V:52.33 Avg:46.36 Global:43.99
x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 69.5% 4.3% 26.2%
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 37.1% 0.0% 62.9%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 3.1% 0.0% 2.1% P16..4: 34.4% 7.4% 4.7% 0.0% 0.0% skip:48.2%
x264 [info]: mb B I16..4: 1.7% 0.0% 1.0% B16..8: 19.6% 3.9% 0.3% direct: 5.9% skip:67.5% L0:40.4% L1:47.8% BI:11.8%
x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 45.5% 57.5% 29.1% inter: 12.5% 15.3% 2.8%
x264 [info]: i16 v,h,dc,p: 44% 23% 15% 18%
x264 [info]: i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 28% 17% 19% 5% 7% 8% 6% 6% 5%
x264 [info]: i8c dc,h,v,p: 50% 22% 20% 8%
x264 [info]: Weighted P-Frames: Y:1.3% UV:0.6%
x264 [info]: ref P L0: 76.4% 11.5% 12.0% 0.1%
x264 [info]: ref B L0: 69.8% 30.2%
x264 [info]: ref B L1: 90.2% 9.8%
x264 [info]: SSIM Mean Y:0.9904885 (20.217db)
x264 [info]: PSNR Mean Y:46.491 U:50.582 V:51.350 Avg:47.389 Global:45.993 kb/s:5349.96

Total time: 09:56 mins
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Handbrake - Tron


[18:13:27] work: average encoding speed for job is 28.001293 fps


x264 [info]: frame I:104 Avg QP:16.63 size: 95878 PSNR Mean Y:51.19 U:55.75 V:56.69 Avg:52.20 Global:50.57
x264 [info]: frame P:2468 Avg QP:19.74 size: 26999 PSNR Mean Y:47.92 U:52.36 V:53.09 Avg:48.88 Global:47.13
x264 [info]: frame B:1000 Avg QP:21.48 size: 10215 PSNR Mean Y:50.94 U:55.33 V:56.06 Avg:51.81 Global:46.57
x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 49.3% 29.6% 21.0%
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 59.4% 0.0% 40.6%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 25.7% 0.0% 5.0% P16..4: 40.0% 6.1% 3.0% 0.0% 0.0% skip:20.2%
x264 [info]: mb B I16..4: 10.3% 0.0% 0.5% B16..8: 21.2% 3.5% 0.3% direct: 9.0% skip:55.3% L0:39.0% L1:49.8% BI:11.3%
x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 41.1% 49.8% 23.0% inter: 10.6% 23.8% 1.4%
x264 [info]: i16 v,h,dc,p: 35% 24% 25% 16%
x264 [info]: i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 19% 25% 29% 5% 6% 5% 5% 4% 4%
x264 [info]: i8c dc,h,v,p: 58% 21% 16% 6%
x264 [info]: Weighted P-Frames: Y:16.1% UV:11.7%
x264 [info]: ref P L0: 62.8% 9.0% 26.9% 1.4%
x264 [info]: ref B L0: 67.8% 32.2%
x264 [info]: ref B L1: 95.0% 5.0%
x264 [info]: SSIM Mean Y:0.9863771 (18.657db)
x264 [info]: PSNR Mean Y:48.860 U:53.294 V:54.026 Avg:49.796 Global:47.035 kb/s:4665.42

Total time: 2:28 mins
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Handbrake - Splice

[18:28:14] work: average encoding speed for job is 19.123474 fps

x264 [info]: frame I:111 Avg QP:17.62 size:171815 PSNR Mean Y:48.22 U:49.06 V:48.81 Avg:48.37 Global:46.72
x264 [info]: frame P:2071 Avg QP:20.10 size: 59071 PSNR Mean Y:49.55 U:49.63 V:48.99 Avg:49.33 Global:44.60
x264 [info]: frame B:1106 Avg QP:21.07 size: 18826 PSNR Mean Y:57.88 U:57.15 V:55.88 Avg:56.98 Global:45.94
x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 41.1% 26.7% 32.2%
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 38.6% 0.0% 61.4%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 11.6% 0.0% 7.2% P16..4: 47.7% 10.2% 4.6% 0.0% 0.0% skip:18.6%
x264 [info]: mb B I16..4: 6.4% 0.0% 0.4% B16..8: 18.3% 3.9% 0.2% direct:12.1% skip:58.8% L0:44.5% L1:45.9% BI: 9.6%
x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 48.6% 75.1% 62.4% inter: 18.6% 45.1% 21.3%
x264 [info]: i16 v,h,dc,p: 53% 14% 15% 18%
x264 [info]: i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 23% 17% 24% 6% 8% 7% 6% 5% 4%
x264 [info]: i8c dc,h,v,p: 62% 14% 16% 9%
x264 [info]: Weighted P-Frames: Y:10.9% UV:9.2%
x264 [info]: ref P L0: 70.6% 11.5% 17.4% 0.4%
x264 [info]: ref B L0: 81.3% 18.7%
x264 [info]: ref B L1: 97.0% 3.0%
x264 [info]: SSIM Mean Y:0.9818967 (17.422db)
x264 [info]: PSNR Mean Y:52.308 U:52.136 V:51.302 Avg:51.871 Global:45.069 kb/s:9461.41

Total time: 02:17 mins
____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

With FX Hotfix

Crysis Benchmark 800x600

03/02/2012 17:34:34 - Vista 64
Beginning Run #1 on Map-island, Demo-benchmark_cpu
DX10 800x600, AA=No AA, Vsync=Disabled, 64 bit test, FullScreen
Demo Loops=3, Time Of Day= 9
Global Game Quality: VeryHigh
==============================================================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 1500, Recorded Time: 44.62s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 42.30s, Average FPS: 35.46
Min FPS: 17.65 at frame 196, Max FPS: 58.15 at frame 303
Average Tri/Sec: -49663576, Tri/Frame: -1400400
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -0.51
!TimeDemo Run 1 Finished.
Play Time: 31.80s, Average FPS: 47.17
Min FPS: 17.65 at frame 196, Max FPS: 61.07 at frame 118
Average Tri/Sec: -65976968, Tri/Frame: -1398814
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -0.51
!TimeDemo Run 2 Finished.
Play Time: 31.44s, Average FPS: 47.71
Min FPS: 17.65 at frame 196, Max FPS: 61.23 at frame 118
Average Tri/Sec: -66767136, Tri/Frame: -1399496
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -0.51
TimeDemo Play Ended, (3 Runs Performed)
==============================================================

Completed All Tests

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>>--SUMMARY--<<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

03/02/2012 17:34:34 - Vista 64

Run #1- DX10 800x600 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: VeryHigh ~~ Overall Average FPS: 47.44
_____________________________________________________________________________________

1440x960

03/02/2012 17:38:19 - Vista 64
Beginning Run #1 on Map-island, Demo-benchmark_cpu
DX10 1440x960, AA=No AA, Vsync=Disabled, 64 bit test, FullScreen
Demo Loops=3, Time Of Day= 9
Global Game Quality: VeryHigh
==============================================================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 1500, Recorded Time: 44.62s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 40.68s, Average FPS: 36.87
Min FPS: 20.61 at frame 201, Max FPS: 57.52 at frame 310
Average Tri/Sec: -51722936, Tri/Frame: -1402884
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -0.51
!TimeDemo Run 1 Finished.
Play Time: 30.84s, Average FPS: 48.64
Min FPS: 20.61 at frame 201, Max FPS: 62.12 at frame 121
Average Tri/Sec: -67996984, Tri/Frame: -1397909
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -0.51
!TimeDemo Run 2 Finished.
Play Time: 30.66s, Average FPS: 48.92
Min FPS: 20.61 at frame 201, Max FPS: 62.12 at frame 121
Average Tri/Sec: -68406880, Tri/Frame: -1398425
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -0.51
TimeDemo Play Ended, (3 Runs Performed)
==============================================================

Completed All Tests

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>>--SUMMARY--<<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

03/02/2012 17:38:19 - Vista 64

Run #1- DX10 1400x960 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: VeryHigh ~~ Overall Average FPS: 48.78
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Handbrake
Handbrake - Big Buck Bunny

[17:53:07] work: average encoding speed for job is 27.871857 fps

x264 [info]: frame I:153 Avg QP:13.17 size:261454 PSNR Mean Y:50.60 U:54.54 V:55.36 Avg:51.54 Global:49.74
x264 [info]: frame P:11384 Avg QP:17.56 size: 29299 PSNR Mean Y:46.71 U:50.31 V:51.06 Avg:47.59 Global:46.62
x264 [info]: frame B:2778 Avg QP:23.33 size: 9088 PSNR Mean Y:45.38 U:51.49 V:52.33 Avg:46.36 Global:43.99
x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 69.5% 4.3% 26.2%
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 37.1% 0.0% 62.9%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 3.1% 0.0% 2.1% P16..4: 34.4% 7.4% 4.7% 0.0% 0.0% skip:48.2%
x264 [info]: mb B I16..4: 1.7% 0.0% 1.0% B16..8: 19.6% 3.9% 0.3% direct: 5.9% skip:67.5% L0:40.4% L1:47.8% BI:11.8%
x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 45.5% 57.5% 29.1% inter: 12.5% 15.3% 2.8%
x264 [info]: i16 v,h,dc,p: 44% 23% 15% 18%
x264 [info]: i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 28% 17% 19% 5% 7% 8% 6% 6% 5%
x264 [info]: i8c dc,h,v,p: 50% 22% 20% 8%
x264 [info]: Weighted P-Frames: Y:1.3% UV:0.6%
x264 [info]: ref P L0: 76.4% 11.5% 12.0% 0.1%
x264 [info]: ref B L0: 69.8% 30.2%
x264 [info]: ref B L1: 90.2% 9.8%
x264 [info]: SSIM Mean Y:0.9904885 (20.217db)
x264 [info]: PSNR Mean Y:46.491 U:50.582 V:51.350 Avg:47.389 Global:45.993 kb/s:5349.96

Total time: 09:56 min
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Handbrake - Splice

[17:59:28] work: average encoding speed for job is 19.038990 fps

x264 [info]: frame I:111 Avg QP:17.62 size:171815 PSNR Mean Y:48.22 U:49.06 V:48.81 Avg:48.37 Global:46.72
x264 [info]: frame P:2071 Avg QP:20.10 size: 59071 PSNR Mean Y:49.55 U:49.63 V:48.99 Avg:49.33 Global:44.60
x264 [info]: frame B:1106 Avg QP:21.07 size: 18826 PSNR Mean Y:57.88 U:57.15 V:55.88 Avg:56.98 Global:45.94
x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 41.1% 26.7% 32.2%
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 38.6% 0.0% 61.4%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 11.6% 0.0% 7.2% P16..4: 47.7% 10.2% 4.6% 0.0% 0.0% skip:18.6%
x264 [info]: mb B I16..4: 6.4% 0.0% 0.4% B16..8: 18.3% 3.9% 0.2% direct:12.1% skip:58.8% L0:44.5% L1:45.9% BI: 9.6%
x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 48.6% 75.1% 62.4% inter: 18.6% 45.1% 21.3%
x264 [info]: i16 v,h,dc,p: 53% 14% 15% 18%
x264 [info]: i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 23% 17% 24% 6% 8% 7% 6% 5% 4%
x264 [info]: i8c dc,h,v,p: 62% 14% 16% 9%
x264 [info]: Weighted P-Frames: Y:10.9% UV:9.2%
x264 [info]: ref P L0: 70.6% 11.5% 17.4% 0.4%
x264 [info]: ref B L0: 81.3% 18.7%
x264 [info]: ref B L1: 97.0% 3.0%
x264 [info]: SSIM Mean Y:0.9818967 (17.422db)
x264 [info]: PSNR Mean Y:52.308 U:52.136 V:51.302 Avg:51.871 Global:45.069 kb/s:9461.41

Total time: 02:17 min
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Handbrake - Tron

[18:05:51] work: average encoding speed for job is 27.924072 fps

x264 [info]: frame I:104 Avg QP:16.63 size: 95878 PSNR Mean Y:51.19 U:55.75 V:56.69 Avg:52.20 Global:50.57
x264 [info]: frame P:2468 Avg QP:19.74 size: 26999 PSNR Mean Y:47.92 U:52.36 V:53.09 Avg:48.88 Global:47.13
x264 [info]: frame B:1000 Avg QP:21.48 size: 10215 PSNR Mean Y:50.94 U:55.33 V:56.06 Avg:51.81 Global:46.57
x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 49.3% 29.6% 21.0%
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 59.4% 0.0% 40.6%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 25.7% 0.0% 5.0% P16..4: 40.0% 6.1% 3.0% 0.0% 0.0% skip:20.2%
x264 [info]: mb B I16..4: 10.3% 0.0% 0.5% B16..8: 21.2% 3.5% 0.3% direct: 9.0% skip:55.3% L0:39.0% L1:49.8% BI:11.3%
x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 41.1% 49.8% 23.0% inter: 10.6% 23.8% 1.4%
x264 [info]: i16 v,h,dc,p: 35% 24% 25% 16%
x264 [info]: i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 19% 25% 29% 5% 6% 5% 5% 4% 4%
x264 [info]: i8c dc,h,v,p: 58% 21% 16% 6%
x264 [info]: Weighted P-Frames: Y:16.1% UV:11.7%
x264 [info]: ref P L0: 62.8% 9.0% 26.9% 1.4%
x264 [info]: ref B L0: 67.8% 32.2%
x264 [info]: ref B L1: 95.0% 5.0%
x264 [info]: SSIM Mean Y:0.9863771 (18.657db)
x264 [info]: PSNR Mean Y:48.860 U:53.294 V:54.026 Avg:49.796 Global:47.035 kb/s:4665.42

Total time: 02:28 min

Cinnebench results were basically the same.


Crysis warhead did not work, no benchmark on this. All tests ran with the Close Unnecessary processes program.



The hotfix doesn't seem to have made any improvements from the results though.

[mikeo01]

The FX easily overclocks to 4.2 Ghz, 50c load

Don't know if the turbo core can bump it up any more, will try


Probably let the turbo core bump up the clock to 4.2 Ghz when needed to avoid constant heat

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Thanks a lot for running the benchmarks! The logs say Vista64 - I assume this is a glitch as the hotfix only works under Windows 7??

The Crysis results do show a slight improvement which is line with what is expected. What are the average frames per second at 800X640??

CineBench should show no improvement. What are the average framerates for the HandBrake encodes?? I cannot see them.

[mikeo01]

Yeah thats a glitch Hotfix does run under Windows 7, just the Crysis benchmark app

Without FX Hotfix 800x600 avg fps 35.14
With FX Hotfix 800x600 avg fps 35.46

Only a slight improvement.

And ooops sorry I didn't post them did I.

Il post them back into the above post in bold

Yeah Cinebench show no improvements as you said

[mikeo01]

And to get a feel of what the FX can do clocked at 4.4 Ghz:

Tron 34.395340 fps
Splice 23.940010 fps
Big Buck Bunny 128.419891 fps (Tested 3 times, same result??? Looks like some error)

Regardless of the error, it looks like you need to clock the FX-6100 pretty high to get it to a Phenom II x6 1100Ts level

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Yeah thats a glitch Hotfix does run under Windows 7, just the Crysis benchmark app

Without FX Hotfix 800x600 avg fps 35.14
With FX Hotfix 800x600 avg fps 35.46

Only a slight improvement.

And ooops sorry I didn't post them did I.

Il post them back into the above post in bold

Yeah Cinebench show no improvements as you said

I was expecting a slight improvement with the video encoding as the first past should be slightly quicker.

With your Crysis figures at 1440X900 you are getting 45.27 FPS without the hotfix and 47.71 FPS with the hotfix?? That works out as a 5.4% improvement which is in line with the improvements seen in some games with Windows 7.

[mikeo01]

Don't know what the hotfix has done, it hasn't improved the video encoding.

The hotfix seems to have improved within game fps according to the crysis benchmark

What was MS plans on the FX fix? I know this hotfix was to improve scheduling but are there any future patches in development for the FX series?