cpu core utilization comparisons

[artsown]

The attached graphic shows the results of my tests on four different
computers having various cpus. I attempted to compare apples to
apples by keeping certain things the same for each test ... namely
the test object (a particular video), the browser and version (waterfox
56.2.5), and the operating system (xenialpup64 version 7.5). I used
htop to get core utilization and memory useage.

The bottom (pentium D) computer has the advantage of a video adapter
card but nevertheless show far more core utilization than the core duo
computer right above it. This illustrates an aspect of the huge improvement
made when intel released the core duo cpu.

None of the other computers have a video adapter card. The enormous
power of the intel i5 (at the top) compared to the others is evident.

While the htop reports vary somewhat over the length of the test video,
they are fairly uniform ... certainly uniform enough to get a kind of
rough set of comparisons.

Art

http://home.ptd.net/~artnpeg/cores.jpg

[rcrsn51]

Another interesting comparison would be for how much power they consume and how much waste heat they generate.

[8Geee]

Right, clamp a Kill-a-Watt powermeter to the power wire from wall to machine. Some basic Volt-meters do the same with said clamp. Voltage times Current is Power.

Regards
8Geee

[artsown]

Another interesting comparison would be for how much power they consume and how much waste heat they generate.

I added cpu chip power info to the attached graphic. TDP or Thermal
Design Power is the max amount of heat generated by the cpu chips
that the cooling system must handle under any work load.

It's interesting that the pentium d 830 is rated to generate far more heat
than the other three cpu chips even though it's by far the lowest in
performance.

http://home.ptd.net/~artnpeg/cores.jpg

Art

[rcrsn51]

It's interesting that the pentium d 830 is rated to generate far more heat than the other three cpu chips even though it's by far the lowest in performance.

Indeed. You just have to look at all the fans and ventilation in those old boxes compared to a modern laptop to appreciate how the technology has advanced.

IIRC, one of the big selling points for SATA drives over IDE was that the smaller cables allowed for more air flow.

[Marv]

Another real world datapoint. I have two surviving desktops. Identical Celeron J1900 CPU in old mini-tower cases. Both fanless, including the PS. I keep them as I think they are a pretty good power(Watts) and power(CPU) compromise and I'm cheap One I use sporadically as a NAS box and the other runs X-Slacko 4.4 24/7 at a friends house and basically (over years) never gets rebooted. Older can be good. Just for hoots I put the power meter on one running lxpupsc64 again:

Code: Select all

Host: puppypc21956 Kernel: 4.19.3-lxpup64 x86_64 (64 bit) Desktop: LXDE (Openbox 3.6.1)
           Distro: LxPup-Sc 18.12
Machine:   Device: desktop Mobo: ASRock model: Q1900M serial: M80-44015700338
           UEFI [Legacy]: American Megatrends v: P1.20 date: 03/25/2014
CPU:       Quad core Intel Celeron J1900 (-MCP-) speed/max: 1332/1993 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Atom Processor Z36xxx/Z37xxx Series Graphics & Display
           Display Server: X.org 1.20.3 drivers: intel (unloaded: modesetting,vesa) FAILED: fbdev
           tty size: 134x32 Advanced Data: N/A for root
Network:   Card: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller driver: r8169
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 500.1GB (19.9% used)
Weather:   Conditions: 42 F (6 C) - Mostly Cloudy Time: November 22, 5:59 PM PST
Info:      Processes: 142 Uptime: 4 min Memory: 179.0/3401.9MB Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.3.8 

Total box power (all but monitor) at idle is 17 Watts and is 23 Watts running glxgears with the performance governor, all cores at 1.993 GHz. Plays a youtube perfectly with Slimjet 21.0.7.0 and the total Wattage doing that is 20W. The Bay Trail htop is:

[artsown]

@marv

I checked, and the celeron j1900 has a remarkably low TDP of just
10 watts.

Thanks for your input.

Art