E5700 vs E7400

[quizzelbuck]

If some one has the time to compare these two chips, and explain to me why the benchmarks are so similar, i would be appreciative. I had a number of confused notions about both chips, but after looking them up, i am having trouble finding out why a couple of things are the way they are. The E7400 is newer, .2 GHZ slower than the e5700, and the e7400 has a faster FSB (1066 v 800). They are close in all the benchmarks, but the older e5700 dual core edges out the newer core 2 duo in little ways in every bench mark.

I am thinking there isn't a huge difference between the 2 chips for an old timey game server, but i am still curious if put to a choice, which one would any of you take if you had to pick one to use.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Pentium+Dual-Core+E5700+@+3.00GHz

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core2+Duo+E7400+@+2.80GHz

 

[OBLAMA2009]

i had a e5200 and it was noticeably slower than an e6300 or an e7400

 

[Denithor]

e7400 - http://ark.intel.com/products/36500
e5700 - http://ark.intel.com/products/42801/Intel-Pentium-Processor-E5700-2M-Cache-3_00-GHz-800-MHz-FSB

Looking at release dates, you'll note that the e5700 is actually considerably newer, launched in Q3'10 versus Q1'08 for the e7400.

Here's the lineup:
e7400 - 2.8GHz - 3MB cache - 1066MHz FSB
e5700 - 3.0GHz - 2MB cache - 800MHz FSB

Both are 45nm process node, both are rated for 65W TDP. However, with the e5700 being considerably newer, the process should have been refined significantly over ~2.5 years so the power consumption may be noticeably lower (benefit for an always-on game server).

The e5700 has a 7% lead from simple clock speed (assuming you don't overclock). The extra 1MB cache on the e7400 reduces this lead by around 3-4% on average and the faster FSB by another 2-3% so these chips are likely dead even at stock speeds.

If you overclock, however, the e5700 is going to be the clear winner. With the lower FSB it is easier to push speeds higher on cheap RAM (higher base multiplier means you don't have to increase FSB as much). Plus, being from later production the process node improvements generally yield better functioning chips that are likely to overclock higher with lower power requirements.

TLDR: If the same price, get the e5700 due to very likely lower power use. If overclocking, get the e5700. If e7400 is cheaper, get it as overall performance is very close and saving money is always good.

 

[quizzelbuck]

Thanks. I was initially confused because the e5400 is not a core 2 duo, which i assumed would make it a weaker chip. I will be sure to use the E5400 going forward.

 

[SPBHM]

i had a e5200 and it was noticeably slower than an e6300 or an e7400

which e6300? the Pentium or Core 2 Duo?

if it's the Pentium, it should be faster, same die, higher clock/fsb...

if it's the Core 2 Duo there is something wrong if your testing... much lower clock, lower IPC... no way...

as for the e7400, it has more l2 cache and higher clock, so... yes...

as for the e7400 vs e5700, I would go with the cheapest,
if the price is the same, I would go with the e7400, because you can overclock both, but you can't add l2 cache.