Questions: What's so special about CULV?

[Hacp]

So here is my basic question. What is so special about Intel's new CULV processors? At first, I thought they were undervolted beyond what normal processors can undervolt to. However, after looking at their specs and voltage, I don't think this is the case. I can undervolt my 2.4ghz dual core on my laptop to .925 volts at around 1 ghz. The intel CULVs run at ~1volt. So what is so special about these processors compared to your normal core 2 duo?

 

[sxr7171]

It's for laptops. It is for machines like the the Dell E4200 or Lenovo Thinkpad X200s - machines which weigh under 2.5lbs and give you 3-11 hours of battery time depending on the battery selection and use. Also my favorite category of laptop.

You probably already knew that though so I guess it's because laptop manufacturers won't run a CPU out of spec and Intel can use this to charge more for slower, more efficient, cooler CPUs. But maybe they are binned for low voltage but otherwise regular Core 2 Duo.

 

[jvroig]

They're laptop parts, and the only thing that is "so special" about them is that they have much more performance than an Atom, but they can still offer netbook-like battery level and weight.

 

[sxr7171]

They're laptop parts, and the only thing that is "so special" about them is that they have much more performance than an Atom, but they can still offer netbook-like battery level and weight.

Actually better than most netbooks in weight with their small batteries but not so much battery life in general. If you outfit them with their middle level batteries they weigh about the same as most netbooks with about the same battery life but bigger screens (12.1") and performance that craps on any netbook. I personally find Atom machines to perform like laptops from the P3/P4 era.

There is one exception I know of which is the Sony Vaio -X which brings ultraportable level engineering to a netbook. But it also brings an ultraportable price. Too bad it doesn't have an ION chipset so I doubt you could use it as a 1.5lb Hulu playing machine. BTW, that weight is about the same as an iPad which IMHO is a pig.

I don't do anything intensive but even web browsing feels like 2002 with those. That's certainly the way Intel wants it so as to not cannibalize the lucrative ultra portable market. Atom seems to be about a year away from making it into telephones so it will shine there for sure.

 

[CurseTheSky]

I don't do anything intensive but even web browsing feels like 2002 with those. That's certainly the way Intel wants it so as to not cannibalize the lucrative ultra portable market. Atom seems to be about a year away from making it into telephones so it will shine there for sure.

With what, a CULV?

I can't tell any difference between my i7 860, E8400, and SU7300 in every day tasks. Provided, I opted for the Core 2 derivative and dual core - if it was a Pentium derivative and especially if it was a single core, it might be a different story.

 

[sxr7171]

With what, a CULV?

I can't tell any difference between my i7 860, E8400, and SU7300 in every day tasks. Provided, I opted for the Core 2 derivative and dual core - if it was a Pentium derivative and especially if it was a single core, it might be a different story.

No with an Atom. I was saying why an Ultraportable is so much better than a netbook. Yet they weigh even less in some battery configurations. Which is also what accounts for the price tag.

 

[soccerballtux]

With what, a CULV?

I can't tell any difference between my i7 860, E8400, and SU7300 in every day tasks. Provided, I opted for the Core 2 derivative and dual core - if it was a Pentium derivative and especially if it was a single core, it might be a different story.

No with an Atom. I was saying why an Ultraportable is so much better than a netbook. Yet they weigh even less in some battery configurations. Which is also what accounts for the price tag.

yeah my atom netbook is pretty slow. Opera 10.5 and Chrome are fast enough, but multiple tabs are a killer for Chrome and Opera because they don't have true adblock and flashblock.
Firefox is too slow IMO even with adblock, flashblock, noscript, etc.

 

[Drenlin]

I wish they'd start putting the nvidia-powered Atom 330 boards in more netbooks. Those things are awesome. 4 threads plus CUDA makes for a fairly powerful machine.

 

[HannibalX]

For me, single-core Atom based machines with Intel integrated graphics are beyond useless.

Now, the dual-core 330 based machines with nVidia ION graphics are very usable. Those two extra threads (four total) plus decent graphics really make a huge difference.

I run Windows 7 Enterprise on my Atom 330 with 4GB of ram and a small SSD. It's plenty fast for web/email/1080p video/office work. You can't game on it but for everything else it's fine for me.

 

[aigomorla]

they are designed with the primary intention of thermal footprint, vs work per watt.

So they are primarily cooler running, and require less voltage then there simular bin'd sisters.

CULV processors will downvolt lower then typical consumer processors, and they will put out a much lower thermal foot print, because thats the design function intel had as primary instead of performance per watt.

 

[slag]

I'm really liking my hp 311.. its only an N270 processor, but it overclocks and has the ion graphics so you can play a lot of games. Plus, the 270 is hyperthreaded, so it runs pretty well imho.

 

[Zap]

What is so special about Intel's new CULV processors?

Battery life closer to Atom than normal notebooks.

Performance closer to normal notebooks than Atom.

 

[Hacp]

Battery life closer to Atom than normal notebooks.

Performance closer to normal notebooks than Atom.

Compared to your run of the mill normal laptop processor I mean. I can already downvolt my processor to 1-1.2 ghz and .925 volts, which is lower than CULV specs.

 

[aigomorla]

Compared to your run of the mill normal laptop processor I mean. I can already downvolt my processor to 1-1.2 ghz and .925 volts, which is lower than CULV specs.

and if i take a culv processor i could go even lower then you.

So whats the point in adding oc and undervoltage?

They will beat you if u undervolt it.

Is like a 920 beating a 975. not possible because the multi on the 975.

Same can be said about CULV and regular in undervoltage.
You cant beat them because they have a lower spec to start.

Your looking at a +1 reason to it.
Whatever reason you have when it comes to heat and voltage, the CULV will be a +1 to all your arguments.

 

[Hacp]

and if i take a culv processor i could go even lower then you.

So whats the point in adding oc and undervoltage?

They will beat you if u undervolt it.

Is like a 920 beating a 975. not possible because the multi on the 975.

Same can be said about CULV and regular in undervoltage.
You cant beat them because they have a lower spec to start.

Your looking at a +1 reason to it.
Whatever reason you have when it comes to heat and voltage, the CULV will be a +1 to all your arguments.

Whats the lowest a CULV can undervolt to?

 

[Hacp]

and if i take a culv processor i could go even lower then you.

So whats the point in adding oc and undervoltage?

They will beat you if u undervolt it.

Is like a 920 beating a 975. not possible because the multi on the 975.

Same can be said about CULV and regular in undervoltage.
You cant beat them because they have a lower spec to start.

Your looking at a +1 reason to it.
Whatever reason you have when it comes to heat and voltage, the CULV will be a +1 to all your arguments.

It seems RM clock doesn't support CULV off the bat. You need to mod a few registry files. I think one guy managed to undervolt to .9 volts which isn't far off from .925 volts.

 

[shabby]

TDP on c2d culv's is 10watts and 5.5watts for core2solo's compared to 35watts for non culv cpu's.

 

[Hacp]

TDP on c2d culv's is 10watts and 5.5watts for core2solo's compared to 35watts for non culv cpu's.

Well right now, underclocked and using an Nvidia GPU that can't be switched, my whole system(with bluetooth and wifi on) is drawing 17 watts max with super pi calculating.

 

[aigomorla]

Well right now, underclocked and using an Nvidia GPU that can't be switched, my whole system(with bluetooth and wifi on) is drawing 17 watts max with super pi calculating.

i find that very hard to believe.

The florescent inside your LCD screen alone would put load on your entire system of more then 17W.

The LCD screen is what EATS your battery life, not the cpu.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Compared to your run of the mill normal laptop processor I mean. I can already downvolt my processor to 1-1.2 ghz and .925 volts, which is lower than CULV specs.

CULV processors likely undervolt better than normal C2Ds. Also, if you have a notebook made for a normal C2D you have all of the other stuff added on, like a bigger heatsink, louder fans, etc, that deal with the excess heat. That's still there, adding to size and weight, even if you do undervolt your CPU. However, if you buy a CULV processor notebook, you get a notebook designed for a smaller thermal footprint, which will be in turn, smaller.

 

[Maximilian]

It can do what atom does but not suck at it. My SU9400 has a TDP of 10w, atom duel core has 5w and isnt as fast.

I know TDP dosent equal power consumption but its somewhat related.

 

[Ben90]

Also remember that frequency*voltage^2 are not the only variables in power consumption. CULV processors may have less leakage then the higher TDP counterparts as well.

 

[Hacp]

i find that very hard to believe.

The florescent inside your LCD screen alone would put load on your entire system of more then 17W.

The LCD screen is what EATS your battery life, not the cpu.

I am sorry but you are flat wrong. This statement alone shows your ignorance. 17 watts for my LCD? My ass.

http://www.anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=3435&p=12

Here is Anand's own battery life test for the Macbook Pro. It uses a 50watt-hour battery and lasts 5 hours. That is a power draw of 10 watts. Last time I checked the Macbook Pro has an LCD screen. It also uses a regular core 2 duo last time I checked.


You can disagree with someone, but the word ignorance is a personal attack. These are not allowed here.
Markfw900 Anandtech Moderator

 

[slayernine]

With what, a CULV?

I can't tell any difference between my i7 860, E8400, and SU7300 in every day tasks. Provided, I opted for the Core 2 derivative and dual core - if it was a Pentium derivative and especially if it was a single core, it might be a different story.

I've yet to find a laptop that makes me feel like its the same performance as a desktop because they aren't. Same goes for a dual core desktop versus a quad core.

Maybe if I start off with really low expectations of my machine or I'm doing nothing but browsing basic HTML websites. Even then the operating system feels so much different on slower hardware. I have an i7 860 and even when I had it under-voltage and under-clocked it still was noticeably faster than any dual core I own and I have a few to compare with.

I suppose you can't tell the difference if you keep your eyes closed while your on the computer, but that's an entirely different topic.

 

[jrocks84]

I am sorry but you are flat wrong. This statement alone shows your ignorance. 17 watts for my LCD? My ass.

http://www.anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=3435&p=12

Here is Anand's own battery life test for the Macbook Pro. It uses a 50watt-hour battery and lasts 5 hours. That is a power draw of 10 watts. Last time I checked the Macbook Pro has an LCD screen. It also uses a regular core 2 duo last time I checked.


You can disagree with someone, but the word ignorance is a personal attack. These are not allowed here.
Markfw900 Anandtech Moderator

I'm pretty sure the reason the MacBook Pro has an LED backlit LCD screen. Those screens use less power than normal LCD screens.