Intel Unveils Sandy Bridge: Core i7 2600K, i5 2500K, i5 2400, i3 2100 CPUs

wPrime

wPrime is a leading multithreaded benchmark for x86 processors that tests your processor performance by calculating square roots with a recursive call of Newton’s method for estimating functions, with f(x)=x2-k, where k is the number we’re sqrting, until Sgn(f(x)/f'(x)) does not equal that of the previous iteration, starting with an estimation of k/2. It then uses an iterative calling of the estimation method a set amount of times to increase the accuracy of the results. It then confirms that n(k)2=k to ensure the calculation was correct. It repeats this for all numbers from 1 to the requested maximum.

wPrime is a popular benchmarking utility for all types of overclockers. It can give you quick results on how well your CPU and memory subsystem are performing. At the bottom of the chart we find the Intel Core i3 2100. With just 2 physical cores with Hyper Threading and only 3MB of cache it narrowly loses to the QX6700. The Intel Core i7 2600K was the fastest CPU in wPrime and when overclocked to 4.9GHz cut down the time needed to complete the calculation by one minute and eleven seconds!

The AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE has a very respectable showing here, just edging out the Core i5 2500K.