Core i3-2100 vs Core i3-2100T

[Whiffle]

Hello,

You guys kindly help me put together a cheap SB build here:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18285638

I thought I would just start a new thread just to double check that the i3-2100T is the best way forward.

It has got mainly good but a few mixed reviews as to whether there really is any point in going for a lower powered version of a desktop chip.

I can't remember where I read it, but the article suggested that the "T" version does use less energy than the regular 2100 but then the 2100T would take longer to do the job, thus cancelling out the benefit.

As per my earlier thread, I plan on sticking this chip in a server eventually and so I assumed that 2100T would be the sensible option - would you agree?

The other point is TDP - is this a good way of comparing the efficiency of a CPU? What, exactly, does this measure and does it take into account a computer that might spend a lot of its time idling?

Thanks

 

[panyan]

It has got mainly good but a few mixed reviews as to whether there really is any point in going for a lower powered version of a desktop chip.

personally i wouldnt bother, why buy a low power version which is often more expensive

I can't remember where I read it, but the article suggested that the "T" version does use less energy than the regular 2100 but then the 2100T would take longer to do the job, thus cancelling out the benefit.

the T version is a low power version, but i imagine they have the same performance unless the T has silly power saving features that limit the chip

As per my earlier thread, I plan on sticking this chip in a server eventually and so I assumed that 2100T would be the sensible option - would you agree?

if you dont need a lot of cpu power and you are energy consious, then yeah

The other point is TDP - is this a good way of comparing the efficiency of a CPU? What, exactly, does this measure and does it take into account a computer that might spend a lot of its time idling?


the TDP is the required power from the mobo i think

 

[Whiffle]

Done some further research and there are two main issues that crop up on this:

1. The two chips are exactly the same in terms of power most of the time:

"2100T is not a cherry-picked die with lower leak current. It consumes exactly the same power at idle and video playback (or whatever task that does not peg CPU) as 2100. It consumes less power (but by 10W at most) only at CPU intensive tasks such as video re-encoding (because of lower clock/lower voltage). But eventually you won't save any electricity at CPU intensive tasks by going with 2100T: lower power x longer time (2100T) = higher power x shorter time (2100)"

In terms of the overall efficiency they are then the same when you factor in time taken. This being the case, I cannot really see why you would want to buy the lower power chip if there is no real efficiency gain.

The only reasons I can think of is that you don't have a PSU that can take the full blown 2100, you have a system that cannot take the extra heat or you want a system that will stay quieter.

2. Even if you did want the artificially limited i3-2100T, it appears that the best way of doing this is to undervolt the i3-2100 instead because of the following reasons:

a) The 2100 is actually slightly cheaper
b) You have the option of increasing the voltage again if you need the extra power
c) Apparently, if you undervolt the 2100 to the same level as the 2100T, it will actually perform faster - don't personally understand how this can be but found this quote

"are you going for the slower 2100T because it offers lower power consumption/heat? if that's the case, just get a regular i3 2100 and undervolt it to around 1.05v, and it will have the same power draw as the 2100T, except it'll run faster clocks. you can always undervolt the 2100 to consume less power, but you can't overclock a 2100T to have the same speed as the 2100"

In essence, therefore, it appears that ultimately there is no real reason to get a 2100t. If the extra heat/noise worries you, you can just undervolt if you really want but this is not going to gain you anything if you are doing if for power efficiency reasons.

What does everyone else think?

 

[gropingmantis]

Can you downclock or undervolt on an H67 board?

What you said above makes sense as the stock clocks onthe T model will be conservative (low clocks for that voltage) but if you do it yourself you can have the same voltage (thus the same power saving) but can push the clock speeds up a bit. I was also going to get a 2100T for a home server but now I dont think I will bother.