CPU cache query

[CurlyWhirly]

I know that the i7 CPU's are a different generation of processor to the Quad cores but I'm nevertheless curious as to why the i7 CPU's have their L3 cache in a single block (of usually 8 MB) where as the Q9650 has it's L2 cache in 2 seperate blocks of 6 MB ?

I think that 2 of the cores have access to each 6 MB L2 cache on the Q9650 as that would make sense.

 

[CurlyWhirly]

Isn't it because the i7 is a native Quad whereas the Yorkie is two Wolfdales sellotaped together?

I don't know as I'm new to modern processors as I've only recently upgraded my PC to a quad core based system after my (ancient) XP 3000+ Barton based system blew in January

As it turned out it was a blessing in disguise as I now have a much better gaming rig


p.s. if the Yorkfield is 2 Wolfdales 'sellotaped together' then this could explain why 2 of the cores are always around 12C hotter than the other 2 idle.

 

[CurlyWhirly]

Big.Wayne, I just googled and it appears you are right

I didn't know that

Thanks.

 

[CurlyWhirly]

Well not that idle temps are really a problem but it would bug me still!

I am guessing if your a nOObling then maybe you have not installed the stock heatsink correctly using the infamous Intel Push-Pin system (it's not great!).

Thermalright sell a LGA775 Bolt-Thru-Kit for about £5.00 which does a much better job of securing the heatsink and may help even out the temps as I suspect your heatsink may not be fully attached?

Yes that's the exact HSF that I've got - how did you guess?

I didn't install it as it was pre-assembled - I've never built a PC in my life (only upgraded a PSU on my old PC)

Thanks for the tip about the Bolt-Thru-Kit, I'll look into it

 

[CurlyWhirly]

See what I mean about the temps?

 

[CurlyWhirly]

Load it up CurlyWhirly!

10-20 loops of this and grab a screenie while you system is burning!

IntelBurnTest

Thanks for that link as it's a really useful utility and after running it I'm no longer worried about the 13C temperature difference, as under load, the average core temperatures even themselves out

Cores #2 and #3 were the cores that I was worried about but in both the CPUID Hardware Monitor and the Core Temp Monitor they seem okay.

In actual fact cores #0 and #1 reached a (slightly) higher temperature under stress!

p.s. I said yes to the question about error detection and I'm just curious as to what it does as it can't be anything to do with my RAM as it isn't ECC RAM

p.p.s. I don't get much of an overclock on my Q9650 (mainly because I don't have a good overclocking mobo) but I'm going to try running Intel burn test with an overclock of 150 Mhz (i.e. 3150 Mhz) just to see if the core temperatures get any higher than 52C

 

[CurlyWhirly]

I ran the test with my CPU (slightly) overclocked and the core temperatures hit a peak of 56C/57C and it was all evenly balanced as can be seen below:

Even further evidence that I have nothing to worry about.

p.s. I selected the maximum stress test and ran it the recommended number of times (i.e. 5) same as before.