Benchmarking Performance: PCMark 10

PCMark 10 is the 2017 update to the family favorite, PCMark 8. PCMark 8 has been part of our test bed since the latest update in Q1. For the most part it runs well, although for some processors it doesn’t recognize, some tests will not complete, leading to holes in our benchmark data (there’s also an odd directory quirk in one test that causes issues). The newest version, PCMark 10, is the answer.

The new test is adapted for more 2016/2017 workflows. With the advent of office applications that perform deeper compute tasks, or the wave of online gamers and streamers, the idea behind PCMark 10 is to give a better ‘single number’ result that can provide a comparable metric between systems. Single metrics never tell the whole story, so we’re glad that Futuremark provides a very detailed breakdown of what goes on.

Ganesh’s article on PCMark 10 goes into more detail than I will here, but the ‘Extended Benchmark’ runs through four different sets of tests: Essential, Productivity, Creation and Gaming. Each of these have sub-test results as well, including startup performance, web performance, video conferencing, photo/video editing, spreadsheets, rendering, and physics, which you can find in Bench.

Office: PCMark10-1 Essential Set Score

Office: PCMark10-2 Productivity Set Score

Office: PCMark10-3 Creation Set Score

Office: PCMark10-4 Physics Score

Benchmarking Performance: SPECwpc v2.1 Benchmarking Performance: CPU Office Tests
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  • extide - Monday, September 25, 2017 - link

    No, TDP should include Turbo as that is part of the base/stock operation mode of the CPU.
  • IGTrading - Monday, September 25, 2017 - link

    TDP = Total Design Power by definition.

    This is used to design the motherboard and the cooling system to give designers a clear limit over which the system doesn't go unless it is purposely overcloked.

    Wikipedia : "The thermal design power (TDP), sometimes called thermal design point, is the maximum amount of heat generated by a computer chip or component (often the CPU or GPU) that the cooling system in a computer is designed to dissipate under any workload."

    Intel : "TDP (Thermal Design Power) Intel defines TDP as follows: The upper point of the thermal profile consists of the Thermal Design

    Power (TDP) and the associated Tcase value. Thermal Design Power (TDP) should be used for
    processor thermal solution design targets. TDP is not the maximum power that the processor can
    dissipate. TDP is measured at maximum TCASE.1"

    Intel : "Due to normal manufacturing variations, the exact thermal characteristics of each individual processor are unique. Within the specified parameters of the part, some processors may operate at a slightly higher or lower voltage, some may dissipate slightly higher or lower power and some may draw slightly higher or lower current. As such, no two parts have identical power and thermal characteristics.

    However the TDP specifications represent a “will not exceed” value. "

    This is what we've understood by TDP in the past 21 years while in IT hardware industry.

    If you have a different definition, then perhaps we're talking about different things.
  • whatevs - Monday, September 25, 2017 - link

    Specification for 7980xe says "Thermal Design Power (TDP) represents the average power, in watts, the processor dissipates when operating at Base Frequency with all cores active under an Intel-defined, high-complexity workload. Refer to Datasheet for thermal solution requirements."
    There's a different specification for electrical design. This is not your ancient Xeon TDP.
  • IGTrading - Monday, September 25, 2017 - link

    You mean the definition of TDP should change every year to suit Intel's marketing ?! :)

    "Ancient" Xeon TDP ?! :)

    I've quoted Intel's own definition.

    If the company just came up with a NEW and DIFFERENT definition just for the Core i9 series, then that's just plain deceiving marketing, changing with the wind (read : new generation of products) .

    Plus, why the heck are they calling it TDP ?!

    If they now claim that TDP "represents the average power, in watts, the processor dissipates when operating at Base Frequency with all cores active " then they basically use AMD's ACP from 2011.

    What a load of nonsense from Intel ...

    https://www.intel.com/content/dam/doc/white-paper/...
  • whatevs - Monday, September 25, 2017 - link

    You have quoted 6 year old Xeon definition, different products have different operating conditions, deal with it.
  • Spunjji - Monday, September 25, 2017 - link

    Your name suggests that you're kind of a dick and your comments confirm it. Your point is weak and doesn't at all do the work you think it does.
  • whatevs - Monday, September 25, 2017 - link

    You may be unhappy with what Intel promised you, but to claim that you could burn a system with increased power usage from turbo clocks is ridiculous, thermal throttling is not fire, and it's ridiculous to argue on a cpu that can run overclocked at >400w power consumption.
  • Notmyusualid - Monday, September 25, 2017 - link

    +1
  • wolfemane - Tuesday, September 26, 2017 - link

    You can't talk rationale with a loyalist sympathizer. TDP is a set definition in the industry and one Intel seems to be misleading about with their Extreme HEDT CPU. That seems to be a fact clearly made among almost all reviews of the 7980xe.

    I think I read a few articles yesterday talking about how the 7980xe was having major issues and wasn't boosting correctly but showing high power draw. But yesterday was a long time ago and I cant remember where I read that.
  • someonesomewherelse - Saturday, October 14, 2017 - link

    So why not call it 'Average Design Power - ADP'?

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