An analyst raises questions about a benchmark for the Intel and ARM chips that go into smartphones. July 11, 2013 10:33 PM PDT The Galaxy S4 packs a Samsung Exynos 5 Octa processor. Questions were raised about benchmarks that pit the Lenovo K900, with an Intel chip, versus the Galaxy S4, with an ARM chip. (Credit: Samsung) Nothing like a debate about processor benchmarks to get enthusiasts blood up. EE Times posted a story titled Has Intel really beaten ARM? on Wednesday that calls into question the widely-used AnTuTu Benchmark. "There has been a considerable amount of press around recent AnTuTu benchmark results claiming, Intel...processor outperforms Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Samsung," wrote the EE Times story's author analyst Jim McGregor of Tirias Research. Not so fast, he says. After making the not uncommon assertion that chip companies and device vendors have attempted in the past to "manipulate" benchmarks, he says that the results (linked to above) are "odd," as it's the only benchmark that shows an Intel smartphone chip -- the Atom Z2580 -- greatly outperforming ARM. Samsung Galaxy S4 (with Samsung ARM chip) vs. Lenovo K900 (with Intel silicon). 'The results demonstrate a significant advantage for the Intel processor relative to the Samsung processor...only in the AnTuTu benchmark,' McGregor said. (Credit: Tirias Research / EE Times) To illustrate his concerns about the AnTuTu as applied in this case, McGregor "compiled a variety of benchmark information from tech reviewers, benchmarking organizations, and other industry resources." The compiled results show the Intel chip not faring as well in other benchmarks (see chart). McGregor also makes the point that a new version of the AnTuTu benchmark seems to favor the Intel chip more than ARM processors.
An analyst raises questions about a benchmark for the Intel and ARM chips that go into smartphones.
The Galaxy S4 packs a Samsung Exynos 5 Octa processor. Questions were raised about benchmarks that pit the Lenovo K900, with an Intel chip, versus the Galaxy S4, with an ARM chip.
(Credit: Samsung)
Nothing like a debate about processor benchmarks to get enthusiasts blood up.
EE Times posted a story titled Has Intel really beaten ARM? on Wednesday that calls into question the widely-used AnTuTu Benchmark.
"There has been a considerable amount of press around recent AnTuTu benchmark results claiming, Intel...processor outperforms Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Samsung," wrote the EE Times story's author analyst Jim McGregor of Tirias Research.
Not so fast, he says. After making the not uncommon assertion that chip companies and device vendors have attempted in the past to "manipulate" benchmarks, he says that the results (linked to above) are "odd," as it's the only benchmark that shows an Intel smartphone chip -- the Atom Z2580 -- greatly outperforming ARM.
Samsung Galaxy S4 (with Samsung ARM chip) vs. Lenovo K900 (with Intel silicon). 'The results demonstrate a significant advantage for the Intel processor relative to the Samsung processor...only in the AnTuTu benchmark,' McGregor said.
(Credit: Tirias Research / EE Times)
To illustrate his concerns about the AnTuTu as applied in this case, McGregor "compiled a variety of benchmark information from tech reviewers, benchmarking organizations, and other industry resources."
The compiled results show the Intel chip not faring as well in other benchmarks (see chart).
McGregor also makes the point that a new version of the AnTuTu benchmark seems to favor the Intel chip more than ARM processors.
