Which processor is best for MAME?

[MarsMan2]

In my old MAME PC, I have an i3-2120 and could upgrade to an i7-3770s.

Would there be a significant performance improvement with MAME if I did this?

I ask this because the i3 actually has a higher base clock speed than the i7 in this case.

I have since purchased this 3770s processor but not installed.

The 2120 runs at base frequency 3.3Ghz with 128kb L1 and 512kb L2 cache. There is no turbo boost.

The 3770s runs base frequency 3.1Gz with 256kb L1 and 1Mb L2 cache. It can turbo to 3.9Ghz on one core.

So the lower spec processor has a HIGHER base frequency.

See comparison here:

https://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/502/Intel_Core_i3_i3-2120_vs_Intel_Core_i7_i7-3770S.html

Anybody?

[Endprodukt]

It only matters when you care about playing specific 3D games. Some are very demanding like gauntlet legends.

The turbo will make a difference but not significantly. You see the biggest improvement in frame delay if you use that.

[makya]

Well I would use the i7 because it's rated significantly higher in single thread performance

[MarsMan2]

@makya, thanks for your post. This is the entire crux of my question.

The i7 is SLOWER than the i3 at single core base frequency.

[makya]

@makya, thanks for your post. This is the entire crux of my question.

The i7 is SLOWER than the i3 at single core base frequency.

It runs at lower frequency but why do you care, as long as it performs better?

[MarsMan2]

How can a processor 'perform better' running at a slower frequency compared to one running at a faster frequency?

Doesn't MAME run on a single core? Isn't the base frequency the crucial variable for optimal performance from MAME?

[makya]

What matters is single thread performance and one given processor can run better at a lower freq than another one, because they are not based on the exact same technology.

[haynor666]

You could look at https://www.cpubenchmark.net/singleThread.html#desktop-thread

Basically higher score means better performance in MAME.