Analog and digital technologies, the principle of operation and the difference between them. Intel Core i5 processors for LGA1156 clock speed intel core i5
Introduction The new processors from Intel, belonging to the Ivy Bridge family, have been on the market for several months, but meanwhile it seems that their popularity is not too high. We have repeatedly noted that compared to their predecessors, they do not look like a significant step forward: their computing performance has increased slightly, and the frequency potential revealed through overclocking has become even worse than that of the previous generation Sandy Bridge. The lack of rush demand for Ivy Bridge is also noted by Intel: life cycle The past generation of processors, which use the older 32nm process technology, is being extended and extended, and not the most optimistic forecasts are made regarding the distribution of new products. More specifically, by the end of this year, Intel is going to bring the share of Ivy Bridge in the supply of desktop processors to only 30 percent, while 60 percent of all CPU shipments will continue to be based on the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture. Does this give us the right not to consider the new Intel processors another success of the company?
Far from it. The fact is that all of the above applies only to processors for desktop systems. The mobile market segment, however, reacted to the release of Ivy Bridge in a completely different way, because most of the innovations in the new design are made with an eye on laptops. The two main advantages of Ivy Bridge over Sandy Bridge: significantly reduced heat dissipation and power consumption, as well as an accelerated graphics core with DirectX 11 support - are in great demand in mobile systems. Thanks to these virtues, Ivy Bridge not only gave impetus to the release of laptops with a much better combination of consumer characteristics, but also catalysed the introduction of a new class of ultraportable systems - ultrabooks. The new technological process with 22-nm standards and three-dimensional transistors made it possible to reduce the size and cost of manufacturing semiconductor crystals, which, of course, is another argument in favor of the success of the new design.
As a result, only desktop users can be somewhat averse to Ivy Bridge, and dissatisfaction is not associated with any serious shortcomings, but rather with the lack of cardinal positive changes, which, however, no one promised. Do not forget that in the Intel classification, Ivy Bridge processors belong to the tick cycle, that is, they represent a simple transfer of the old microarchitecture to new semiconductor rails. However, Intel itself is well aware that adherents of desktop systems are somewhat less intrigued by the new generation of processors than their counterparts - laptop users. Therefore, in no hurry to carry out a full-scale update model range. At the moment, in the desktop segment, the new microarchitecture is cultivated only in the older quad-core processors of the Core i7 and Core i5 series, and models based on the Ivy Bridge design coexist with the familiar Sandy Bridge and are in no hurry to push them into the background. A more aggressive introduction of the new microarchitecture is expected only in late autumn, and until then, the question of which quad-core Core processors are preferable - the second (two thousandth series) or third (three thousandth series) generation, buyers are invited to decide on their own.
Actually, to facilitate the search for an answer to this question, we conducted special testing, in which we decided to compare Core i5 processors belonging to the same price category and intended for use within the same LGA 1155 platform, but based on different designs: Ivy Bridge and Sandy Bridge.
The third generation of Intel Core i5: a detailed acquaintance
A year and a half ago, with the release of the second-generation Core series, Intel introduced a clear classification of processor families, which it adheres to at the moment. According to this classification, the fundamental properties of the Core i5 are a quad-core design without support for "virtual multithreading" Hyper-Threading technology and a 6 MB L3 cache. These features were inherent in the previous generation of Sandy Bridge processors, and they are also observed in the new CPU variant with the Ivy Bridge design.This means that all processors of the Core i5 series using the new microarchitecture are very similar to each other. This, to some extent, allows Intel to unify the release of products: all of today's Core i5 Ivy Bridge generations use a completely identical 22-nm E1 stepping semiconductor crystal, consisting of 1.4 billion transistors and having an area of about 160 square meters. mm.
Despite the similarity of all LGA 1155 Core i5 processors in a number of formal characteristics, the differences between them are clearly visible. A new process technology with 22nm norms and three-dimensional (Tri-Gate) transistors has allowed Intel to lower typical heat dissipation for the new Core i5. If earlier the Core i5 in the LGA 1155 version had a thermal package of 95 W, then for Ivy Bridge this value was reduced to 77 W. However, after the decrease in typical heat dissipation, the increase in clock frequencies of the Ivy Bridge processors included in the Core i5 family did not follow. The older Core i5s of the past generation, as well as their current successors, have nominal clock speeds not exceeding 3.4 GHz. This means that in general, the performance advantage of the new Core i5 over the old ones is provided only by improvements in the microarchitecture, which, in relation to CPU computing resources, are insignificant even according to the Intel developers themselves.
Speaking about the strengths of the fresh processor design, first of all, you should pay attention to the changes in the graphics core. The third-generation Core i5 processors use a new version of the Intel video accelerator - HD Graphics 2500/4000. It supports DirectX 11, OpenGL 4.0 and OpenCL 1.1 APIs and in some cases can offer better 3D performance and faster HD video encoding to H.264 through Quick Sync technology.
In addition, the processor design of Ivy Bridge contains a number of improvements made in the "binding" - memory controllers and PCI Express bus. As a result, systems based on the new 3rd generation Core i5 processors can fully support video cards using the PCI Express 3.0 graphics bus, and are also able to clock DDR3 memory at higher frequencies than their predecessors.
From its first public debut to the present, the third-generation Core i5 desktop processor family (i.e., the Core i5-3000 processors) has remained largely unchanged. It added only a couple of intermediate models, as a result of which, if you do not take into account economical options with a reduced thermal package, it now consists of five representatives. If we add a couple of Ivy Bridge Core i7 microarchitecture-based processors to these five, we get a complete desktop line of 22-nm processors in LGA 1155 version:
The above table, obviously, needs to be supplemented, describing in more detail the functioning of the Turbo Boost technology, which allows processors to independently increase their clock frequency, if energy and temperature operating conditions allow it. In Ivy Bridge, this technology has undergone some changes, and the new Core i5 processors are able to auto-overclock somewhat more aggressively than their predecessors belonging to the Sandy Bridge family. Against the backdrop of minimal improvements in the microarchitecture of computing cores and the lack of progress in frequencies, this is precisely what is often able to provide a certain superiority of new products over their predecessors.
The maximum frequency that Core i5 processors can reach when loading one or two cores exceeds the nominal by 400 MHz. If the load is multi-threaded, then the Ivy Bridge generation Core i5, provided they are in favorable temperature conditions, can raise their frequency by 200 MHz above the nominal value. At the same time, the efficiency of Turbo Boost for all the processors under consideration is exactly the same, and the differences from the CPU of the previous generation are in a greater increase in frequency when loading two, three, and four cores: The Sandy Bridge generation Core i5 had a 100 MHz lower auto-overclocking limit under these conditions.
Using the indications of the CPU-Z diagnostic program, let's get acquainted with the representatives of the Core i5 lineup with the Ivy Bridge design in a little more detail.
Intel Core i5-3570K
The Core i5-3570K is the pinnacle of the entire third-generation Core i5 line. It boasts not only the highest clock speed in the series, but, unlike all other modifications, it has an important feature underlined by the letter “K” at the end of the model number - an unlocked multiplier. This allows Intel, not without reason, to classify the Core i5-3570K as a specialized overclocking offering. Moreover, against the background of the older overclocker processor for the LGA 1155 platform, Core i7-3770K, Core i5-3570K looks very tempting due to a much more affordable price for many, which can make this CPU almost the best market offer for enthusiasts.
At the same time, the Core i5-3570K is interesting not only for its predisposition to overclocking. For other users, this model may also be of interest due to the fact that it has an older variation of the graphics core - Intel HD Graphics 4000, which has a significantly higher performance than the graphics cores of other representatives of the Core i5 lineup.
Intel Core i5-3570
The same name as the Core i5-3570K, but without the final letter, seems to hint that we are dealing with a non-overclocker version of the previous processor. So it is: the Core i5-3570 runs at exactly the same clock speeds as its more advanced counterpart, but does not allow unlimited multiplier change, which is in demand among enthusiasts and advanced users.
However, there is one more "but". The Core i5-3570 did not get a fast version of the graphics core, so this processor is content with the younger version of the Intel HD Graphics 2500 graphics, which, as we will show below, is significantly worse in all aspects of performance.
In summary, the Core i5-3570 looks more like the Core i5-3550 than the Core i5-3570K. For which he has very good reasons. Appearing a little later than the first group of Ivy Bridge representatives, this processor symbolizes a certain development of the family. Having the same recommended price as the model that is one line lower in the table of ranks, it sort of replaces the Core i5-3550.
Intel Core i5-3550
Decreasing model number once again indicates a decrease in computing performance. In this case, the Core i5-3550 is slower than the Core i5-3570 due to its slightly lower clock speed. However, the difference is only 100 MHz, or about 3 percent, so it's not surprising that both the Core i5-3570 and Core i5-3550 are priced the same by Intel. The manufacturer's logic is that the Core i5-3570 should gradually push the Core i5-3550 off the shelves. Therefore, in all other characteristics, except for the clock frequency, both these CPUs are completely identical.
Intel Core i5-3470
The junior pair of Core i5 processors based on the new 22nm Ivy Bridge core has a suggested price below the $200 mark. At a close price, these processors can be found in the store. At the same time, the Core i5-3470 is not much inferior to the older Core i5: all four computing cores are in place, a 6-megabyte third-level cache and a clock speed of over 3 GHz. Intel has chosen to differentiate the modifications in the updated Core i5 series with a 100-MHz clock frequency step, so there is simply no place to expect a significant difference between the models in performance in real tasks.
However, the Core i5-3470 additionally differs from its older brothers in terms of graphics performance. The HD Graphics 2500 video core runs at a slightly lower frequency: 1.1 GHz versus 1.15 GHz for more expensive processor modifications.
Intel Core i5-3450
The youngest variation of the third-generation Core i5 processor in the Intel hierarchy, the Core i5-3450, like the Core i5-3550, is gradually leaving the market. The Core i5-3450 processor is smoothly replaced by the Core i5-3470 described above, which operates at a slightly higher clock frequency. There are no other differences between these CPUs.
How We Tested
To get a complete breakdown of the performance of modern Core i5s, we tested in detail all five of the 3000-series Core i5s described above. The main rivals for these new products were earlier LGA 1155 processors of the same class, belonging to the Sandy Bridge generation: Core i5-2400 and Core i5-2500K. Their cost makes it possible to oppose these CPUs to the new Core i5 of the three thousandth series: the Core i5-2400 has the same recommended price as the Core i5-3470 and Core i5-3450; and the Core i5-2500K is sold slightly cheaper than the Core i5-3570K.In addition, on the charts, we placed the results of tests of the processors of the higher class Core i7-3770K and Core i7-2700K, as well as the processor offered by the competitor, AMD FX-8150. By the way, it is very significant that after the next price cuts, this senior representative of the Bulldozer family stands as the cheapest Core i5 of the three thousandth series. That is, AMD no longer harbors any illusions about the possibility of opposing its own eight-core processor to Intel's Core i7 class CPUs.
As a result, the composition of the test systems included the following software and hardware components:
Processors:
AMD FX-8150 (Zambezi, 8 cores, 3.6-4.2 GHz, 8 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-2400 (Sandy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.1-3.4 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-2500K (Sandy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.3-3.7 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-3450 (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.1-3.5 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-3470 (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.2-3.6 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-3550 (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.3-3.7 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-3570 (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.4-3.8 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-3570K (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.4-3.8 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i7-2700K (Sandy Bridge, 4 cores + HT, 3.5-3.9 GHz, 8 MB L3);
Intel Core i7-3770K (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores + HT, 3.5-3.9 GHz, 8 MB L3).
CPU cooler: NZXT Havik 140;
Motherboards:
ASUS Crosshair V Formula (Socket AM3+, AMD 990FX + SB950);
ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe (LGA1155, Intel Z77 Express).
Memory: 2 x 4 GB, DDR3-1866 SDRAM, 9-11-9-27 (Kingston KHX1866C9D3K2/8GX).
Graphic cards:
AMD Radeon HD 6570 (1 GB/128-bit GDDR5, 650/4000 MHz);
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 (2 GB/256-bit GDDR5, 1006/6008 MHz).
Hard disk: Intel SSD 520 240 GB (SSDSC2CW240A3K5).
Power supply: Corsair AX1200i (80 Plus Platinum, 1200 W).
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate x64.
Drivers:
AMD Catalyst 12.8 Driver;
AMD Chipset Driver 12.8;
Intel Chipset Driver 9.3.0.1019;
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator Driver 15.26.12.2761;
Intel Management Engine Driver 8.1.0.1248;
Intel Rapid Storage Technology 11.2.0.1006;
NVIDIA GeForce 301.42 Driver.
When testing a system based on the AMD FX-8150 processor, patches operating system KB2645594 and KB2646060 have been installed.
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 graphics card was used to test the speed of processors in a system with discrete graphics, while the AMD Radeon HD 6570 was used as a benchmark in the study of integrated graphics performance.
The Intel Core i5-3570 processor did not participate in testing systems equipped with discrete graphics, since in terms of computing performance it is completely identical to the Intel Core i5-3570K running at the same clock speeds.
Computing performance
Overall PerformanceTo assess the performance of processors in common tasks, we traditionally use the Bapco SYSmark 2012 test, which simulates the user's work in common modern office programs and applications for creating and processing digital content. The idea of the test is very simple: it produces a single metric that characterizes the weighted average speed of the computer.
In general, the Core i5 processors, belonging to the three thousandth series, demonstrate quite expected performance. They are faster than the previous generation Core i5, with the Core i5-2500K, which is almost the fastest Core i5 with a Sandy Bridge design, inferior in performance even to the youngest of the new products, the Core i5-3450. However, at the same time, the fresh Core i5 cannot reach the Core i7, due to the lack of Hyper-Threading technology in them.
A deeper understanding of the SYSmark 2012 results can provide insight into the performance scores obtained in various system usage scenarios. The Office Productivity scenario models typical office work: word preparation, spreadsheet processing, e-mail, and Internet browsing. The script uses the following set of applications: ABBYY FineReader Pro 10.0, Adobe Acrobat Pro 9, Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Microsoft Excel 2010, Microsoft Internet Explorer 9, Microsoft Outlook 2010, Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, Microsoft Word 2010 and WinZip Pro 14.5.
The Media Creation scenario simulates the creation of a commercial using pre-captured digital images and video. For this purpose, popular Adobe packages are used: Photoshop CS5 Extended, Premiere Pro CS5 and After Effects CS5.
Web Development is a scenario that simulates the creation of a web site. Applications used: Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended, Adobe Premiere Pro CS5, Adobe Dreamweaver CS5, Mozilla Firefox 3.6.8 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.
The Data/Financial Analysis scenario is dedicated to the statistical analysis and forecasting of market trends that are performed in Microsoft Excel 2010.
The 3D Modeling scenario is all about creating 3D objects and rendering static and dynamic scenes using Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended, Autodesk 3ds Max 2011, Autodesk AutoCAD 2011 and Google SketchUp Pro 8.
AT latest scenario, System Management, creating backups and installing software and updates. Several different versions of Mozilla Firefox Installer and WinZip Pro 14.5 are involved here.
In most scenarios, we are faced with a typical picture, when the 3000-series Core i5 is faster than its predecessors, but inferior to any Core i7, whether based on the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture or Sandy Bridge. However, there are also cases of not quite typical behavior of processors. So, in the Media Creation scenario, the Core i5-3570K manages to outperform the Core i7-2700K; when using 3D modeling packages, the eight-core AMD FX-8150 performs unexpectedly well; and in the System Management scenario, which generates mostly single-threaded workload, the previous generation Core i5-2500K processor almost catches up with the fresh Core i5-3470 in terms of speed.
Gaming Performance
As you know, the performance of platforms equipped with high-performance processors in the vast majority of modern games is determined by the power of the graphics subsystem. That is why, when testing processors, we try to conduct tests in such a way as to relieve the load on the video card as much as possible: the most processor-intensive games are selected, and tests are carried out without anti-aliasing enabled and with settings that are far from the highest resolutions. That is, the results obtained make it possible to evaluate not so much the level of fps achievable in systems with modern video cards, but how well processors perform under gaming load in general. Therefore, based on the results presented, it is quite possible to speculate about how processors will behave in the future, when more quick options graphics accelerators.
In our many previous tests, we've repeatedly characterized the Core i5 family of processors as being well-suited for gamers. We do not intend to abandon this position even now. In gaming applications, the Core i5 is strong thanks to its efficient microarchitecture, quad-core design, and high clock speeds. Their lack of support for Hyper-Threading technology can play a good role in games that are poorly optimized for multithreading. However, the number of such games from among the actual ones is decreasing every day, which we can see from the results presented. The Core i7, based on the Ivy Bridge design, sits above the internally similar Core i5 on all charts. As a result, the gaming performance of the 3000-series Core i5 turns out to be at the expected level: these processors are definitely better than the Core i5 of the 2000-series, and sometimes even able to compete with the Core i7-2700K. In parallel, we note that the older processor from AMD cannot withstand any competition with modern Intel offers: its lag in gaming performance, without any exaggeration, can be called catastrophic.
In addition to gaming tests, here are the results of the synthetic benchmark Futuremark 3DMark 11, launched with the Performance profile.
The synthetic test Futuremark 3DMark 11 shows nothing fundamentally new either. The performance of the third generation Core i5 lies exactly between the Core i5 with the previous design and any Core i7 processors that support Hyper-Threading technology and slightly higher clock speeds.
Application Tests
To measure the speed of processors during information compression, we use the WinRAR archiver, with the help of which we archive a folder with various files with a total volume of 1.1 GB with the maximum compression ratio.
In the latest versions of the WinRAR archiver, multithreading support has been significantly improved, so that now the archiving speed has become seriously dependent on the number of processing cores available to the CPU. Accordingly, the Core i7 processors enhanced with Hyper-Threading technology and the eight-core AMD FX-8150 processor demonstrate the best performance here. As for the Core i5 series, everything is as always with it. Core i5 with Ivy Bridge design is definitely better than the old ones, and the advantage of new products over the old ones is about 7 percent for models with the same nominal frequency.
The performance of processors under cryptographic load is measured by the built-in test of the popular TrueCrypt utility, which uses AES-Twofish-Serpent "triple" encryption. It should be noted that this program is not only capable of efficiently loading any number of cores, but also supports a specialized AES instruction set.
Everything is as usual, only the FX-8150 processor is again at the top of the chart. In this, he is helped by the ability to execute eight computational threads simultaneously and the good speed of executing integer and bit operations. As for the Core i5 of the 3,000th series, they again unconditionally outperform their predecessors. Moreover, the difference in performance of CPUs with the same declared nominal frequency is quite significant and amounts to about 15 percent in favor of new products with the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture.
With the release of the eighth version of the popular Wolfram Mathematica scientific computing package, we decided to return it to the number of tests used. To assess the performance of systems, it uses the MathematicaMark8 benchmark built into this system.
Wolfram Mathematica has traditionally been one of the applications that have a hard time digesting Hyper-Threading technology. That is why in the above diagram the first position is occupied by the Core i5-3570K. And the results of other Core i5 3000th series are quite good. All these processors not only outperform their predecessors, but also leave behind the older Core i7 with the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture.
We measure performance in Adobe Photoshop CS6 using our own test, which is a creatively redesigned Retouch Artists Photoshop Speed Test that includes typical processing of four 24-megapixel digital camera images.
The new Ivy Bridge microarchitecture provides about a 6% advantage over the third-generation Core i5, which is similar in clock speed, over its earlier counterparts. If we compare processors with the same cost among themselves, then the carriers of the new microarchitecture fall into an even more advantageous position, winning more than 10 percent of performance from the Core i5 of the two thousandth series.
Performance in Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 is tested by measuring the render time to H.264 Blu-Ray format of a project containing HDV 1080p25 footage with various effects applied.
Nonlinear video editing is a highly parallelized task, so the new Core i5s with Ivy Bridge design are not able to reach the Core i7-2700K. But their predecessors-classmates using the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture, they outperform their predecessors by about 10 percent (when comparing models with the same clock speed).
The x264 HD Benchmark 5.0 is used to measure the speed of transcoding video to H.264, based on measuring the processing time of original MPEG-2 video recorded at 1080p at 20 Mbps. It should be noted that the results of this test are of great practical importance, since the x264 codec used in it underlies numerous popular transcoding utilities, such as HandBrake, MeGUI, VirtualDub, and so on.
The picture when transcoding high-definition video content is quite familiar. The advantages of the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture translate into about 8-10% superiority of the new Core i5 over the old ones. The high result of the eight-core FX-8150 looks unusual, which outperforms even the Core i5-3570K in the second encoding pass.
At the request of our readers, the used set of applications has been replenished with another benchmark that shows the speed of working with high-definition video content - SVPmark3. This is a specialized system performance test when working with the SmoothVideo Project package, aimed at improving the smoothness of video by adding new frames to the video sequence containing intermediate positions of objects. The numbers shown in the diagram are the result of a benchmark on real FullHD video clips without involving the graphics card's power in the calculations.
The diagram is very similar to the results of the second transcoding pass with the x264 codec. This unambiguously hints that most of the tasks associated with processing high-definition video content create approximately the same computational load in nature.
We measure computational performance and rendering speed in Autodesk 3ds max 2011 using the specialized test SPECapc for 3ds Max 2011.
To be honest, nothing new can be said about the performance observed during the final rendering. The distribution of results can be called standard.
Final rendering speed testing in Maxon Cinema 4D is performed using a specialized Cinebench 11.5 test.
The Cinebench results chart does not show anything new either. The new Core i5 of the 3000 series is once again noticeably better than its predecessors. Even the youngest of them, the Core i5-3450, outperforms the Core i5-2500K.
Energy consumption
One of the main advantages of the 22-nm process technology used to release Ivy Bridge generation processors, Intel calls the reduced heat dissipation and power consumption of semiconductor crystals. This is also reflected in the official specifications of the third generation Core i5: they are not equipped with a 95-watt, as before, but a 77-watt thermal package. So the superiority of the new Core i5 over its predecessors in terms of efficiency is beyond doubt. But what is the scale of this gain in practice? Should the cost-effectiveness of the 3,000th Core i5 series be considered a serious competitive advantage?To answer these questions, we conducted a special test. The new Corsair AX1200i digital power supply we use in the test system allows us to monitor the consumed and output electrical power, which we use for our measurements. The following graphs, unless otherwise noted, show the total consumption of systems (without monitor) measured "after" the power supply, which is the sum of the power consumption of all components involved in the system. The efficiency of the power supply itself is not taken into account in this case. During the measurements, the load on the processors was created by the 64-bit version of the LinX 0.6.4-AVX utility. In addition, in order to correctly assess idle power consumption, we activated the turbo mode and all available energy-saving technologies: C1E, C6 and Enhanced Intel SpeedStep.
In the idle state, the systems with all the processors that took part in the tests show approximately the same power consumption. Of course, it is not completely identical, there are differences at the level of tenths of a watt, but we decided not to transfer them to the diagram, since such an insignificant difference is more related to the measurement error than to the observed physical processes. In addition, under conditions of similar processor consumption values, the efficiency and settings of the motherboard power converter begin to have a serious impact on the overall power consumption. Therefore, if you are really concerned about the amount of consumption at rest, you should first look for motherboards with the most efficient power converter, and, as our results show, from among the LGA 1155-compatible models, any processor can do.
A single-threaded load, when the processors with turbo mode increase to the maximum frequency, leads to noticeable differences in consumption. First of all, the completely immodest appetites of the AMD FX-8150 are striking. As for the LGA 1155 CPU models, those based on 22nm semiconductor chips are indeed noticeably more economical. The difference in consumption between quad-core Ivy Bridge and Sandy Bridge running at the same clock speed is about 4-5 watts.
The full multi-threaded computing load exacerbates the differences in consumption. A system equipped with third-generation Core i5 processors outperforms a similar platform with processors on the previous design in the order of 18 watts. This perfectly correlates with the difference in theoretical heat dissipation figures claimed by Intel for its processors. Thus, in terms of performance per watt, Ivy Bridge processors are unrivaled among desktop CPUs.
Graphics core performance
Considering modern processors for the LGA 1155 platform, one should also pay attention to the graphics cores built into them, which, with the introduction of the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture, have become faster and more advanced in terms of the available capabilities. However, at the same time, Intel prefers to install in its processors for the desktop segment a stripped-down version of the video core with a reduced number of execution units from 16 to 6. In fact, full-fledged graphics are present only in the Core i7 processors and in the Core i5-3570K. Most of the desktop Core i5 of the 3000th series, obviously, will be rather weak in 3D graphics applications. However, it is quite likely that even the reduced graphics power available will satisfy a certain number of users who do not intend to consider the integrated graphics as a three-dimensional video accelerator.We decided to start testing the integrated graphics with the 3DMark Vantage test. Results obtained in different versions of 3DMark are a very popular metric for evaluating the average gaming performance of video cards. The choice of the Vantage version is due to the fact that it uses DirectX version 10, which is supported by all video accelerators accepted in the tests, including the graphics of Core processors with Sandy Bridge design. Note that in addition to the full set of processors of the Core i5 family working with their integrated graphics cores, we included in the tests and performance indicators systems based on the Core i5-3570K with a discrete Radeon HD 6570 graphics card. This configuration will serve as a kind of benchmark for us, allowing imagine the place of Intel's HD Graphics 2500 and HD Graphics 4000 graphics cores in the world of discrete video accelerators.
Installed by Intel in most of its desktop processors, the HD Graphics 2500 graphics core in its 3D performance turns out to be similar to HD Graphics 3000. But the older version of Intel graphics from Ivy Bridge processors, HD Graphics 4000, looks like a huge step forward, its performance is more than doubled surpasses the speed of the best built-in core of the past generation. However, any of the available variants of Intel HD Graphics cannot yet be called having acceptable 3D performance by the standards of desktop systems. For example, the video card Radeon HD 6570, which belongs to the lower price segment and costs about $60-70, is able to offer significantly better performance.
In addition to the synthetic 3DMark Vantage, we also ran some tests in real gaming applications. In them, we used low graphics quality settings and a resolution of 1650x1080, which at the moment we consider the minimum of interesting desktops for users.
In general, in games there is approximately the same picture. The older version of the graphics accelerator built into the Core i5-3570K provides an average number of frames per second at a fairly good (for an integrated solution) level. However, the Core i5-3570K remains the only third-generation Core i5 processor whose video core is capable of delivering acceptable graphics performance, which, with some concessions in picture quality, can be enough for a comfortable perception of a significant number of current games. All other CPUs of this class, which use the HD Graphics 2500 accelerator with a reduced number of execution units, provide almost half the speed, which is clearly not enough by modern standards.
The advantage of the graphics core HD Graphics 4000 over the built-in accelerator of the previous generation HD Graphics 3000 varies quite widely and averages about 90 percent. The previous flagship integrated solution can easily be compared with the lower version of Ivy Bridge graphics, HD Graphics 2500, which is installed in most 3000-series Core i5 desktop processors. As for the previous version of the commonly used graphics core, HD Graphics 2000, its performance now looks extremely low, in games it lags behind the same HD Graphics 2500 by an average of 50-60 percent.
In other words, the 3D performance of the Core i5 graphics core has really increased a lot, but compared to the number of frames that the Radeon HD 6570 is capable of delivering, it all seems like mouse fuss. Even the HD Graphics 4000 accelerator built into the Core i5-3570K is not a very good alternative to low-end desktop 3D accelerators, but the more common version of Intel graphics can be said to be generally inapplicable for most games.
However, not all users consider the video cores built into processors as 3D gaming accelerators. A significant proportion of consumers are interested in the HD Graphics 4000 and HD Graphics 2500 due to their media capabilities, which simply do not have alternatives in the lower price category. Here, first of all, we mean the Quick Sync technology, designed for fast hardware encoding of video in the AVC/H.264 format, the second version of which is implemented in the processors of the Ivy Bridge family. Since Intel promises a significant increase in transcoding speed in the new graphics cores, we separately tested the operation of Quick Sync.
In a hands-on test, we measured the transcoding time of one 40-minute episode of a popular TV series encoded in 1080p H.264 at 10Mbps for viewing on an Apple iPad2 (H.264, 1280x720, 3Mbps). For tests, the Cyberlink Media Espresso 6.5.2830 utility that supports Quick Sync technology was used.
The situation here is different from what was observed in the games, dramatically. If before Intel did not differentiate Quick Sync in processors with different versions of the graphics core, now everything has changed. This technology in HD Graphics 4000 and HD Graphics 2500 works at about twice the speed. Moreover, conventional 3000-series Core i5 processors, in which the HD Graphics 2500 core is installed, transcode high-resolution video via Quick Sync with approximately the same performance as their predecessors. Progress in performance is visible only according to the results of the Core i5-3570K, where there is an “advanced” HD Graphics 4000 graphics core.
Overclocking
Overclocking of Core i5 processors belonging to the Ivy Bridge generation can follow two fundamentally different scenarios. The first one concerns the overclocking of the Core i5-3570K processor, which was originally designed for overclocking. This CPU has an unlocked multiplier, and increasing its frequency above the nominal values is carried out according to the algorithm typical for the LGA 1155 platform: by increasing the multiplier, we raise the frequency of the processor and, if necessary, achieve stability by applying increased voltage to the CPU and improving its cooling.Without raising the supply voltage, our copy of the Core i5-3570K processor overclocked to 4.4 GHz. To ensure stability in this mode, it was only necessary to simply switch the Load-Line Calibration function of the motherboard to the High position.
An additional increase in the processor supply voltage to 1.25 V made it possible to achieve stable performance at a higher frequency - 4.6 GHz.
This is quite a typical result for Ivy Bridge generation CPUs. Such processors usually overclock slightly worse than Sandy Bridge. The reason, as expected, lies in the reduction in the area of the semiconductor processor chip that followed the introduction of the 22-nm production technology, which raises the question of the need to increase the heat flux density during cooling. At the same time, the thermal interface used by Intel inside the processors, as well as the commonly used methods of removing heat from the surface of the processor cover, do not contribute to solving this problem.
Be that as it may, overclocking to 4.6 GHz is a very good result, especially considering the fact that Ivy Bridge processors at the same clock speed as Sandy Bridge provide about 10 percent better performance due to their microarchitectural improvements.
The second overclocking scenario concerns the rest of the Core i5 processors, which are deprived of a free multiplier. Although the LGA 1155 platform is extremely negative about increasing the frequency of the base clock generator, and loses stability even when the shaping frequency is set to 5 percent higher than the nominal value, it is still possible to overclock Core i5 processors that are not related to the K-series. The fact is that Intel allows limited increase in their multiplier, increasing it by no more than 4 units above the face value.
Considering that the Turbo Boost technology is still working, which for the Core i5 with the Ivy Bridge design allows 200 MHz overclocking even when all processor cores are loaded, the clock frequency can generally be “wound up” by 600 MHz higher than the nominal value. In other words, the Core i5-3570 can be overclocked to 4.0 GHz, the Core i5-3550 to 3.9 GHz, the Core i5-3470 to 3.8 GHz, and the Core i5-3450 to 3.7 GHz. What we have successfully confirmed in the course of our practical experiments.
Core i5-3570:
Core i5-3550:
Core i5-3470:
Core i5-3450:
I must say that such limited overclocking is even easier than in the case of the Core i5-3570K processor. Not so significant increment of the clock frequency does not entail the appearance of stability problems even when using the nominal supply voltage. Therefore, most likely, the only thing that will be required to overclock non-K-series Ivy Bridge Core i5 processors is to change the multiplier value in the motherboard BIOS. The result achieved at the same time, although it cannot be called a record, is likely to suit the vast majority of inexperienced users.
findings
We have repeatedly said that the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture has become a successful evolutionary update of Intel processors. The 22nm semiconductor manufacturing technology and numerous microarchitectural improvements have made the new products both faster and more economical. This applies to any Ivy Bridge in general and to the 3000-series Core i5 desktop processors discussed in this review in particular. Comparing the new line of Core i5 processors to what we had a year ago, it's easy to see a whole bunch of significant improvements.First, the new Core i5s, based on the Ivy Bridge design, are more productive than their predecessors. Despite the fact that Intel did not resort to increasing clock frequencies, the advantage of new products is about 10-15 percent. Even the slowest third-gen Core i5 desktop processor, the Core i5-3450, outperforms the Core i5-2500K in most tests. And the older representatives of the fresh line can sometimes compete with higher-end processors, Core i7, based on the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture.
Secondly, the new Core i5 have become noticeably more economical. Their thermal package is set to 77 watts, and this is reflected in practice. Under any load, computers using Core i5 with Ivy Bridge design consume a few watts less than similar systems using Sandy Bridge-class CPUs. Moreover, at the maximum computing load, the gain can reach almost two tens of watts, and this is a very significant savings by modern standards.
Thirdly, a significantly improved graphics core has found its place in the new processors. The low-end Ivy Bridge graphics core performs at least as well as the HD Graphics 3000 of the older second-generation Core processors, and also, with support for DirectX 11, has more modern features. As for the flagship integrated accelerator HD Graphics 4000, which is used in the Core i5-3570K processor, it even allows you to get quite acceptable frame rates in fairly modern games, however, with significant concessions in the quality settings.
The only controversial point that we noticed with the third generation Core i5 is a slightly lower overclocking potential than Sandy Bridge class processors. However, this shortcoming manifests itself only in the only overclocker model Core i5-3570K, where the change in the multiplier is not artificially limited from above, and besides, it is fully compensated by the higher specific performance developed by the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture.
In other words, we do not see any reason why, when choosing a mid-range processor for the LGA 1155 platform, preference should be given to the “oldies” using Sandy Bridge generation semiconductor crystals. Moreover, the prices set by Intel for more advanced modifications of the Core i5 are quite humane and close to the cost of obsolete processors of the previous generation.
In 2010, Intel introduced new brands of processors - Core i3, i5, i7. Such an event has confused many users. This is because the company's goal was very different - it wanted to offer a faster way to identify models of low, medium and high levels. Also, Intel wanted to convince users that the Intel Core i7 is much better than the same i5, and this one, in turn, is better than the i3. But this does not give an exact answer to the question, which processor is better, or what is the difference between Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors?
But still there are other differences, which we will talk about.
Key points
Some users believe that the names i3, i5 and i7 are related to the number of cores in the processor, in fact this is not the case. These brands are arbitrarily chosen by Intel. Therefore, the chips of all these processors can have both two and four cores. There are also more powerful models for desktop computers that have more cores and are superior to other processors in many ways.
So what are the differences between these three models?
Hyper Threading
When processors were still in their infancy, they all had one core each executing just one set of instructions, namely thread (thread). The company was able to increase the number of computing operations by increasing the number of cores. Thus, the processor could do more work per unit of time.
The company's next goal is to increase the optimization of such a process. To do this, they created technology Hyper Threading, which allows one core to execute multiple threads at the same time. For example, we have a processor with a 2-core chip that supports Hyper-Threading technology, then we can consider this processor as a quad-core one.
turbo boost
Previously, processors worked at one clock frequency, which was set by the manufacturer, in order to change this frequency to a higher one, people were engaged in overclocking (overclocking) processor. This type of activity requires special knowledge, without which, in a couple of moments, you can cause enormous damage to the processor or other computer components.
Today, everything is completely different. Modern processors are equipped with technology turbo boost, which allows the processor to run at a variable clock speed. Thus, the energy efficiency and operating time of, for example, a laptop and other mobile devices are increased.
Cache Size
Processors tend to work with large amounts of data. The operations performed can be different in size and complexity, but it often happens that the processor needs to process the same information several times. To speed up this process, and in particular the processor itself, such data is stored in a special buffer (cache memory). Therefore, the processor can extract such data almost instantly, without unnecessary load.
The amount of cache memory in different processors is calculated differently. For example, in a low class processor - 3-4 MB, and in models of a higher class - 6-12 MB.
Of course, the more cache memory, the better and faster the processor will work, but this instruction is not suitable for all applications. For example, applications for processing photos and videos will take advantage of a large amount of cache memory. Therefore, the larger the cache size, the more efficient applications will run.
For simple tasks, such as surfing the Internet or working in office programs, the cache is not so significant.
Types of Intel processors
Now consider the types of processors, namely the description of each of them.
Intel Core i3
What is suitable for: General, daily use of office applications, Internet browsing and movies in high quality. For such processes, Core i3 is the best option.
Characteristic: This processor offers up to 2 cores and supports Hyper-Treading technology. The truth does not support Turbo Boost. Also, the processor has a fairly low power consumption, so such a processor is undoubtedly suitable for laptops.
Intel Core i5
Characteristic: This processor is used in both conventional desktop computers and laptops. It has from 2 to 4 cores, but does not support Hyper-Treading, but it does support Turbo Boost.
Intel Core i7
What is suitable for: This processor is predisposed to work with powerful graphic editors. You can play modern games at maximum settings, but other components play a big role here, for example, a video card. Also, you can watch video files in 4K.Characteristic A: At the moment, this chip is the highest grade. It has both 2 and 4 cores and support for Hyper-Treading and Turbo Boost.
We have reviewed the brief characteristics of 3 types of processors, and now you can choose the best one for you.
Intel Core i5 processors are among the most popular in the IT market in Russia and in the world. Within this family, chips are produced that are adapted to the widest range of tasks solved by users. What are the specifics of the individual Which ones are best adapted to overclocking?
General information about Core i5 processors
Processors reviews of which are different, are represented by microcircuits in several generations. Despite the similarity of the name, technologically the chips can be very different.
So, the first generation i5 processors appeared in 2009. They were adapted for "desktops", they used the Lynnfield kernel, corresponding to the Nehalem architecture. The next modification of the i5 chips appeared in 2010. These processors used the Clarkdale core, they had a built-in computer graphics processing module. Note that these chips, according to the classification common among IT experts, are of the same generation.
In 2011, Core i5 chips with the Sandy Bridge architecture appeared. Main characteristic this generation, released as part of the Intel Core i5 series, is the complete integration of the graphics module with the chip chip. In 2012, a new line of processors appeared - with the Ivy Bridge core. In 2013, an American corporation released Haswell-type processors, one of which, the Intel Core i5 4070K, soon became especially popular among gamers, since it could be overclocked in the most efficient way thanks to an unlocked multiplier.
Let's take a closer look at the specifics of the latest generations - the 3rd and 4th, Intel Core i5 processors, the characteristics of chips based on the Ivy Bridge and Haswell architectures - to what extent can they correspond to the leading position of the American corporation in the global microchip market?
General information about Ivy Bridge processors
Peculiarities of the processors of this family are the presence of several cores, the lack of support for Hyper-Threading technology, which provides multi-threading, and the presence of a third-level cache memory of 6 MB. As some experts note, the processors within the considered family are characterized by a high degree mutual similarity in terms of key technological characteristics. So, for example, all Ivy Bridge chips are implemented within the 22 nm process technology, they have an E1-type crystal, in which there are 1.4 billion transistors.
The main strength of the new processor line is the upgraded graphics accelerator. So, in the considered series of chips modules like HD Graphics 2500/4000 are used. They provide support, in particular, for such interfaces as DirectX in version 11, OpenGL 4.0, and OpenCL 1.1. It is characterized by excellent performance in terms of working with 3D games and demanding applications.
Ivy Bridge processors have high-tech memory controllers and PCI Express buses. Thus, if the motherboard for Intel Core i5 assumes support for video cards that use the PCI Express standard in the 3rd version, then the microchips of the family in question contribute to achieving very high PC performance. The same can be said about DDR3 memory modules - the interaction between them and Ivy Bridge processors also provides the highest computer performance.
Let us now consider the features of popular processors within the 3rd generation of the Intel Core i5 family. The characteristics of these chips, according to the reviews of many users and IT experts, allow us to talk about chips as very effective hardware components that contribute to the solution of the most a wide range user tasks.
Specifications Core i5-3570K
This processor is considered the flagship within the 3rd generation. It leads the line in terms of clock speed, and is also characterized by an option that is useful in many respects - an unlocked multiplier. It allows, in particular, to easily overclock the microchip. We noted above that this feature also characterizes the Intel Core i5 4570K processor in the latest line - Haswell. However, it is fully functional. Many gamers in their reviews speak extremely positively about the possibility of effective overclocking of the processor. The chip in question is equipped with the same high-performance graphics module - HD Graphics 4000.
At the same time, there is a slightly more simplified modification of the processor - Intel Core i5-3570, that is, without an index. It is characterized, in turn, by the inability to use the unlocked multiplier. In addition, as the description of its characteristics indicates, this processor does not have the most productive version of the graphics module. It has an HD Graphics 2500 type accelerator, which is inferior to the Graphics 4000 modification noted above.
Intel Core 3550 Features
Another notable model of the Intel Core i5, the reviews of which are also very numerous, is the i5-3550. This processor is characterized by a lower clock speed, and therefore runs a little slower than the flagship model. But the difference is small - 100 MHz. Therefore, by the way, the cost of these processors is almost the same. However, as the key characteristics.
Benefits of the Intel Core i5-3470
It belongs to the category of junior models of the line under consideration, respectively, it is distinguished by a reduced price. However, in general, the performance of the chip is comparable to the flagship modification - for example, it has 4 cores, the third-level cache has a volume of 6 MB, the processor clock speed exceeds 3 GHz. True, in the type of processor under consideration, a less productive graphics module is installed - Graphics 2500, while operating at a frequency slightly lower than the same one, but in older processor modifications.
Specifics of the Intel Core i5-3450
It is considered the youngest model in the line under consideration. There is a minimum of differences between it and the modification described above, which, in fact, are expressed in clock frequency. In modification 3470, it is slightly higher. Otherwise specifications chips match.
Reviews of the third generation Core i5
So, what do users say about the third generation of Intel Core i5? Comparison, as noted by microprocessor technology enthusiasts, in fact, comes down to finding differences between three indicators - the version of the graphics accelerator, the presence of an unlocked multiplier, and the clock speed. According to the owners of PCs on which this or that chip is installed, even if the processor is characterized by the lowest frequency, does not support an unlocked multiplier, and also does not process graphics as efficiently as analogues - this is due to the presence of the Graphics 2500 module. But in any case an exceptionally high-performance tool falls into the hands of the user.
The question that worries many PC owners with an Intel Core i5 processor - "how to overclock the processor" - suggests a very simple answer: all you need to do is set the necessary values for the multiplier, which is unlocked in the corresponding chip modifications.
No other experiments are required, and it is not recommended, so as not to violate the calculation algorithms laid down by the manufacturer. You also need to understand that when overclocking the Intel Core i5, the temperature of the processor can increase significantly. Thus, you should equip the processor with a more powerful cooler in advance.
Features Intel Core i5-4430
Let's move on to the study of the specifics of the chips newest generation- those in which the Haswell kernel is installed. The processor type i5-4430 can be considered the youngest in the line under consideration. It is characterized by a relatively low clock frequency, and besides, it has a property that is not the most desirable for gamers - the lack of provided overclocking capabilities. At the same time, this type of processors has a floating multiplier, that is, they are automatically selected by the computer depending on the actual load. The chip has support for TurboBoost technology in version 2.0.
Benefits of the Intel Core i5-4440
Among the main differences between this processor and the one discussed above is the difference in clock frequency. The corresponding figure for the i5-4440 microchip is 100 MHz higher. At the same time, the set of key instructions is generally the same. For other characteristics, the processors are identical.
Specifics of the Intel Core i5-4460
Thanks to the frequency increased by 100 MHz, it works faster than the previous processor modification. Also, the set of instructions is somewhat wider than that of the younger models of the line. Otherwise, the characteristics of the chips are the same. Many IT experts, as well as enthusiasts, consider the three smallest chips in the Haswell line in the same context - as identical devices. In fact, the main difference between the two is the clock speed, and in some cases, the instruction set.
Specifications Core i5-4570
A model that is characterized as occupying the middle position in the family. It combines almost all the advantages of the latest line of Core i5 chips, such as full TurboBoost, vPro compatibility, and TXT. In the chips under consideration, all instructions provided for by the technological line are supported.
The power of computers with the i5-4570 chip installed is enough to perform the basic tasks of the user and to run games - but on the condition that the motherboard for the Intel Core i5, as well as the video card installed on it, will have the necessary characteristics in terms of performance. A significant aspect is the quality of system programs. So, in order to fully utilize the capabilities of Intel Core i5, drivers for all devices must be up-to-date.
Benefits of Core i5-4670K
This is the same processor that gamers love so much. The goal for which many of them buy the Intel Core i5 chip in question is overclocking. You can carry it out, and even achieve the most outstanding results at the same time thanks to the unlocked chip multiplier.
True, in some aspects the chip in question is inferior to the previous modification, in particular, it does not support the vPro and TXT standards necessary to provide increased computer protection against malware. The key characteristics of the i5-4570K chip are identical to the previous modification. It does a great job with games - but again, provided that the motherboard for the Intel Core i5 is characterized by high performance, and also, very importantly, the video card. The main methodology for overclocking microchips is to increase the multiplier.
Features Core i5-4690
This model is one of the latest. It can be noted that there are no obvious changes in characteristics in comparison with previous modifications of processors. Perhaps only the clock frequency has increased by 100 MHz compared to the Core i5-4570. Also, the processor has support for a number of modern instructions. But in general, Intel has not taken revolutionary steps in terms of upgrading chips, since, apparently, they already meet the criteria that characterize the manufacturer as a market leader.
Which of the processors we have reviewed is the best? Intel Core i5, as we noted at the very beginning of the article, is a family of chips that are very different from each other. And not only in the aspect of comparing generations, but also sometimes within the same line. Each microchip we have studied is optimal for solving its problems in terms of price and performance. It is important that on the PC on which the Intel Core i5 is installed, the device drivers are the latest and highest quality. The software component is no less important in terms of achieving high than the hardware components.
Optimal motherboard
What are the ideal specifications for an Intel Core i5 motherboard? So that all the capabilities of the processor provided by the manufacturer can be fully used? Experts recommend the appropriate hardware component that supports the Z87 chipset - it will be especially useful for users who plan to overclock chips.
For example, Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3 is the optimal motherboard for such purposes. Intel Core i5 in those modifications that are adapted for overclocking will be an excellent tool for the "overclocking" enthusiast - if there is an appropriate hardware component in the PC structure. It can be noted that this motherboard is suitable for all processors that support the LGA 1150 standard - that is, this significantly expands its functionality. As for other useful characteristics of the hardware component under consideration, we can highlight support for USB 2.0 ports, as well as 3.0 ports, compatibility with SATA 3. Another remarkable feature of the motherboard from Gigabyte is that it provides simultaneous operation of two video cards at once.
A great option for third-generation Core i5 processors is the MSI H61M-P31 (G3) motherboard, which is based on the H61 chipset. It has support for two G.Skill DDR3-1600 RAM modules with a capacity of 4 GB. There is support for high-performance video cards of the type. The motherboard in question is often used by IT experts when testing the performance of Intel Core i5 processors.
Another high-performance motherboard on which processors of this family can be installed is Gigabyte G1.Sniper 5. It is characterized by a rather high price - about 20 thousand rubles, but cheaper models are not always capable of solving tasks corresponding to the performance of Intel Core i5 chips. The motherboard in question supports the LGA1150 standard, it can install 4 DDR3 RAM slots operating at a frequency in the range from 1333 to 3000 MHz. There is support for the SLI/CrossFireX standard. The motherboard also allows you to install components that are compatible with a high-speed SATA slot that allows data transfer at a speed of 6 Gb / s. There is support for wireless technology.
We chose the Core i7 and Core i5 HQ and U series processors. These four models are used in most notebooks on the market. As you can see above, the two U-series processors are clocked faster than the Core i5-7300HQ and are generally offered at a lower price.
Is this enough to win?
The short answer is NO. Full-fledged HQ series processors are still cooler.
Cinebench R15
Let's start with one of the iconic Cinebench processor benchmarks. We chose the multi-core scenario not only because most applications (including games) use multiple cores at once, but also to see how the result will be affected by the presence of additional processor cores (or the ability to execute more instruction streams).We see the same picture: HQ-series processors are tearing their U-series rivals to shreds. Moreover, the Core i5-7300HQ model not only outperforms the i5-7200U by as much as 40%, but also leaves the Core i7-7500U behind – by 22%!
X264 Benchmark
If the term "computing performance" sounds too vague for you, the X264 benchmark, which simulates video transcoding by the CPU, will help clarify the picture. The higher the result, the faster the processor can convert videos from one format to another.findings
If you expect decent performance from your computer, go for the HQ series processor.Don't let the "i7" name fool you. Even the i5-HQ processor will be faster than the i7-U! In addition to the number of cores and execution threads, HQ processors offer other benefits, such as larger cache sizes, and are therefore better suited for high-performance laptops, including gaming laptops.
This does not mean that U-series processors are worse. They are just meant for other purposes. Their destiny is ultrabooks, for which mobility and low power consumption are priorities. When speed is most important, you should always choose HQ series processors.
Modern central processors are not easy to understand even for a specialist: many different models are produced, and their names seem to be specially designed to confuse the buyer.
And if a lot has been written about the Core and Core 2 series for almost five years since their appearance, then there is practically no systematized information about the chips of the three latest families Core i3, i5 and i7, addressed to the consumer, not to the expert.
What are the features of the architecture of new processors, differences from their predecessors?
Finally, why are they better than the still quite relevant Core 2 Duo and Quad?
All processors of the "i" family are based on the latest Nehalem microarchitecture, which replaced the Core at the end of 2008.
The architecture, named after one of the Indian tribes, is an evolutionary development of the Core and differs from it in several fundamental innovations: the placement of all cores on a single chip, an integrated two- or three-channel controller random access memory DDR3, QPI or DMI system buses that replaced the FSB, a third-level cache memory common to all cores, and the ability to integrate a graphics core into a chip.
Nehalem is the first to implement the SSE 4.2 instruction set, their power consumption is 30% less than Core counterparts with comparable performance.
In addition, Hyper-Threading technology has returned to the new chips, which makes it possible to present one physical core as two virtual ones.
The first Nehalem was produced using 45nm technology, and in 2010 a gradual transition to the 32nm process began.
To install processors, a motherboard with LGA1156 or LGA1366 connectors is required.
There are currently four types of desktop processors based on the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Bloomfield, Clarkdale, Gulftown, and Lynnfield.
Of these, Clarkdale are dual-core and manufactured using 32nm technology, Bloomfield and Lynnfield are quad-core and manufactured using 45nm process technology, and Gulftown are 32nm six-core chips.
The bulk of the dual-core i3 and i5 are Clarkdale, the quad-core i5 are Lynnfield, the quad-core i7 are Bloomfield and Lynnfield, and the six-core i7 (it's one so far, it's the 980X) is Gulftown.
Block diagram of the Lynnfield processor
What is the difference between quad-core Bloomfield and Lynnfield?
First of all, Bloomfield has a three-channel memory controller, and Lynnfield has a dual-channel memory controller, which significantly affects the price.
Bloomfield implements a high-speed QPI system bus (25.6 Gb / s), which is used to communicate with the north bridge, which provides the PCI Express 2.0 interface, to which graphics accelerators are connected.
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