• Generations of Intel processors: description and characteristics of models. Intel processor architectures of all time

    Processors Intel Core 4th generation (Haswell) are included in the Core i7 and Core i5 lines, manufactured according to the standards of the 22-nm technological process for the LGA 1150 socket and are intended primarily for 2-in-1 format devices that support functionality mobile and tablet PCs, as well as portable monoblocks.

    Intel processors Core 4th generation Haswell were primarily developed for ultrabook devices.
    They provide 50% more long time work under active loads compared to previous generation processors.
    High energy efficiency allows some ultrabook models to work for more than 9 hours without recharging.

    Processors have built-in graphics systems, the performance of which is comparable to discrete graphics solutions.
    The graphics performance of these processors is twice that of previous generation Intel processors.

    The corporation is ready to present more than 50 different variants of 2-in-1 form factor devices in a variety of price categories.

    The flagship of this family is Core processor i7-4770K, consisting of 1.4 billion transistors and, in addition to a quartet of x86 cores with support for Hyper-Threading, includes HD Graphics 4600 graphics, a controller with support for up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR3 1600 memory and 8 MB of third-level cache.

    Clock CPU frequency equal to 3.5 GHz (up to 3.9 GHz with Turbo Boost), in addition, this model features a TDP of 84 watts and an unlocked multiplier, which allows it to be seriously overclocked.

    4th Intel generation Core i7 for desktops:

    . Intel Core i7-4770T: unlocked multiplier, TDP 45 W, 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.5 GHz base, 3.7 GHz Turbo, 1333/1600 MHz DDR3, 8 MB L3 cache, Intel graphics HD Graphics 4600 up to 1200 MHz, LGA-1150

    . Intel Core i7-4770S: unlocked multiplier, 65W TDP, 4 cores, 8 threads, 3.1 GHz base, 3.9 GHz Turbo, 1333/1600 MHz DDR3, 8 MB L3 cache, Intel HD Graphics 4600 up to 1200 MHz, LGA-1150

    . Intel Core i7-4770: unlocked multiplier, TDP 84 W, 4 cores, 8 threads, 3.4 GHz base, 3.9 GHz Turbo, 1333/1600 MHz DDR3, 8 MB L3 cache, Intel HD Graphics 4600 up to 1200 MHz, LGA-1150

    . Intel Core i7-4770K: unlocked multiplier, TDP 84 W, 4 cores, 8 threads, 3.5 GHz base, 3.9 GHz Turbo, 1333/1600 MHz DDR3, 8 MB L3 cache, Intel HD Graphics 4600 up to 1250 MHz, LGA-1150

    . Intel Core i7-4770R: unlocked multiplier, 65W TDP, 4 cores, 8 threads, 3.2 GHz base, 3.9 GHz Turbo, 1333/1600 MHz DDR3, 8 MB L3 cache, Intel Iris Pro 5200 graphics up to 1300 MHz, BGA

    . Intel Core i7-4765T: unlocked multiplier, 35W TDP, 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.0 GHz base, 3.0 GHz Turbo, 1333/1600 MHz DDR3, 8 MB L3 cache, Intel HD Graphics 4600 up to 1200 MHz, LGA-1150

    4th generation Intel Core i5 for desktops:

    . Intel Core i5-4670T: unlocked multiplier, 45W TDP, 4 cores, 4 threads, 2.3 GHz base, 3.3 GHz Turbo, 1333/1600 MHz DDR3, 6 MB L3 cache, Intel HD Graphics 4600 up to 1200 MHz, LGA-1150

    . Intel Core i5-4670S: unlocked multiplier, 65W TDP, 4 cores, 4 threads, 3.1 GHz base, 3.8 GHz Turbo, 1333/1600 MHz DDR3, 6 MB L3 cache, Intel HD Graphics 4600 up to 1200 MHz, LGA-1150

    . Intel Core i5-4670K

    . Intel Core i5-4670: unlocked multiplier, TDP 84 W, 4 cores, 4 threads, 3.4 GHz base, 3.8 GHz Turbo, 1333/1600 MHz DDR3, 6 MB L3 cache, Intel HD Graphics 4600 up to 1200 MHz, LGA-1150

    . Intel Core i5-4570: unlocked multiplier, TDP 84 W, 4 cores, 4 threads, 3.2 GHz base, 3.6 GHz Turbo, 1333/1600 MHz DDR3, 6 MB L3 cache, Intel HD Graphics 4600 up to 1200 MHz, LGA-1150

    . Intel Core i5-4570S: unlocked multiplier, 65W TDP, 4 cores, 4 threads, 2.9 GHz base, 3.6 GHz Turbo, 1333/1600 MHz DDR3, 6 MB L3 cache, Intel HD Graphics 4600 up to 1200 MHz, LGA-1150

    . Intel Core i5-4570T: unlocked multiplier, 35W TDP, 2 cores, 4 threads, 2.9 GHz base, 3.6 GHz Turbo, 1333/1600 MHz DDR3, 6 MB L3 cache, Intel HD Graphics 4600 up to 1200 MHz, LGA-1150

    Intel has gone through a very long way development, from a small chip manufacturer to a world leader in processor production. During this time, many processor production technologies were developed, highly optimized process and device characteristics.

    Many performance indicators of processors depend on the arrangement of transistors on the silicon chip. The technology of transistor arrangement is called microarchitecture or simply architecture. In this article we will look at which Intel processor architectures have been used throughout the company's development and how they differ from each other. Let's start with the most ancient microarchitectures and look all the way to new processors and plans for the future.

    As I already said, in this article we will not consider the bit capacity of processors. By the word architecture we mean the microarchitecture of the microcircuit, the arrangement of transistors on printed circuit board, their size, distance, technological process, all this is covered by this concept. We will not touch the RISC and CISC instruction sets either.

    The second thing you need to pay attention to is the generation of the Intel processor. You've probably already heard many times - this processor is the fifth generation, that one is the fourth, and this one is the seventh. Many people think that this is designated i3, i5, i7. But in fact there is no i3, and so on - these are processor brands. And the generation depends on the architecture used.

    With each new generation, the architecture improved, processors became faster, more economical and smaller, they generated less heat, but at the same time they were more expensive. There are few articles on the Internet that would describe all this completely. Now let's look at where it all began.

    Intel processor architectures

    I’ll say right away that you shouldn’t expect technical details from the article; we’ll only look at the basic differences that will be of interest to ordinary users.

    First processors

    First, let's take a brief look at history to understand how it all began. Let's not go too far and start with 32-bit processors. The first was the Intel 80386, it appeared in 1986 and could operate at frequencies up to 40 MHz. Old processors also had a generation countdown. This processor belongs to the third generation, and the 1500 nm process technology was used here.

    The next, fourth generation was 80486. The architecture used in it was called 486. The processor operated at a frequency of 50 MHz and could execute 40 million instructions per second. The processor had 8 KB of L1 cache, and was manufactured using a 1000 nm process technology.

    The next architecture was P5 or Pentium. These processors appeared in 1993, the cache was increased to 32 KB, the frequency was up to 60 MHz, and the process technology was reduced to 800 nm. In the sixth generation P6, the cache size was 32 KB, and the frequency reached 450 MHz. The tech process has been reduced to 180 nm.

    Then the company began producing processors based on the NetBurst architecture. It used 16 KB of first-level cache per core, and up to 2 MB of second-level cache. The frequency increased to 3 GHz, and the technical process remained at the same level - 180 nm. Already here 64-bit processors appeared that supported addressing more memory. Many command extensions were also introduced, as well as the addition of Hyper-Threading technology, which allowed the creation of two threads from one core, which increased performance.

    Naturally, each architecture improved over time, the frequency increased and the technical process decreased. There were also intermediate architectures, but things have been simplified here a little since that is not our main topic.

    Intel Core

    NetBurst was replaced by the Intel Core architecture in 2006. One of the reasons for the development of this architecture was the impossibility of increasing the frequency in NetBrust, as well as its very high heat dissipation. This architecture was designed for the development of multi-core processors, the size of the first level cache was increased to 64 KB. The frequency remained at 3 GHz, but the power consumption was greatly reduced, as well as the technical process, to 60 nm.

    Processors based on the Core architecture supported hardware virtualization Intel-VT, as well as some instruction extensions, but did not support Hyper-Threading, since they were developed based on the P6 architecture, where this feature did not yet exist.

    First generation - Nehalem

    Next, the numbering of generations was started from the beginning, because all the following architectures are improved Intel versions Core. The Nehalem architecture replaced Core, which had some limitations, such as the inability to increase the clock speed. She appeared in 2007. It uses a 45 nm technology process and has added support for Hyper-Therading technology.

    Nehalem processors have a 64 KB L1 cache, 4 MB L2 cache and 12 MB L3 cache. The cache is available to all processor cores. It also became possible to integrate a graphics accelerator into the processor. The frequency has not changed, but the performance and size of the printed circuit board have increased.

    Second generation - Sandy Bridge

    Sandy Bridge appeared in 2011 to replace Nehalem. It already uses a 32 nm process technology, it uses the same amount of first-level cache, 256 MB of second-level cache and 8 MB of third-level cache. Experimental models used up to 15 MB of shared cache.

    Also, now all devices are available with a built-in graphics accelerator. The maximum frequency has been increased, as well as overall performance.

    Third generation - Ivy Bridge

    Processors Ivy Bridge They work faster than Sandy Bridge, and they are manufactured using a 22 nm process technology. They consume 50% less energy than previous models, and also provide 25-60% highest performance. The processors also support Intel technology Quick Sync, which allows you to encode video several times faster.

    Fourth generation - Haswell

    Processor generation Intel Haswell was developed in 2012. The same technical process was used here - 22 nm, the cache design was changed, power consumption mechanisms were improved and performance was slightly improved. But the processor supports many new connectors: LGA 1150, BGA 1364, LGA 2011-3, DDR4 technology, and so on. The main advantage of Haswell is that it can be used in portable devices due to its very low power consumption.

    Fifth generation - Broadwell

    This is an improved version of the Haswell architecture, which uses the 14 nm process technology. In addition, several improvements have been made to the architecture, which improve performance by an average of 5%.

    Sixth generation - Skylake

    The next architecture of intel core processors, the sixth generation Skylake, was released in 2015. This is one of the most significant updates Core architecture. To install the processor on motherboard The LGA 1151 socket is used, DDR4 memory is now supported, but DDR3 support is retained. Thunderbolt 3.0 is supported, as well as DMI 3.0, which gives twice the speed. And by tradition, there was increased productivity, as well as reduced energy consumption.

    Seventh generation - Kaby Lake

    The new, seventh generation Core - Kaby Lake was released this year, the first processors appeared in mid-January. There weren't many changes here. The 14 nm process technology is retained, as well as the same LGA 1151 socket. DDR3L SDRAM and DDR4 SDRAM memory sticks and buses are supported PCI Express 3.0, USB 3.1. In addition, the frequency was slightly increased, and the transistor density was reduced. Maximum frequency 4.2 GHz.

    Conclusions

    In this article, we looked at the Intel processor architectures that were used in the past, as well as those that are used now. Next, the company plans to switch to the 10 nm process technology and this generation of Intel processors will be called CanonLake. But Intel is not ready for this yet.

    Therefore, in 2017 it is planned to release an improved version of SkyLake under the code name Coffe Lake. It is also possible that there will be other Intel processor microarchitectures until the company fully masters the new process technology. But we will learn about all this over time. I hope you found this information helpful.

    About the author

    Founder and site administrator, passionate about open source software and operating system Linux. I currently use Ubuntu as my main OS. In addition to Linux, I am interested in everything related to information technology and modern science.

    In the process of assembling or purchasing a new computer, users are always faced with a question. In this article we will look at Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, and also tell you the difference between these chips and what is better to choose for your computer.

    Difference No. 1. Number of cores and support for Hyper-threading.

    Perhaps, The main difference between Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors is the number of physical cores and support for Hyper-threading technology, which creates two threads of computation for each actually existing physical core. Creating two computation threads per core allows for more efficient use of the processing power of the processor core. Therefore, processors with support for Hyper-threading have some performance benefits.

    The number of cores and support for Hyper-threading technology for most Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors can be summarized in the following table.

    Number of physical cores Hyper-threading technology support Number of threads
    Intel Core i3 2 Yes 4
    Intel Core i5 4 No 4
    Intel Core i7 4 Yes 8

    But there are exceptions to this table. Firstly, these are Intel Core i7 processors from their “Extreme” line. These processors can have 6 or 8 physical computing cores. At the same time, they, like all Core i7 processors, have support for Hyper-threading technology, which means the number of threads is doubled more quantity cores. Secondly, some exceptions include mobile processors(laptop processors). So, some Intel Core i5 mobile processors have only 2 physical cores, but at the same time have support for Hyper-threading.

    It should also be noted that Intel company has already planned to increase the number of cores in its processors. According to latest news, Intel Core i5 and i7 processors with Coffee Lake architecture, scheduled for release in 2018, will each have 6 physical cores and 12 threads.

    Therefore, you should not completely trust the table provided. If you are interested in the number of cores in a particular Intel processor, then it is better to check the official information on the website.

    Difference No. 2. Cache memory size.

    Also, Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors differ in cache memory size. The higher the processor class, the larger the cache memory it receives. Intel Core i7 processors get the most cache, Intel Core i5 slightly less, and Intel Core i3 processors even less. Specific values ​​should be looked at in the characteristics of the processors. But as an example, you can compare several processors from the 6th generation.

    Level 1 cache Level 2 cache Level 3 cache
    Intel Core i7-6700 4 x 32 KB 4 x 256 KB 8 MB
    Intel Core i5-6500 4 x 32 KB 4 x 256 KB 6 MB
    Intel Core i3-6100 2 x 32 KB 2 x 256 KB 3 MB

    You need to understand that a decrease in cache memory is associated with a decrease in the number of cores and threads. But, nevertheless, there is such a difference.

    Difference number 3. Clock frequencies.

    Typically processors are more high class are available with higher clock speeds. But, not everything is so simple here. It is not uncommon for Intel Core i3 to have more high frequencies than Intel Core i7. For example, let's take 3 processors from the 6th generation line.

    Clock frequency
    Intel Core i7-6700 3.4 GHz
    Intel Core i5-6500 3.2 GHz
    Intel Core i3-6100 3.7 GHz

    In this way, Intel is trying to maintain the performance of Intel Core i3 processors at the desired level.

    Difference No. 4. Heat dissipation.

    One more thing important difference between Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors this is the heat dissipation level. The characteristic known as TDP or thermal design power is responsible for this. This characteristic tells you how much heat the processor cooling system should dissipate. For example, let's take the TDP of three 6th generation Intel processors. As can be seen from the table, the higher the processor class, the more heat it produces and the more powerful the cooling system is needed.

    TDP
    Intel Core i7-6700 65 W
    Intel Core i5-6500 65 W
    Intel Core i3-6100 51 W

    It should be noted that TDP tends to decrease. With each generation of processors, the TDP becomes lower. For example, the TDP of the 2nd generation Intel Core i5 processor was 95 W. Now, as we see, only 65 W.

    Which is better Intel Core i3, i5 or i7?

    The answer to this question depends on what kind of performance you need. The difference is in the number of cores, threads, cache and clock speeds creates a noticeable difference in performance between Core i3, i5 and i7.

    • Intel Core i3 processor - an excellent option for office or budget home computer. If you have a video card of the appropriate level, you can play computer games on a computer with an Intel Core i3 processor.
    • Intel Core i5 processor - suitable for a powerful worker or gaming computer. A modern Intel Core i5 can handle any video card without any problems, so on a computer with such a processor you can play any games even at maximum settings.
    • The Intel Core i7 processor is an option for those who know exactly why they need such performance. A computer with this processor will do, for example, for editing videos or conducting game streams.

    · 02/16/2017

    Everyone knows what a processor (CPU) is, as well as its importance. The phrase that this is the “brain” of any computer stuck in my teeth. However, this is true, and the capabilities of a laptop or desktop PC are largely determined by this component. When planning to buy a new computer, you need to understand that one of the main characteristics is the processor. Each model indicates the name of the CPU used and the main characteristics. How can you determine at first glance which one is faster and which one is slower, which one to prefer if you often have to work autonomously, and which processor is better for games? This material is a kind of small guide in which I will tell you what Intel processor markings exist, how to decipher it, determine the generation and series of the processor, and give the main characteristics. Let's go.

    Main characteristics of processors

    In addition to the name, each processor has its own set of characteristics, reflecting the possibility of using it for a particular job. Among them the main ones can be noted:

    • Number of cores. Shows how many physical processors are hidden inside the chip. Most laptops, especially those with “U” version processors, have 2 cores. More powerful options have 4 cores.
    • Hyper-Threading. A technology that allows you to divide the resources of the physical core into several threads (usually 2) running simultaneously in order to increase performance. Thus, a 2-core processor in the system will appear as a 4-core processor.
    • Clock frequency. Measured in gigahertz. In general, we can say that the higher the frequency, the more powerful the processor. Let’s immediately make a reservation that this is far from the only criterion that reflects the performance of the CPU.
    • Turbo Boost. Technology that allows you to lift maximum frequency processor operation at high loads. Versions "i3" are deprived automatic change frequencies, and this technology is present in “i5” and “i7”.
    • Cache. A small (usually 1 to 4 MB) amount of high-speed memory, which is integral part processor. Allows you to speed up the processing of frequently used data.
    • TDP (Thermal Design Power). A value indicating the maximum amount of heat that must be removed from the processor to ensure normal temperature regime his work. Typically, the higher the value, the more powerful the processor, and the hotter it is. The cooling system must cope with this power.

    Intel processor markings

    The first thing that catches your eye is the marking, consisting of letters and numbers.

    What the name is is clear. The manufacturer produces its processors under this trade name. This can be not only “Intel Core”, but also “Atom”, “Celeron”, “Pentium”, “Xeon”.

    The name is followed by the processor series identifier. This can be "i3", "i5", "i7", "i9" if we are talking about "Intel Core", or the characters "m5", "x5", "E" or "N" can be specified.

    After the hyphen, the first digit indicates the processor generation. On at the moment the newest is 7th Generation Kaby Lake. The previous generation Skylake had serial number 6.

    The next 3 digits are the serial number of the model. In general, the higher the value, the more powerful the processor. So, i3 has a value of 7100, I5 – 7200, i7 is marked as 7500.

    The last character (or two) indicates the processor version. These may be "U", "Y", "HQ", "HK" or others.

    Processor series

    With the exception of budget models of laptops or desktop PCs, the rest use processors of the Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 series. The higher the number, the more powerful the CPU. For most everyday work applications, an i5 processor will be optimal. A more productive one is needed if the computer is used as a gaming computer, or if it requires special computing power to work in “heavy” applications.

    Processor generation

    Intel updates generations of its processors approximately every year and a half, although this interval tends to increase to 2-3 years. From the “Tick-Tock” scheme they switched to the “Tick-Tock-Tock” release scheme. Let me remind you that this processor release strategy implies that in the “Tick” step there is a transition to a new technical process, and the changes made to the processor architecture are minimal. In the “So” step, a processor with an updated architecture is produced using an existing technical process.

    Name Supported memory Technical process Video card Year of issue
    1 WestmereDDR3-133332nm2008-2010
    2 Sandy BridgeDDR3-160032nmHD Graphics 2000 (3000)2011
    3 Ivy BridgeDDR3-160022nmHD Graphics 40002012
    4 HaswellDDR3-160022nmHD Graphics 4000 (5200)2013
    5 BroadwellDDR3L-160014nmHD Graphics 62002014
    6 SkylakeDDR3L-1600/DDR414nmHD Graphics 520 - 5802015
    7 Kaby LakeDDR3L-1600/DDR414nmHD Graphics 610 (620)2016
    8 Coffee LakeDDR414nmUHD Graphics 6302017

    The transition to a thinner technical process allows you to reduce power consumption and improve processor performance.

    Processor version

    This indicator may turn out to be almost more important than simply comparing, say, i3 with i5. If we talk about laptops, in most cases 4 versions of Intel Core processors are used, having different TDP values ​​(from 4.5 W in the Y version to 45 W for the HQ), and, accordingly, different performance and energy consumption. Long battery life depends not only on the processor, but also on the inherent capacity of the battery used.

    I will give the versions of Intel Core processors, starting with the most low-power ones.

    "Y" / "Core m" - low performance and passive cooling

    Used in portable devices and small laptops. Passive cooling allows you to make your computer silent. However, it is not suitable for serious tasks. At the same time, even taking into account the TDP of 4.5 W, the compactness of the devices does not allow for a large battery, which negates all the advantages of low power consumption.

    In general, if the task is not to buy something like Apple MacBook 12 or ASUS ZENBOOK UX305CA, then you should give preference to more powerful processors.

    Model Clock frequency, GHz Turbo Boost, GHz Cash, MB TDP, W Video card
    Core i7-7Y751.3 3.6 4 4.5 Intel HD 615
    Core m7-6Y751.2 3.1 4 4.5 Intel HD 515
    Core i5-7Y541.2 3.2 4 4.5 Intel HD 615
    Core i5-7Y301.0 2.6 4 4.5 Intel HD 615
    Core m5-6Y571.1 2.8 4 4.5 Intel HD 515
    Core m3-7Y301.0 2.6 4 4.5 Intel HD 615
    Core m3-6Y300.9 2.2 4 4.5 Intel HD 515

    "U" - for everyday use

    “U” series processors are the best choice for a laptop for every day. This is the best combination of performance, energy consumption and cost. TDP 15 W allows you to achieve both the ability to cope with almost any task and get good time autonomous work.

    There are modifications of the 7th generation processors with a TDP of 28 W, which use an improved Intel Iris Plus 640 or 650 graphics subsystem.

    Get by passive cooling fails, but it makes up for it in performance. The difference from more powerful versions is the presence of only 2 cores, even in the “i7” series.

    Examples of processors in the table.

    Model Clock frequency, GHz Turbo Boost, GHz Cash, MB TDP, W Video card
    Core i7-7600U2.8 3.9 4 15 Intel HD 620
    Core i7-7660U2.5 4.0 4 15 Iris Plus 640
    Core i7-7567U3.5 4.0 4 28 Iris Plus 650
    Core i7-7500U2.7 3.5 4 15 Intel HD 620
    Core i7-6600U2.6 3.4 4 15 Intel HD 520
    Core i7-6567U3.3 3.6 4 15 Iris 550
    Core i7-6500U2.5 3.1 4 15 Intel HD 520
    Core i5-7200U2.5 3.1 3 15 Intel HD 620
    Core i5-7267U3.1 3.5 4 28 Iris Plus 650
    Core i5-6287U3.1 3.5 4 15 Iris 550
    Core i5-6200U2.3 2.8 3 15 Intel HD 520
    Core i3-7100U2.4 3 15 Intel HD 620

    "HQ" / "HK" - quad-core, high-performance

    The best choice if you are looking for a laptop for gaming or working with resource-intensive applications. The “HQ” version has 4 cores, which in combination with Hyper-Threading technology gives 8 threads. Power consumption (TDP) of 45 W is bad for battery life. In order for the laptop to withstand several hours on battery power, it is advisable to choose batteries with a larger capacity, for example, with 6 cells.

    “HK” differs from “HQ” in that it has an unlocked multiplier, which makes it possible to engage in “overclocking” by manually increasing the operating frequency of the processor. Similar versions of 7th generation processors were announced only in January 2017, so at the moment almost all laptop models are based on processors of the “HK” and “HQ” versions of the previous, 6th generation. However, we obviously won’t have to wait long for new models.

    Examples of processors in the table.

    Model Clock frequency, GHz Turbo Boost, GHz Cash, MB TDP, W Cores/threads Video card
    Core i7-7920HQ3.1 4.1 8 45 4/8 Intel HD 630
    Core i7-7820HK2.9 3.9 8 45 4/8 Intel HD 630
    Core i5-7700HQ2.8 3.8 6 45 4/8 Intel HD 630
    Core i5-7440HQ2.8 3.8 6 45 4/4 Intel HD 630
    Core i5-7300HQ2.5 3.8 6 45 4/4 Intel HD 630
    Core i7-6970HQ2.8 3.7 8 45 4/8 Iris Pro 580
    Core i7-6920HQ2.9 3.8 8 45 4/8 Intel HD 530
    Core i7-6870HQ2.7 3.6 8 45 4/8 Iris Pro 580
    Core i7-6820HQ2.7 3.6 8 45 4/8 Intel HD 530
    Core i7-6770HQ2.6 3.5 6 45 4/8 Iris Pro 580
    Core i7-6700HQ2.6 3.5 6 45 4/8 Intel HD 530
    Core i5-6440HQ2.6 3.5 6 45 4/4 Intel HD 530
    Core i5-6300HQ2.3 3.2 6 45 4/4 Intel HD 530

    Xeon E – for high-performance workstations

    These processors are used in powerful laptops, acting as high-performance workstations. This technique is aimed primarily at those who are engaged in 3D modeling, animation, design, and perform complex calculations where required. high power. The processors have 4 cores and Hyper-Threading technology.

    Usually about ability for a long time There is no need to talk about running on batteries. Autonomy is not the strong point that laptops using such processors have.

    Examples of processors in the table.

    Model Clock frequency, GHz Turbo Boost, GHz Cash, MB TDP, W Video card Generation
    Xeon E3-1535M v63.1 4.2 8 45 Iris Pro P6307
    Xeon E3-1505M v63.0 4.0 8 45 Iris Pro P6307
    Xeon E3-1575M v53.0 3.9 8 45 Iris Pro P5806
    Xeon E3-1535M v52.9 3.8 8 45 HD Graphics P5306
    Xeon E3-1505M v52.8 3.7 8 45 HD Graphics P5306

    Now I will list the remaining processors that can be found in laptops, but which are not part of the “Intel Core” family.

    “Celeron” / “Pentium” - for those who are economical and not in a hurry

    Low cost. Light tasks (web surfing, office programs).
    Games, not for serious work.

    You should forget about games (except for very simple), difficult tasks. The destiny of laptops with such processors is leisurely office work, surfing the Internet. You can only give preference to models with a CPU of this level if price is one of the main selection criteria, or if you plan to use Linux or OS from Google. Unlike Windows, the hardware requirements are noticeably lower.

    Celeron processors have power consumption ranging from 4 to 15 watts, with those models starting with the letter “N” (such as N3050, N3060, etc.) consuming between 4 and 6 watts. Models with the letter “U” at the end (for example, 2957U, 3855U, etc.) are more productive and their power already reaches 15 W. Winning in battery life when using Celeron Nxxxx usually not, because budget models laptops also save on batteries.

    Pentium processors are more productive than Celeron, but still belong to budget segment. Their TDP is at the same level. Battery life can last for several hours, which, while the performance is not as dull as that of the Celeron, allows you to get a very decent office laptop.

    These processors come in both dual-core and quad-core variants.

    Examples of processors in the table.

    Model Clock frequency, GHz Turbo Boost, GHz Cash, MB Cores/threads TDP, W Video card
    Pentium N35602.4 2 2/2 37 HD Graphics
    Pentium 4405U2.1 2 2/4 15 HD 510
    Pentium N37001.6 2.4 2 4/4 6 HD Graphics
    Celeron N29702.2 2 2/2 37 HD Graphics
    Celeron 3765U1.9 2 2/2 15 HD Graphics
    Celeron N30601.6 2.48 2 2/2 6 HD Graphics

    "Atom" - long battery life and dismal performance

    Examples of processors in the table.

    Model Clock frequency, GHz Turbo Boost, GHz Cash, MB Video card
    Atom x7-Z87001.6 2.4 2 HD Graphics
    Atom x5-Z85001.44 2.24 2 HD Graphics
    Atom Z3735F1.33 1.83 2 HD Graphics

    Integrated Graphics

    All processors have a built-in video card, which is labeled as “Intel HD Graphics”. For 7th generation processors, the video core marking begins with “6” (for example, HD Graphics 610), for the 6th generation – with “5” (for example, HD Graphics 520). Some top-end processors have a more powerful built-in video card, labeled “Iris Plus”. So, the i7-7600U processor has “on board” Intel video card HD Graphics 620, and the i7-7660U is “Iris Plus 640”.

    We are not talking about serious competition with solutions from NVidia or AMD, however, for everyday work, watching videos, simple games or at low settings, you will still be able to have some fun. For more serious gaming requests, a discrete graphics card is required.

    UPD. 2018. It's time to add to what has been said. Recently, models have appeared in the line of Intel processors that are marked with the letter “G” at the end. For example, i5-8305G, i7-8709G and others. What's special about them? To begin with, I will say that these CPUs are aimed at use in laptops and netbooks.

    Their peculiarity is the use of a “built-in” graphics video processor produced by AMD. This is the joint creativity of two sworn competitors. It’s not for nothing that I put the word “built-in” in quotation marks. Although it is considered one with the processor, physically it is a separate chip, although located on the same substrate as the CPU. AMD ships ready graphic solution, and Intel only installs them on its processors. Friendship is friendship, but the chips are still apart.

    “In short, Sklifosovsky!”

    “So which processor is best for me,” many will probably ask. A lot has been written, you can get lost in the varieties, characteristics, etc., but you need to choose something. Well, for the impatient, I’ll put everything in one table, which will rank the processors according to their applicability for certain purposes.

    Laptop class Recommended CPU Example Autonomy, hour
    Workstation/Powerful GamingCore i5/i7 HQCore i7-7820HK, Core i5-7440HQ3-8
    Core i7U Core i7-7500U 5-17
    Universal Core i5 U Core i5-7200U, Core i5-6200U, Core i5-6300U 5-17
    Versatile, with advanced capabilitiesCore i7UCore i7 8550U5-17
    UniversalCore i5 UCore i5 8250U,5-17
    Ultrabook, thin compactCore m / Core i5 / i7 YCore m3, Core i5-7Y545-9
    BudgetCeleron, PentiumCeleron N3050, Pentium N42004-6
    Tablet, cheap compact laptopAtomAtom Z3735F, Atom x57-12

    Upd. 2018. Time does not stand still and after the emergence of the new, 8th generation of processors, we have to significantly reconsider the applicability of processors for certain tasks. In particular, particularly noticeable changes have occurred in the segment of energy-efficient “U” processors. In the 8th generation, these are finally full-fledged 4-core “stones” with significantly better performance than its predecessors, while maintaining the same TDP value. Therefore, I don’t see the point in choosing something like i7 7500U, i5 7200U, etc.

    The only argument that can influence the decision to prefer these particular CPUs is a significant discount on laptops with them on board. In other cases, the old Us have no chance against new processors.

    I’ll say right away that this is an average classification that does not take into account financial costs or the need to choose one option or another. And overall performance depends not only on the processor. Even a powerful “stone” may not reveal its potential if a small amount of memory is installed, a budget one is used hard drive, and at the same time programs that are “greedy” for hardware resources are used.

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    189 comments

      The next 3 digits are the serial number of the model. In general, the higher the value, the more powerful the processor. So, i3 has a value of 7100, I5 – 7200, i7 is marked as 750; what does this mean? Why are the 7th generation processors listed?

    1. Hi all!
      I wanted to know about Intel processors. I have long noticed that when buying a newly released processor, the year is indicated on its cover, but the year does not correspond to the year of purchase, for example, the processor was presented in 2018, but the Intel processor is ’13.
      Is this the year of development?

    2. Andrey, hello. help me choose a laptop for playing Dota 2. The amount is up to 70 thousand. Tomorrow I will go for a laptop, I still haven’t decided which one I want) I read a lot which one to get, etc. But since I don’t know much about this, it gave me almost nothing)) please help with advice, thanks in advance.

    3. Hello. And I have this one on my desktop PC
      asustek computer inc motherboard M4A785T-M (AM3)
      amd phenom iix4 965 deneb 45nm technology. Is it possible to find a replacement motherboard?

    4. Good article, informative :)
      But there is one remark and, subsequently, a question. The article does not contain a description of the T, K, S markings. There are also G-series Pentiums, but that doesn’t matter)
      And the next one is about marking k. As far as I know, k means the unlocked multiplier, i.e. The processor can be overclocked, is that true?
      Does k-multiplier have anything to do with Hyper-Threading technology?
      I can’t understand why the i7-3770k has 4 cores and 8 threads, and the similar performance i5-3570k has 4 cores and 4 threads, although both are labeled k.

    5. Hello. I'm looking for a laptop to work with AutoCad 2016. Please help me with advice on which one to choose. There is a lot of information, but it’s impossible to put it all together. Thanks in advance.

    6. Good afternoon. Super article. I have been interested for a long time and have a question... just about the letter M... I saw that you answered about mobility... but I would like to know whether the difference with U and HQ/HK is significant. What percentage, say, in terms of games and working with graphic editors?

    7. Please tell me what better lenovo i5-7200U+mx130 8ram ddr4-2133 or acer i3-8130U+mx150 8ram ddr4-2133? Does it make sense to overpay for a more expensive Acer?

    8. Hello, I have a laptop Acer Aspire 7750g intel core i5 2450M 2.50GHz + turbo boost I want to install an external video card via EXP GDC
      does it make sense and what is the optimal video card to take for games thanks

    9. Hello!
      There are still questions.....
      Found three interesting options with i7 8750H with GTX 1070...and one with i7 7700HQ with GTX 1080.
      i7 7700HQ with GTX 1070 many options and lower price.
      Generally stuck with the choice of Acer, Asus or Del. All very cool (in my opinion)…..in the same price niche.
      With a cool card it's ASUS ROG GL702VI.....does it make sense?
      Plus I found an option with an i7 7820HK processor (it seemed to be very popular before).
      And how much operational intelligence is better for this matter?
      I take it mainly for games... what do you recommend?
      Until now I have used simpler technology. Muchooo.
      It’s not possible to change often, I want to spare. Thank you.

    10. Good evening, thank you for providing some clarification on this topic, if it’s not too much trouble, can you recommend several gaming laptops in a budget of up to 45 thousand, I’ve looked at the HP 15-bs105ur 2PP24EA, but would like to hear your options.
      Thank you in advance.

    11. Good afternoon Please tell me I need a laptop for programming. We are considering options like Aser swift 5 with 16 Gb of RAM and Intel Core i7 8550U. I know that ultrabooks limit the processor frequency to reduce overheating. Do you think this will greatly affect the operation of the laptop? Or is it better to consider heavier, but air-cooled laptop options?

    12. Andrey, good evening. Thanks for the article, very informative. I would be grateful if you could clarify one point. I roughly narrowed the circle, taking into account my needs (diagonal 17, not for games, for AutoCAD 3D? Budget up to 65tr) to ACER Aspire A717. But then I got confused in the modifications. There are two similar modifications with the only difference being the series. The first cheaper screen: 17.3″; screen resolution: 1920×1080; processor: Intel Core i5 7300HQ; frequency: 2.5 GHz (3.5 GHz, Turbo mode); memory: 8192 MB, DDR4; HDD: 1000 GB, 5400 rpm; SSD: 128 GB; nVidia GeForce GTX 1050 - 2048 MB second more expensive by 6tr (65tr) Intel Core i7 7700HQ; frequency: 2.8 GHz (3.8 GHz, Turbo mode); memory: 8192 MB, DDR4; HDD: 1000 GB, 5400 rpm; SSD: 128 GB; nVidia GeForce GTX 1050 - 2048 MB;
      Is it worth overpaying for the series? and generally normal hardware for my requirements? I’m also puzzled by the fact that these prices are relevant, provided that the Linux operating system on Windows will be 7-10 thousand more expensive.

      • Hello.
        Linux is, consider it, without an operating system. They don't charge money for it. A licensed Windows- this is at least several thousand.
        AutoCAD loves processors with higher frequencies. In general, the i7 is better, but there is one thing - cooling. It’s not a fact that the laptop will cope with cooling the i7 under prolonged load. I mean, he can handle it, but how much faster the i7 will work in this mode compared to the i5 is a question. And it would be better to have more memory. I would still put in 16 GB of memory. There's probably no need for more. Although you can upgrade it yourself later if necessary. SSD is a must. 240-256 GB would be better, 128 is still not enough. I think i5 will be enough.
        Why a laptop? Wouldn't a hospital be better for such tasks? It’s easier to upgrade, and there are no problems with cooling.

        • Thank you very much. The specifics of the work are such that a laptop is more convenient. with cooling, I’ll buy a stand so that I don’t have to worry)) you can buy it cheaper without an ssd, but you need everything there back cover remove to add ssd? which is fraught with loss of warranty, and modifications with higher capacity come with more expensive components. There is a separate window for regular hard drive, maybe you can stuff a hybrid version of hhd+ssd in there? It’s also very interesting how much worse or better is the 8th generation processor but with the U series (2 cores) than the 7th series processor with the HQ series?

    13. The modification indicated on the box is NH.GTVER.006. I don’t see such an assembly at all on the manufacturer’s website. The city link doesn’t say anything about the matrix, but the phone managers say it’s ips. I looked in other stores, they also write ips. In any case, I will try to return or exchange, insisting that within 7 days I have the right by law and contract)

    14. Hello, could you comment on this unit:

      Dell Vostro 5568 (Intel i5-7200U 2500MHz / 8192MB / SSD 256GB / nVidia GeForce 940MX / gold)

    15. Good day, Andrey!

      I'm looking for advice on choosing a laptop.

      Budget - up to 50-55. But if you can get it cheaper, then it’s much better.

      The main goal is to connect to a 4K TV and be able to view content (video) in this format. The games are not relevant, but there will be an opportunity to play them (in 4K, or in FullHD) good addition. Working with documents, surfing.

      Nominees:
      1. Acer Aspire A715-71G-51J1 NX.GP8ER.008
      2. ASUS FX553VD-DM1225T 90NB0DW4-M19860
      3. Dell G3-3579 G315-7152 Blue

      Keep in mind that we will increase the HDD and SSD on our own, and we will install additional RAM in the future.

      Thanks in advance!

      PS From your publication and responses to comments, I found out that it is necessary to select a laptop without an OS. This significantly reduces its final cost.

    16. Hello.
      Please tell me. The choice of laptop is from Asus and MSI models.
      Which model would be preferable?
      Main computing power and RAM. For example, for working with data programs.

    17. Hello. looking for gaming laptop V price category up to 70,000:
      In stores they advise
      — Asus VivoBook 15 K570UD
      Lenovo IdeaPad 330 Series 330-15ICH
      Please rate and tell me which other models may be suitable. The company is preferable to Asus, but I won’t turn my nose up at others. I would like to choose the optimal selection of processor (i5 8300H/ i7 8550U/ i7 8750H and higher) and video card (GeForce® GTX 1050/ GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti and higher) + SSD. Screen 17 is preferable.
      Thanks in advance.

      P.S. Is it true that the i5 8300H will discharge faster and overheat the laptop? Should I focus on it or the i7 line within my budget?

    18. Good afternoon. Please recommend a laptop for: development (with IDE - no problem), photoshop, illustrator. It is advisable to have ssd + hdd (but you can also just have a hdd, with the possibility of adding an ssd), 8GB of RAM (more is possible). I'm confused about the options...
      The previous one had a 2nd generation i5, 6 GB of RAM and an integrated + discrete video card. I want no worse, budget 50k.
      Thank you!

    19. Hello, Andrey! I understand that the article is about processors, but I see that you are also helping with choosing a laptop. I will make the same request. I've already broken my head - I've read a lot of information, watched videos... everything is mixed up.)) The laptop is needed for use at home, mainly for my daughter for studying, but sometimes my husband and I will use it - for him to make presentations, for me - for working with photos, watching movies . My daughter has vision problems - we are only considering a 17-inch screen with good resolution. We are not gamers - we do not plan to play tanks. Maybe if only for light games, and even then for children. Budget up to $1500. Well +\- $200. We are considering the companies Asus, Aser and Dell. We give preference to the latter. We don’t consider HP, there are no arguments, I just don’t intuitively want to. I would also like a metal laptop. The weight doesn't bother me - we'll only use it at home. Please recommend several models that you think are suitable for our family. Thank you so much in advance!

    20. Hello.
      I'm looking for a laptop for work. I do accounting and look at the screen a lot. Budget about $850. I wanted to choose a laptop with good screen 15.6 inches and the ability to sometimes play games (at medium and low settings, but modern games). Of all the models for this money I liked Acer laptop Aspire 7 A715-72G-513X NH.GXBEU.010 Black and Lenovo laptop IdeaPad 330—5ICH 81FK00FMRA Onyx Black (https://ktc.ua/goods/noutbuk_lenovo_ideapad_330_15ich_81fk00fmra_onyx_black.html, https://ktc.ua/goods/noutbuk_acer_aspire_7_a715_72g_513x_nh_gxbeu_0 10_black.html). The filling seems to be the same. I can't decide. Help me make a choice. Maybe I missed something? Maybe there is a more interesting model? I'll install the OS myself. Can an SSD be delivered to any laptop or does it require a special connector?

    21. Hello! Could you please advise reliable laptop in the area up to 40,000. Needed for watching movies, listening to music, Internet. I don’t play games. I previously looked at the HP 15-bw065ur 2BT82EA laptop, but it’s very confusing that there’s not much information about this company good reviews. (cooling problem). Now I’m looking at the ASUS R542UF-DM536T laptop. But what’s confusing about it now is that it has a 2.2 GHz Core i3-8130U processor. As I understand it, if the letter is U, then you shouldn’t take it. In general, I'm confused about the characteristics and don't know which one to choose. Please advise.

    22. Hello from Kyrgyzstan, and I would like to know if I have a choice between i5 8265U with 8 GB RAM, mx130 video card with 4 GB and i5 7300HQ with 8 GB RAM, GTX video card 1050 Ti. What to choose (the purpose of the purchase is programming and maybe toys to play with in the future), given that the second option is sold used? The price of the first is 43.5k, and the second is sold for 45k soms (at the rate of som and rubles almost 1 to 1). I will be grateful for your answer)

    23. Good day!
      Please advise on budget RAM.
      I bought a laptop with 4GB RAM soldered on board. I checked the availability of a free slot for an additional bracket.
      In terms of volume and frequency, I will buy additional DDR4 2133 8GB.
      A search found the following brands:
      1. Apacer
      2. Goodram
      3. Foxline

      Which manufacturer? is it better to give preference? The price for all is around 3300-3700 rubles. Or maybe there are other manufacturers?
      Thanks in advance!

    24. Hello. Tell me which laptop to choose for working and watching movies. I need something that’s not expensive, so far I’ve looked at two options: ASUS laptop F540BA-GQ193T (AMD A6 2.6GHz/15.6”/1366x768/4GB/500GB HDD/AMD Radeon R4/DVD no/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Win10 Home x64) and Lenovo IdeaPad 330-15AST (81D600FQRU) (AMD A4- 9125 2.3GHz/15.6”/1366x768/4GB/500GB HDD/AMD Radeon 530/DVD no/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Win10 Home x64). And also, what is the difference in two almost identical laptop models, but only different letters: Lenovo IdeaPad 330-15AST (81D6002GRU) and Lenovo IdeaPad 330-15AST Laptop (81D600FQRU). Designation in brackets. Info from the websites of two well-known retail chains. I would really appreciate your answer. Thank you.

    Two fast cores versus four slow ones

    Testing methodology

    IN in this case The processor dependence is already noticeable, and the game is “interested” in physical cores, but it does not disdain additional threads. But at the Core i5 level, we are, in fact, again stuck with the video card.

    The only one that seriously “failed” is the Core i5-6400. The assumption made last time that the L3 frequency is very important for the game seems to have turned out to be correct. Multi-core processors for LGA2011-3, what was “saved” here was the number of computation threads being executed, which the game engine “knows how” to properly utilize, but in the younger model for LGA1151 it is, in fact, the minimum allowable for it.

    An example of a game that still only needs a couple of cores without any Hyper-Threading, so high-frequency Core i3s look in the best possible way. Rare case today :)

    Because that happens. In principle, four high-frequency cores are enough for the application - but among today's test cores, this is the Ryzen 3 1300X. The Ryzen 5 1400 lags behind slightly thanks to SMT. Both Core i5 are already noticeable: four single-threaded cores and low frequency. All Core i3s are even slower. From a practical point of view, however, the performance can be considered sufficient, but... Paired with some processors, a video card based on the GTX 1070 already produces a hundred frames per second, against which 60 fps is quite bad. You can get by with a slower sampling rate. Note that this applies to all subjects.

    In this game the gap from the “best” is no longer so great, but it still exists. Thus, the times when older Core i3 or younger Core i5 were perfect for a gaming computer almost regardless of the video card are in the past. So from this point of view, it’s time to change something in these families :)

    Another case when almost ran into a video card, but exactly what almost. That is, it is already desirable to get a little more from processors. Which, however, is logical and fits into the old empirical formula “price ratio 1:2”. In the sense that a similar video card to the one we use in retail costs an average of 35 thousand rubles, this means that a processor paired with it should cost at least 15 thousand (if not a modern one, then with performance at the level of a modern one for the money). And this, after all, is the level of seniors, not Junior Core i5 or Ryzen 5, not to mention the more budget lines. However, their representatives, generally speaking, provide good level productivity - but often they themselves limit it.

    Total

    It is easy to see that, regardless of the presence or absence of inter-company competition (which is still not complete), it was necessary to “shake up” the Intel processor lines that were established many years ago. Of all the reasons, in principle, one is enough: in their current form there is nowhere to develop them, since it is no longer possible to significantly increase the frequencies, not only for the top Core i7. It is clear that it would be more logical to carry out this process “in one touch”, timed to coincide with the release of the seventh generation Core and maintaining compatibility within the same socket (at least the Pentium and Core i3, which have become almost identical, would not look so strange), however, In practice, everything turned out completely differently.