Generations of intel processors. From Sandy Bridge to Coffee Lake: comparing seven generations of Intel Core i7

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

4th generation Intel Core Haswell processors were primarily developed for ultrabook devices.
They provide 50% longer operating time 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 the Core i7-4770K processor, 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 cache third level.

The CPU clock speed is 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 for serious overclocking.

4th generation Intel Core i7 for desktops:

. Intel Core i7-4770T: unlocked multiplier, 45W TDP, 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.5 GHz base, 3.7 GHz Turbo, 1333/1600 MHz DDR3, 8 MB L3 cache, Intel 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

Labeling, positioning, use cases

This summer, Intel released to the market a new, fourth generation of Intel Core architecture, codenamed Haswell (processor markings begin with the number “4” and look like 4xxx). Intel now sees increasing energy efficiency as the main direction of development for Intel processors. Therefore, the latest generations of Intel Core do not show such a strong increase in performance, but their overall energy consumption is constantly decreasing - due to both the architecture, the technical process, and the effective management of component consumption. The only exception is integrated graphics, whose performance increases noticeably from generation to generation, albeit at the expense of worsening energy consumption.

This strategy predictably brings to the fore those devices in which energy efficiency is important - laptops and ultrabooks, as well as the nascent (because in its previous form it could only be attributed to the undead) class of Windows tablets, the main role in the development of which should be played by new processors with reduced energy consumption.

We remind you that we recently published brief overviews of the Haswell architecture, which are quite applicable to both desktop and mobile solutions:

Additionally, the performance of quad-core Core i7 processors was examined in an article comparing desktop and mobile processors. The performance of the Core i7-4500U was also examined separately. Finally, you can read reviews of Haswell laptops, including performance testing: MSI GX70 on the most powerful Core i7-4930MX processor, HP Envy 17-j005er.

In this material we will talk about the Haswell mobile line as a whole. IN first part We will look at the division of Haswell mobile processors into series and lines, the principles of creating indexes for mobile processors, their positioning and the approximate level of performance of different series within the entire line. In second part- Let’s take a closer look at the specifications of each series and line and their main features, and also move on to conclusions.

For those who are not familiar with the Intel Turbo Boost algorithm, we have provided a brief description of this technology at the end of the article. We recommend using it before reading the rest of the material.

New letter indices

Traditionally, all Intel Core processors are divided into three lines:

• Intel Core i3
• Intel Core i5
• Intel Core i7

Intel's official position (which company representatives usually voice when answering the question of why there are both dual-core and quad-core models among the Core i7) is that the processor is assigned to one or another line based on its overall performance level. However, in most cases there are architectural differences between processors of different lines.

But already in Sandy Bridge, and in Ivy Bridge, another division of processors became full - into mobile and ultra-mobile solutions, depending on the level of energy efficiency. Moreover, today this classification is the basic one: both the mobile and ultramobile lines have their own Core i3/i5/i7 with very different levels of performance. At Haswell, on the one hand, the division deepened, and on the other, they tried to make the line more slender, less misleading by duplicating indices. In addition, another class has finally taken shape - ultra-ultramobile processors with the index Y. Ultramobile and mobile solutions are still marked with the letters U and M.

So, in order not to get confused, let’s first look at what letter indices are used in the modern line of fourth-generation Intel Core mobile processors:

• M - mobile processor (TDP 37-57 W);
• U - ultramobile processor (TDP 15-28 W);
• Y - processor with extremely low consumption (TDP 11.5 W);
• Q - quad-core processor;
• X - extreme processor (top solution);
• H - processor for BGA1364 packaging.

Since we mentioned TDP (thermal package), let’s look at it in a little more detail. It should be taken into account that the TDP in modern Intel processors is not “maximum”, but “nominal”, that is, it is calculated based on the load in real tasks when operating at the standard frequency, and when Turbo Boost is turned on and the frequency increases, the heat dissipation goes beyond the declared nominal heat package - There is a separate TDP for this. The TDP when operating at the minimum frequency is also determined. Thus, there are as many as three TDPs. In this article, the tables use the nominal TDP value.

• The standard nominal TDP for mobile quad-core Core i7 processors is 47 W, for dual-core processors - 37 W;
• The letter X in the name raises the thermal package from 47 to 57 W (there is currently only one such processor on the market - 4930MX);
• Standard TDP for U-series ultramobile processors is 15 W;
• Standard TDP for Y-series processors is 11.5 W;

Digital indexes

The indices of the fourth generation Intel Core processors with Haswell architecture begin with the number 4, which precisely indicates that they belong to this generation (for Ivy Bridge the indices began with 3, for Sandy Bridge - with 2). The second digit indicates the processor line: 0 and 1 - i3, 2 and 3 - i5, 5–9 - i7.

Now let's look at the last numbers in the processor names.

The number 8 at the end means that this processor model has an increased TDP (from 15 to 28 W) and a significantly higher nominal frequency. Another distinctive feature of these processors is the Iris 5100 graphics. They are aimed at professional mobile systems that require stable high performance in any conditions for constant work with resource-intensive tasks. They also have overclocking using Turbo Boost, but due to the greatly increased nominal frequency, the difference between the nominal and maximum is not too great.

The number 2 at the end of the name indicates that the TDP of the processor from the i7 line has been reduced from 47 to 37 W. But you have to pay for lower TDP with lower frequencies - minus 200 MHz to the base and boost frequencies.

If the second from the end digit in the name is 5, then the processor has a GT3 graphics core - HD 5xxx. Thus, if the last two digits in the processor name are 50, then the graphics core GT3 HD 5000 is installed in it, if 58 is installed, then Iris 5100, and if 50H, then Iris Pro 5200, because only processors with BGA1364.

For example, let's look at a processor with the 4950HQ index. The processor name contains H - which means BGA1364 packaging; contains 5 - which means the graphics core is GT3 HD 5xxx; a combination of 50 and H gives Iris Pro 5200; Q - quad core. And since quad-core processors are only available in the Core i7 line, this is the mobile Core i7 series. This is confirmed by the second digit of the name - 9. We get: 4950HQ is a mobile quad-core eight-thread processor of the Core i7 line with a TDP of 47 W with GT3e Iris Pro 5200 graphics in BGA design.

Now that we have sorted out the names, we can talk about dividing processors into lines and series, or, more simply, about market segments.

4th generation Intel Core series and lines

So, all modern Intel mobile processors are divided into three large groups depending on power consumption: mobile (M), ultramobile (U) and “ultramobile” (Y), as well as three lines (Core i3, i5, i7) depending on productivity. As a result, we can create a matrix that will allow the user to select the processor that best suits his tasks. Let's try to summarize all the data into a single table.

For example: a buyer needs a laptop with high processor performance and a moderate cost. Since it’s a laptop, and a powerful one at that, an M-series processor is needed, and the requirement for moderate cost forces us to choose the Core i5 line. We emphasize once again that first of all you should pay attention not to the line (Core i3, i5, i7), but to the series, because each series may have its own Core i5, but the performance level of Core i5 from two different series will be significantly differ. For example, the Y-series is very economical, but has low frequencies, and the Y-series Core i5 processor will be less powerful than the U-series Core i3 processor. And the Core i5 mobile processor may well be more productive than the ultramobile Core i7.

Approximate performance level depending on the line

Let's try to go a step further and create a theoretical rating that would clearly demonstrate the difference between processors of different lines. For 100 points, we will take the weakest processor presented - the dual-core, four-threaded i3-4010Y with a clock frequency of 1300 MHz and a 3 MB L3 cache. For comparison, we take the highest-frequency processor (at the time of writing) from each line. We decided to calculate the main rating by overclocking frequency (for those processors that have Turbo Boost), in brackets - the rating for the nominal frequency. Thus, a dual-core, four-thread processor with a maximum frequency of 2600 MHz will receive 200 conditional points. Increasing the third level cache from 3 to 4 MB will bring it a 2-5% (data obtained based on real tests and research) increase in conditional points, and increasing the number of cores from 2 to 4 will accordingly double the number of points, which is also achievable in reality with good multi-threaded optimization.

Once again, we strongly emphasize that the rating is theoretical and is based largely on the technical parameters of the processors. In reality, a large number of factors come together, so the performance gain relative to the weakest model in the line will almost certainly not be as large as in theory. Thus, you should not directly transfer the resulting relationship to real life - final conclusions can only be drawn based on the results of testing in real applications. However, this assessment allows us to roughly estimate the processor’s place in the lineup and its positioning.

So, some preliminary notes:

• Core i7 U-series processors will be about 10% faster than Core i5 thanks to slightly higher clock speeds and more L3 cache.
• The difference between Core i5 and Core i3 U-series processors with a TDP of 28 W without taking into account Turbo Boost is about 30%, i.e., ideally, performance will also differ by 30%. If we take into account the capabilities of Turbo Boost, the difference in frequencies will be about 55%. If we compare Core i5 and Core i3 U-series processors with a TDP of 15 W, then with stable operation at maximum frequency, Core i5 will have a frequency 60% higher. However, its nominal frequency is slightly lower, i.e. when operating at the nominal frequency, it may even be slightly inferior to the Core i3.
• In the M-series, the presence of 4 cores and 8 threads in the Core i7 plays a big role, but we must remember that this advantage only manifests itself in optimized software (usually professional). Core i7 processors with two cores will have slightly higher performance due to higher overclocking frequencies and a slightly larger L3 cache.
• In the Y series, the Core i5 processor has a base frequency of 7.7% and a boost frequency of 50% higher than the Core i3. But even in this case, there are additional considerations - the same energy efficiency, noise level of the cooling system, etc.
• If we compare processors of the U and Y series with each other, then only the frequency gap between the U- and Y-processors Core i3 is 54%, and for Core i5 processors it is 63% at the maximum overclocking frequency.

So, let's calculate the score for each line. Let us remind you that the main score is calculated based on maximum overclocking frequencies, the score in brackets is calculated based on nominal frequencies (i.e., without overclocking using Turbo Boost). We also calculated the performance factor per watt.

¹ max. - at maximum acceleration, nom. - at rated frequency
² coefficient - conditional performance divided by TDP and multiplied by 100
³ overclocking TDP data for these processors is unknown

From the table above, the following observations can be made:

• The dual-core Core i7 U and M series processors are only slightly faster than the Core i5 processors of similar series. This applies to comparisons for both base and boost frequencies.
• Core i5 processors of the U and M series, even at base frequency, should be noticeably faster than Core i3 of similar series, and in Boost mode they will go far ahead.
• In the Y series, the difference between the processors at minimum frequencies is small, but with Turbo Boost overclocking, the Core i5 and Core i7 should go far ahead. Another thing is that the magnitude and, most importantly, stability of overclocking is very dependent on the cooling efficiency. And with this, given the orientation of these processors towards tablets (especially fanless ones), there may be problems.
• The Core i7 U series is almost equal in performance to the Core i5 M series. There are other factors involved (it is more difficult to achieve stability due to less efficient cooling, and it costs more), but overall this is a good result.

As for the relationship between energy consumption and performance rating, we can draw the following conclusions:

• Despite the increase in TDP when the processor switches to Boost mode, energy efficiency increases. This is because the relative increase in frequency is greater than the relative increase in TDP;
• Processors of different series (M, U, Y) are ranked not only by decreasing TDP, but also by increasing energy efficiency - for example, Y-series processors show greater energy efficiency than U-series processors;
• It is worth noting that with an increase in the number of cores, and therefore threads, energy efficiency also increases. This can be explained by the fact that only the processor cores themselves are doubled, but not the accompanying DMI, PCI Express and ICP controllers.

An interesting conclusion can be drawn from the latter: if the application is well parallelized, then a quad-core processor will be more energy efficient than a dual-core processor: it will finish calculations faster and return to idle mode. As a result, multi-core may be the next step in the fight to improve energy efficiency. In principle, this trend can be noted in the ARM camp.

So, although the rating is purely theoretical, and it is not a fact that it accurately reflects the real balance of power, it even allows us to draw certain conclusions regarding the distribution of processors in the line, their energy efficiency and the relationship between these parameters.

Haswell vs Ivy Bridge

Although Haswell processors have been on the market for quite some time, the presence of Ivy Bridge processors in ready-made solutions even now remains quite high. From the consumer’s point of view, there were no special revolutions during the transition to Haswell (although the increase in energy efficiency for some segments looks impressive), which raises questions: is it necessary to choose the fourth generation or can you get by with the third?

It is difficult to directly compare fourth-generation Core processors with the third, because the manufacturer has changed the TDP limits:

• the M series of the third generation Core has a TDP of 35 W, and the fourth - 37 W;
• the U series of the third generation Core has a TDP of 17 W, and the fourth - 15 W;
• the Y series of the third generation Core has a TDP of 13 W, and the fourth - 11.5 W.

And if for ultramobile lines TDP has decreased, then for the more productive M series it has even increased. However, let's try to make a rough comparison:

• The top-end quad-core Core i7 processor of the third generation had frequencies of 3 (3.9) GHz, the fourth generation had the same 3 (3.9) GHz, that is, the difference in performance can only be due to architectural improvements - no more than 10%. Although, it is worth noting that with intensive use of FMA3, the fourth generation will be 30-70% ahead of the third.
• The top dual-core Core i7 processors of the third generation M-series and U-series had frequencies of 2.9 (3.6) GHz and 2 (3.2) GHz, respectively, and the fourth - 2.9 (3.6) GHz and 2. 1(3.3) GHz. As you can see, if the frequencies have increased, then only slightly, so the level of performance can increase only minimally, due to optimization of the architecture. Again, if the software knows about FMA3 and knows how to actively use this extension, then the fourth generation will receive a solid advantage.
• The top dual-core Core i5 processors of the third generation M-series and U-series had frequencies of 2.8 (3.5) GHz and 1.8 (2.8) GHz, respectively, and the fourth - 2.8 (3.5) GHz and 1.9(2.9) GHz. The situation is similar to the previous one.
• The top-end dual-core Core i3 processors of the third generation M-series and U-series had frequencies of 2.5 GHz and 1.8 GHz, respectively, and the fourth - 2.6 GHz and 2 GHz. The situation is repeating itself again.
• The top dual-core processors Core i3, i5 and i7 of the third generation Y-series had frequencies of 1.4 GHz, 1.5 (2.3) GHz and 1.5 (2.6) GHz, respectively, and the fourth - 1.3 GHz, 1.4(1.9) GHz and 1.7(2.9) GHz.

In general, clock speeds in the new generation have practically not increased, so a slight gain in performance is achieved only by optimizing the architecture. The fourth generation of Core will gain a noticeable advantage when using software optimized for FMA3. Well, don’t forget about the faster graphics core - optimization there can bring a significant increase.

As for the relative difference in performance within the lines, the third and fourth generations of Intel Core are close in terms of this indicator.

Thus, we can conclude that in the new generation Intel decided to reduce TDP instead of increasing operating frequencies. As a result, the increase in operating speed is lower than it could have been, but it was possible to achieve increased energy efficiency.

Suitable tasks for different fourth generation Intel Core processors

Now that we have figured out performance, we can roughly estimate what tasks this or that fourth-generation Core line is best suited for. Let's summarize the data in a table.

This table also clearly shows that first of all you should pay attention to the processor series (M, U, Y), and only then to the line (Core i3, i5, i7), since the line determines the ratio of processor performance only within the series, and Performance varies noticeably between series. This is clearly seen in the comparison of the i3 U-series and i5 Y-series: the first in this case will be more productive than the second.

So, what conclusions can be drawn from this table? Core i3 processors of any series, as we have already noted, are interesting primarily for their price. Therefore, it’s worth paying attention to them if you are short on funds and are willing to accept a loss in both performance and energy efficiency.

The mobile Core i7 stands apart due to its architectural differences: four cores, eight threads and noticeably more L3 cache. As a result, it is able to work with professional resource-intensive applications and show an extremely high level of performance for a mobile system. But for this, the software must be optimized for the use of a large number of cores - it will not reveal its advantages in single-threaded software. And secondly, these processors require a bulky cooling system, i.e. they are installed only in large laptops with great thickness, and they do not have much autonomy.

Core i5 mobile series provide a good level of performance, sufficient to perform not only home-office, but also some semi-professional tasks. For example, for processing photos and videos. In all respects (power consumption, heat generation, autonomy), these processors occupy an intermediate position between the Core i7 M-series and the ultramobile line. Overall, this is a balanced solution suitable for those who value performance over a thin and light body.

Dual-core mobile Core i7s are about the same as the Core i5 M-series, only slightly more powerful and, as a rule, noticeably more expensive.

Ultramobile Core i7s have approximately the same level of performance as mobile Core i5s, but with caveats: if the cooling system can withstand prolonged operation at high frequencies. And they get quite hot under load, which often leads to strong heating of the entire laptop body. Apparently, they are quite expensive, so their installation is justified only for top models. But they can be installed in thin laptops and ultrabooks, providing a high level of performance in a thin body and good battery life. This makes them an excellent choice for frequently traveling professional users who value energy efficiency and light weight, but often require high performance.

Ultramobile Core i5s show lower performance compared to the “big brother” of the series, but cope with any office workload, have good energy efficiency and are much more affordable in price. In general, this is a universal solution for users who do not work in resource-intensive applications, but are limited to office programs and the Internet, and at the same time would like to have a laptop/ultrabook suitable for travel, i.e. lightweight, lightweight and long-lasting batteries

Finally, the Y-series also stands apart. In terms of performance, its Core i7, with luck, will reach the ultra-mobile Core i5, but, by and large, no one expects this from it. For the Y series, the main thing is high energy efficiency and low heat generation, which allows the creation of fanless systems. As for performance, the minimum acceptable level that does not cause irritation is sufficient.

Briefly about Turbo Boost

In case some of our readers have forgotten how Turbo Boost overclocking technology works, we offer you a brief description of its operation.

Roughly speaking, the Turbo Boost system can dynamically increase the processor frequency above the set one due to the fact that it constantly monitors whether the processor goes beyond its normal operating modes.

The processor can only operate in a certain temperature range, i.e. its performance depends on heat, and heat depends on the ability of the cooling system to effectively remove heat from it. But since it is not known in advance which cooling system the processor will work with in the user’s system, two parameters are indicated for each processor model: operating frequency and the amount of heat that must be removed from the processor at maximum load at this frequency. Since these parameters depend on the efficiency and proper operation of the cooling system, as well as external conditions (primarily ambient temperature), the manufacturer had to lower the frequency of the processor so that it would not lose stability even under the most unfavorable operating conditions. Turbo Boost technology monitors the internal parameters of the processor and allows it, if external conditions are favorable, to operate at a higher frequency.

Intel originally explained that Turbo Boost technology uses the "temperature inertia effect." Most of the time, in modern systems, the processor is idle, but from time to time, for a short period, it is required to perform at its maximum. If at this moment you greatly increase the frequency of the processor, it will cope with the task faster and return to the idle state sooner. At the same time, the processor temperature does not increase immediately, but gradually, so during short-term operation at a very high frequency, the processor will not have time to heat up enough to go beyond safe limits.

In reality, it quickly became clear that with a good cooling system, the processor is capable of operating under load even at an increased frequency indefinitely. Thus, for a long time, the maximum overclocking frequency was absolutely operational, and the processor returned to the nominal only in extreme cases or if the manufacturer made a poor-quality cooling system for a particular laptop.

In order to prevent overheating and failure of the processor, the Turbo Boost system in its modern implementation constantly monitors the following parameters of its operation:

• chip temperature;
• current consumption;
• power consumption;
• number of loaded components.

Modern Ivy Bridge systems are capable of operating at higher frequencies in almost all modes, except for simultaneous heavy load on the central processor and graphics. As for Intel Haswell, we do not yet have sufficient statistics on the behavior of this platform under overclocking.

Note author: It is worth noting that the temperature of the chip indirectly affects power consumption - this influence becomes clear upon closer examination of the physical structure of the crystal itself, since the electrical resistance of semiconductor materials increases with increasing temperature, and this in turn leads to an increase in electricity consumption. Thus, a processor at a temperature of 90 degrees will consume more electricity than at a temperature of 40 degrees. And since the processor “heats up” both the PCB of the motherboard with the tracks, and the surrounding components, their loss of electricity to overcome higher resistance also affects energy consumption. This conclusion is easily confirmed by overclocking both “in the air” and extreme. All overclockers know that a more productive cooler allows you to get additional megahertz, and the effect of superconductivity of conductors at temperatures close to absolute zero, when electrical resistance tends to zero, is familiar to everyone from school physics. That is why when overclocked with liquid nitrogen cooling it is possible to achieve such high frequencies. Returning to the dependence of electrical resistance on temperature, we can also say that to some extent the processor also heats itself: as the temperature rises and the cooling system cannot cope, the electrical resistance also increases, which in turn increases power consumption. And this leads to an increase in heat generation, which leads to an increase in temperature... In addition, do not forget that high temperatures shorten the life of the processor. Although manufacturers claim fairly high maximum temperatures for chips, it is still worth keeping the temperature as low as possible.

By the way, it is quite likely that “spinning” the fan at higher speeds, when it increases the system’s power consumption, is more profitable in terms of power consumption than having a processor with a high temperature, which will entail losses of electricity due to increased resistance.

As you can see, temperature may not be a direct limiting factor for Turbo Boost, that is, the processor will have a completely acceptable temperature and will not throttle, but it indirectly affects another limiting factor - power consumption. Therefore, you should not forget about temperature.

To summarize, Turbo Boost technology allows, under favorable external operating conditions, to increase the processor frequency above the guaranteed nominal and thereby provide a much higher level of performance. This property is especially valuable in mobile systems, where it allows for a good balance between performance and heat.

But it should be remembered that the other side of the coin is the inability to evaluate (predict) the pure performance of the processor, since it will depend on external factors. This is probably one of the reasons for the appearance of processors with “8” at the end of the model name - with “raised” nominal operating frequencies and an increased TDP because of this. They are intended for those products where consistent high performance under load is more important than energy efficiency.

The second part of the article provides a detailed description of all modern series and lines of Intel Haswell processors, including technical characteristics of all available processors. And also conclusions were drawn about the applicability of certain models.

We reviewed the “top” worst gaming video cards. Now, after the release of Coffee Lake, we can make a list of the worst processors, since nothing particularly important is observed on the CPU market until the end of the year. Of course, I will only consider the relevance of buying such processors now: if you already own one of the “stones” below, then you clearly had your reasons for buying it.

Intel Core i7-7740X and Core-i5 7640X (Kaby Lake-X) - welcome to 2010

It's mid-2017. AMD introduces the first honest eight-core desktop processor - Ryzen 7. Intel introduces new processors for its high-performance platform, now called Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X. This may include solutions with 16 or even 18 cores, and the simplest representatives have... wait, 4 cores?! Hmm, how do they then differ from the simple i5-7600K and i7-7700K? The frequencies are the same, the number of memory channels and PCIe lanes is the same, as are the instruction sets. Except that the X-line does not have a built-in video core, but this is more a minus than a plus. Taking into account the fact that these processors are more expensive than their non-X counterparts, and motherboards based on the X299 chipset are expensive, there is absolutely no point in buying these “stones”, and it is difficult to explain the point of their release - well, unless Intel has a lot of unnecessary 4-core ones lying around crystals.

AMD FX - goodbye gaming bulldozer


The FX line, which was the top line before the release of Ryzen for almost seven years, can now safely retire. To tell the truth, even at the time of its release it was not top-end: and although the programs showed that the FX-8000 line had as many as 8 cores, in reality they were 4 APUs, and according to tests, the top FX was at the level of the best i5s, while the i7s were are not achievable - that is why Intel did not “itch” then, continuing to release new processors with a 5% increase in performance per generation. Before the release of 4-thread Pentiums at the beginning of this year, it made sense to buy the FX-4000 line - they were extremely cheap, but at the same time they made it possible to create a basic gaming system with video cards of the GTX 750 Ti and even GTX 950 level. But, alas, the new Pentiums turned out to be so good for leaving junior FX without work. Well, AMD “finished off” the older representatives, FX-8000, themselves by releasing the younger Ryzen 3 at the same price and with higher performance and lower heat generation. So the FX line, which was once a good choice for building mid-budget gaming builds, is now finally time to retire.

But still, these processors can be taken in one case - for the sake of an upgrade: for example, if you have an FX-4000 line, then now is the time to upgrade to the FX-8000 - you will get double the performance for quite little money. Considering that the 8000 line pulls out video cards of the level of GTX 1060 or RX 580, you will be able to play comfortably for another couple of years.

Most of the representatives of the Skylake and Kaby Lake lines - Intel is strangling the “old stuff”

Rumors that Intel should release desktop processors with a large number of cores have been floating around for a long time, and now it has happened, and since October 5th the Internet has been flooded with their tests. And, alas, they clearly show that the previous lines no longer have a place in the Sun: why buy an 8-thread processor for 19 thousand rubles, if the youngest 12-thread one costs only 20.5 thousand, and even when overclocked, the previous generation is at least 20% worse? It’s the same with the i5, and even more so with the i3 of the 6th and 7th generations - the latter were already meaningless processors on the market after the appearance of the new Pentiums, but now, after the release of the 4-core i3 of the 8th generation, i3 Skylake and Kaby Lake can definitely be written off as scrap.

By the way, now the line of processors from Intel looks quite logical: the very, very low-level are 2-core Celerons: they are quite enough for comfortable browsing the Internet and watching movies, and even simple games like Dota, WoT and CS:GO. The next step is Pentium, which still has the same 2 cores, but already 4 threads, and slightly higher frequencies - on their basis you can already assemble a low-middle level gaming system. Core i3, which is now 4-core, goes one step higher, allowing you to create a middle-level assembly. Well, for the top, there are 6-core i5 and i7 - for those who want to get the best gaming solution on the market.

But, however, there is one reason why “old” processors are worth taking, and it is still the same - an upgrade. For example, a couple of years ago you got yourself a junior i5-6400. And now there is a good opportunity to upgrade it to the i7-7700K and get a twofold increase in performance, and not too expensive (especially if you sell the i5).

Haswell-E and Broadwell-E line - oldies at top prices


Let's see how much the 8-core processor of the new Skylake-X line costs - Intel Core i7-7820X. In Moscow retail, the price tag for it is about 40 thousand rubles. Expensive, you say? Well, here for this price we get 8 cores on a new architecture with a frequency of 4 GHz - quite good for a high-performance PC. Still expensive? Hmm, okay, let's look at the previous generation processors - they should be cheaper, right? So, the analogue from Broadwell-E is the i7-6900X: also 8 cores, but on the previous architecture, and the frequency is about 3.5 GHz. And the price... 70 thousand rubles?! Where? Why? Let's look for the advantages of the old processor. And yet, yes, we find one - it’s solder under the lid, which allows it to be overclocked better than the Skylake-X representatives with “mayonnaise” instead of solder. But even if you are very lucky and overclock the i7-6900X so that it is at the level of the i7-7820X, this will not eliminate the almost twofold difference in price.

As a result, Intel killed two old lines at once this year - Broadwell-E and Kaby Lake, and the latter is not even a year old. That's what it is, a monopoly...

AMD Ryzen with X - the company is stepping on the same rake

Those who remember AMD FX processors know that there was no point in overpaying for the older processors in the line - all processors could be overclocked, so the younger “stone” turned into the older one with one easy wave of the hand. And for some reason AMD continued this in Ryzen, and here it reaches the point of absurdity: for example, the junior Ryzen 7 1700 costs about 20 thousand rubles. The older 7 1800X already costs 30 thousand - one and a half times more expensive. And their overclocking potential is the same - about 4 GHz. Is it worth paying extra for the 1800X? I think the answer is obvious. And so in all Ryzen lines - 3, 5 and 7 - it makes sense to take a junior processor, without the X index, and overclock it to the level of the older one.

AMD Bristol Ridge - for those who don't have money for Ryzen


AMD, with the same tenacity, continues to develop its APUs - two-in-one systems, where an average CPU includes full-fledged graphics from AMD, only with a lower number of computing units and frequency than in full-fledged video cards. In principle, it’s a pretty good solution for those who need a simple home PC - the processor performance is enough to make the OS, browser and movies work quickly, and the GPU will even allow you to play new games, albeit in HD resolution and with low graphics settings. Well, and most importantly, the new APUs are compatible with AM4, that is, in the future, no one is stopping you from replacing such a processor with some kind of Ryzen 7, which is good for those who are building a PC in stages.

But, on the other hand, yes, this is a budget solution, but why is it based on the Excavator architecture, which is 7 years old at lunchtime, and even at 28 nm?! Was it really so difficult to make these “stones” on Zen, which would also allow the heat dissipation to be reduced from 65 to 30 W, acceptable for such a system? In general, APUs are strange - on the one hand they are new, on the other they are ancient. But, in principle, they can find their buyers.

But we started talking about desktops, it’s time to move on to mobile processors, because they are also full of strange “features”.

Intel Celeron N3050 and N3350 - worse than Atom for the same money

For some reason, branded laptop manufacturers have one trick - we install Celeron and Pentium in netbooks/laptops, and Atom in tablets. It would seem that everything is correct, Celeron should be better than Atom, but no - Intel thinks differently: the architecture of these processors is similar, but Atom has 4 computing cores, while Celeron has only 2. Taking into account the fact that we are considering the lowest -level (10-15 thousand rubles), a couple of cores will not be superfluous here, and while laptops on Celeron may well start to freeze with 3-4 tabs in Chrome, Atom is quite capable of simultaneous surfing and watching a PiP movie. And taking into account the fact that for $150 you can simply remain silent about the quality of branded netbooks, it makes sense to take a solution from any Digma or iRu, but with Atom, and get seriously better performance for the same money.

Intel Core i3-6006U and Pentium 4405U - i3 is worse than Pentium


After Atom, which is better than Celeron, it would seem much worse. However, they knocked on the bottom - the i3-6006U, quite widespread in the 18-25 thousand rubles segment... worse than its brother in the same segment, but from the Pentium camp! Let's take a closer look at these processors: both have 2 cores and 4 threads, the same set of instructions, however, the Pentium has a 100 MHz higher frequency, but at the same time the integrated graphics are twice as bad: HD 510 versus HD 520 for i3. It would seem that 100 MHz frequency (+5%) will definitely not outweigh twice the worst graphics, but there are two nuances here:

1. If the laptop has discrete graphics (and often it does - this is the Nvidia GT 920M), then it makes no difference at all to the integrated graphics - it’s the “discrete” graphics that will work in games, so here a slightly higher-frequency Pentium is better.
2. If a person has chosen a laptop without discrete graphics, it means that he does not need games, and both integrated video cards cope equally well with GUI rendering and playback, including 1080p60, which means, again, there is no point in taking an i3.

Mobile processors from AMD - Intel still won the war

The fact that AMD did not really update its mobile processors for a couple of years, and Intel even increased the number of cores to 4 in low-voltage solutions, led to the fact that it simply does not make sense to buy laptops with AMD processors - analogues on Intel processors will be more productive, and more autonomous. Yes, the “reds” do not want to lose the mobile market, and are actively making mobile Ryzen, but so far the only thing that is on the Internet is a couple of tests, where AMD processors again do not perform in the best light. Of course, when they come out, everything may change, but for now Intel reigns in the mobile segment. You can read more about this.

What's the result? But in the end, the same confusion and vacillation as with video cards - there are excellent solutions, there are good ones, and there are those that, when you see them, you think - what was the manufacturer guided by when releasing this?! But what’s good is that the processor market has been seriously moving lately, and mainly thanks to AMD: Intel rolled out 6-core desktop processors in response to 8-core Ryzen processors, and in the mobile segment the number of cores in the same lines has also increased. So those who wanted to upgrade or build a new PC - IMHO, it's time to get started.

· 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. A technology that allows you to increase the maximum processor frequency under high loads. The i3 versions do not have automatic frequency change, while the i5 and i7 have this technology.
• Cache. A small (usually 1 to 4 MB) amount of high-speed memory that is part of the 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 conditions for its operation. 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. At the moment, the newest is the 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.

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, which have different TDP values ​​(from 4.5 W in the Y version to 45 W for the HQ), and, accordingly, different performance and power 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 installing a serious battery, which negates all the advantages of low power consumption.

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

"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. A TDP of 15 W allows you to achieve both the ability to cope with almost any task and get good battery life.

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.

It is not possible to get by with passive cooling, but this is compensated by 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.

"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.

Xeon E – for high-performance workstations

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

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

Examples of processors in the table.

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

You should forget about games (except for very simple), difficult tasks. The destiny of laptops with such processors is leisurely office work and 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” (for example, 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. There is usually no gain in battery life when using the Celeron Nxxxx, since budget laptop models also save on batteries.

Pentium processors are more productive than Celeron, but still belong to the 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.

"Atom" - long battery life and dismal performance

Examples of processors in the table.

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”. Thus, the i7-7600U processor has an Intel HD Graphics 620 video card on board, and the i7-7660U has an 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 supplies ready-made graphics solutions, 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.

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 their 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 reach its potential if a small amount of memory is installed, a budget hard drive is used, and programs that are “hungry” 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 is 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.....
   I found three interesting options with an i7 8750H with a GTX 1070...and one with an i7 7700HQ with a 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 many operational units are 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, in 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. And licensed Windows costs 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)) can I buy it cheaper without an ssd, but do I have to remove the entire back cover to add an ssd? which is fraught with loss of warranty, and modifications with higher capacity come with more expensive components. There is a separate window for a regular hard drive, maybe you can put a hybrid hhd+ssd version 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. Games are not relevant, but the ability to run them (in 4K, or FullHD) would be a 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?
    The main thing is computing power and RAM. For example, for working with data programs.

17. Hello. I'm looking for a gaming laptop in the 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 looking at 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 are not considering HP, there are no arguments, we 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 a good 15.6-inch screen and the ability to sometimes play games (at medium and low settings, but modern games). Of all the models for this money, I liked the Acer Aspire 7 A715-72G-513X NH.GXBEU.010 Black Laptop and the Lenovo IdeaPad 330-5ICH 81FK00FMRA Onyx Black Laptop (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_010_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 recommend a reliable laptop in the region under 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 aren’t very good reviews about this company. (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 an i5 8265U with 8 GB RAM, a 4 GB mx130 video card and an i5 7300HQ with 8 GB RAM, a GTX 1050 Ti video card. 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 an inexpensive one, so far I have looked at two options: Laptop ASUS F540BA-GQ193T (AMD A6 2.6GHz/15.6”/1366x768/4GB/500GB HDD/AMD Radeon R4/DVD no/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Win10 Home x64) and Laptop 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.

This article will take a detailed look at the latest generations of Intel processors based on the Core architecture. This company occupies a leading position in the computer systems market. Most modern computers are assembled on chips from this company.

Intel: development strategy

Previous generations of processors from Intel were subject to a two-year cycle. This strategy for releasing new processors from this company is called “Tick-Tock”. The first stage, called "tick", is to transfer the processor to a new technological process. For example, the Ivy Bridge (2nd generation) and Sandy Bridge (3rd generation) generations were identical in terms of architecture. However, the production technology of the former was based on a standard of 22 nm, and the latter - 32 nm. The same can be said about Broad Well (5th generation) and Has Well (4th generation). The “so” stage, in turn, involves a radical change in the architecture of semiconductor crystals and a significant increase in performance. The following transitions can be cited as an example:

- 1st generation West merre and 2nd generation Sandy Bridge. In this case, the technological process was identical (32 nm), but the architecture has undergone significant changes. The north bridge of the motherboard and the built-in graphics amplifier were moved to the central processor;

— 4th generation “Has Well” and 3rd generation “Ivy Bridge”. The level of power consumption of the computer system was optimized, and the clock speeds of the chips were increased.

— 6th generation “Sky Like” and 5th generation “Broad Well”: clock speeds were also increased and energy consumption levels were improved. Several new instructions have been added to improve performance.

Processors based on the Core architecture: segmentation

CPUs from Intel are positioned in the market as follows:

— Celeron is the most affordable solution. Suitable for use in office computers designed to solve the most simple tasks.

- Pentium - almost completely identical to Celeron processors in architectural terms. However, higher frequencies and larger L3 cache give these processor solutions a certain advantage in terms of performance. This CPU belongs to the entry-level gaming PC segment.

- Corei3 - occupy the middle segment of CPUs from Intel. The two previous types of processors typically have two computing units. The same can be said about Corei3. However, for the first two families of chips there is no support for HyperTrading technology. Corei3 processors have it. Thus, at the software level, two physical modules can be converted into four program processing threads. This allows for a significant increase in performance levels. Based on such products, you can build your own mid-level gaming personal computer, entry-level server, or even a graphics station.

— Corei5 – occupy a niche of solutions above the average level, but below the premium segment. These semiconductor crystals boast the presence of four physical cores at once. This architectural feature gives them a performance advantage. The more recent generation of Corei5 processors has high clock speeds, which allows for constant performance gains.

— Corei7 – occupy a niche in the premium segment. The number of computational units in them is the same as in Corei5. However, they, just like Corei3, have support for the Hypertrading technology. For this reason, four cores are converted into eight processed threads at the software level. It is this feature that allows us to provide a phenomenal level of performance that any personal computer built on Intel Corei7 can boast of. These chips have an appropriate price.

Processor sockets

Generations of Intel Core processors can be installed in different types of sockets. For this reason, it will not be possible to install the first chips based on this architecture on a 6th generation CPU motherboard. And the chip code-named “SkyLike” cannot be installed on the motherboard for the second and first generation processors. The first processor socket is called Socket H or LGA 1156. The number 1156 here indicates the number of pins. This connector was released in 2009 for the first central processors manufactured using 45 nm and 32 nm process standards. Today, this socket is considered morally and physically obsolete. LGA 1156 was replaced in 2010 by LGA 1155 or Socket H1. Motherboards in this series support second and third generation Core chips. Their code names are "Sandy Bridge" and "Ivy Bridge" respectively. 2013 was marked by the release of the third socket for chips, created based on the Core architecture - LGA 1150 or Socket H2. This processor socket could accommodate fourth and fifth generation processors. In 2015, the LGA 1150 socket was replaced by the current LGA 1151 socket.

First generation chips

The most affordable processors were Celeron G1101 chips (operating at a frequency of 2.27 GHz), Pentium G6950 (2.8 GHz), Pentium G6990 (2.9 GHz). All of these solutions had two cores. The segment of mid-level solutions was occupied by Corei 3 processors with the designation 5XX (two cores/four threads for information processing). One step higher were processors designated 6XX. They had identical parameters to Corei3, but the frequency was higher. At the same stage was the 7XX processor with four real cores. The most productive computer systems were assembled based on the Corei7 processor. These models were designated as 8XX. In this case, the fastest chip was marked 875 K. Such a processor could be overclocked using an unlocked multiplier. However, his price was appropriate. For these processors, you can get a significant increase in performance. The presence of the prefix K in the designation of the central processing unit means that the processor multiplier is unlocked and this model can be overclocked. The prefix S was added to the designation of energy-efficient chips.

Sandy Bridge and planned architectural renovation

The first generation of chips based on the Core architecture was replaced in 2010 by a new solution codenamed Sandy Bridge. The key feature of this device was the transfer of the built-in graphics accelerator and north bridge to the silicon processor chip.

In the niche of more budget processor solutions were the Celeron G5XX and G4XX series processors. In the first case, two computing units were used at once, and in the second, the third-level cache was cut down and only one core was present. Pentium processors G6XX and G8XX are located one step higher. In this case, the difference in performance was provided by higher frequencies. It was precisely because of this important characteristic that the G8XX looked much more preferable in the eyes of the user. The Corei3 processor line was represented by 21XX models. Some designations had a T index at the end. It denoted the most energy-efficient solutions with reduced performance. Corei5 solutions were designated 25XX, 24XX, 23XX. The higher the marking of the model, the higher the performance level of the CPU. If the letter “S” is added to the end of the name, this means an intermediate option in terms of energy consumption between the “T” version and the standard crystal. The index “P” means that the graphics accelerator is disabled in the device. Chips with the “K” index had an unlocked multiplier. Similar markings remain relevant for the third generation of this architecture.

New advanced technological process

In 2013, the third generation of processors based on this architecture was released. The key innovation was a new technological process. Otherwise, there were no significant innovations. All of them are physically compatible with the previous generation processor. They could be installed in the same motherboards. The notation structure remains the same. Celeron was designated G12XX, and Pentium was designated G22XX. At the beginning, instead of “2” there was “3”. This indicated belonging to the third generation. The Corei3 line had indexes 32XX. More advanced Corei5 processors were designated 33XX, 34XX, and 35XX. The flagship Core i7 devices were labeled 37XX.

Fourth generation Core architecture

The fourth generation of Intel processors was the next step. In this case, the following markings were used. Economy class central processing units were designated G18XX. Pentium processors – 41XX and 43XX – had the same indices. Corei5 processors could be recognized by the abbreviations 46XX, 45XX, and 44XX. The designation 47XX was used to designate Corei7 processors. The fifth generation of Intel processors based on this architecture was aimed primarily at use in mobile devices. For stationary personal computers, only chips belonging to the i7 and i5 lines were released, and only a limited number of models. The first of them were designated as 57XX, and the second - 56XX.

Promising solutions

At the beginning of autumn 2015, the sixth generation of Intel processors debuted. This is the most current processor architecture at the moment. In this case, the entry-level chips are designated as G39XX for Celeron, G44XX and G45XX for Pentium. Corei3 processors are designated 61XX and 63XX. Corei5 in turn are designated as 64XX, 65XX and 66XX. Only one solution, 67XX, is allocated for the designation of flagship models. The new generation of processor solutions from Intel is only at the beginning of development, so such solutions will remain relevant for a long time.

Overclocking Features

All chips based on this architecture have a locked multiplier. For this reason, overclocking the device can only be done by increasing the system bus frequency. In the latest sixth generation, motherboard manufacturers will have to disable this ability to increase system speed in the BIOS. In this regard, processors of the Corei7 and Corei5 series with the K index are an exception. For these devices the multiplier is unlocked. This allows you to significantly increase the performance of computer systems built on the basis of such semiconductor products.

Users' opinions

All generations of Intel processors listed in this material have a high degree of energy efficiency and a phenomenal level of performance. Their only drawback is their too high cost. The only reason here is that Intel's direct competitor, AMD, cannot offer any worthwhile solutions. For this reason, Intel sets the price tag for its products based on its own considerations.

Conclusion

This article examined in detail the generations of Intel processors for desktop personal computers. This list will be quite enough to understand the designations and names of processors. There are also options for computer enthusiasts and various mobile sockets. This is all done so that the end user can get the most optimal processor solution. Today, the most relevant are sixth generation chips. When assembling a new PC, you should pay attention to these models.