Processor intel core i7 4th generation. Lines and markings of modern Intel processors

At its investor presentation, Intel said nothing about plans to release the Cannonlake (formerly Skymont) family of microprocessors based on the 10nm process technology. They are supposed to be released at the end of 2017, and a working sample of Cannonlake at 10 nm was recently shown at CES. It was the Cannonlake family that was previously positioned as the 8th generation of processor architecture, which will replace Skylake as part of the “tick-tock” strategy. Now another family has appeared that has nothing to do with Cannonlake. Perhaps this is an attempt to sell an old product in new packaging.

Cancel the tick-tock strategy

It appears that in 2016 Intel's clock shortened slightly at 14nm and the company announced .

In principle, there is nothing wrong with this. Again, this year's chip performance growth (more than 15%) will be even greater than last year's (15%), Intel said. Maybe it’s really better to squeeze out all the reserves from the existing technical process, optimizing it, and only then move on. We can't criticize Intel for moving away from the strategy it voluntarily set for itself.

One way or another, but now the “tick-tock” strategy has been modified into a different form.

Instead of a measured metronome, a new procedure has now been implemented with a greater emphasis on optimization. Maybe, new architecture will not be published every two years, as it was before.

Why doesn't Intel force the transition to 10 nm? It doesn't need to do this because it believes that it is already far behind its competitors in the semiconductor industry (Samsung, TSMC, etc.) in its technological superiority. The company estimates this gap to be approximately three years.

This reserve allows you to feel quite confident.

New plant for 7 nm

Construction and equipment will take another three to four years and require significant investment. The Chandler, Arizona plant will reduce local unemployment by approximately 3,000 people (+ another 10,000 jobs will be added indirectly).

Construction of the Chandler plant began in 2011. It is set to become the most advanced and innovative semiconductor facility in the world. The building itself was completed in 2013, but instead of installing the 14 nm equipment in early 2014 Intel company decided to postpone the launch of the conveyor. At the moment, the plant is ready: air conditioning, heating and other systems - everything is functioning, all that remains is to install and adjust the equipment. Intel does not plan to use this factory for production at the 10 nm process technology, so in a few years it will likely master production at the next 7 nm standard.

According to Intel, the equipment will cost approximately $7 billion. This is the cost of a modern industrial enterprise. It is not yet known what specific equipment will be needed. Perhaps Intel will start using deep ultraviolet (EUV) photolithography there.

At the dawn of the 2000s, Intel hoped that by 2005 processor frequencies would increase to 10 GHz, and they would operate at voltages below volts. As we know, this did not happen. About ten years ago, Dennard's scaling law, which stated that by reducing the size of transistors, the voltage applied to the gate could be reduced and the switching speed increased, stopped working. Since then, rarely has a processor received a standard operating frequency above 4 GHz, but there have been more cores, the north bridge has been moved to the chip from the motherboard, and other optimizations and accelerations have appeared. Now Moore's law, an empirical observation that indicates a constant increase in the number of transistors on a chip due to a decrease in their size, is also slowing down.

Previously, when choosing a processor for their computer, users mainly paid attention to the brand and the clock speed. Today the situation has changed a little. No, today you will need to make a choice between two manufacturers - Intel and AMD, but this will not end there. Times have changed and both companies produce good quality products that can satisfy the needs of almost any demanding users.

However, each manufacturer's product has its own strengths and weaknesses, manifested in the speed of various software applications, as well as in the variation in price and performance. Plus, today a processor with a much lower clock frequency can easily outperform its faster brother, and a multi-core processor may turn out to be slower than a processor created on the basis of an older architecture, under a certain system load.

We will tell you how modern processors differ from each other, and the choice is yours.

Characteristics of modern processors

1. CPU clock speed

This indicator is used to determine the number of clock cycles (operations) that a processor can perform per second of time. Previously, this indicator was decisive when choosing a computer and subjectively assessing processor performance.

Now, the times have come when this indicator for the vast majority of modern processors is sufficient to perform standard tasks, so when working with many applications there will not be a significant increase in performance due to the higher clock speed. Now performance is determined by other parameters.

2. Number of cores

Most modern computer processors has two or more cores, with the exception of only the most budget models. Everything seems logical here - more cores, higher performance, but in reality it turns out that everything is not so simple. In some applications, the performance improvement may actually be due to the number of cores, but in other applications, a multi-core processor may be inferior to its predecessor with fewer cores.

3 Processor cache size

In order to increase the speed of data exchange with the computer's RAM, additional memory blocks with high speed(the so-called caches of the first, second, third levels, or LI, L2, L3 cache). Again, everything seems logical - the larger the cache memory in the processor, the higher its performance.

But then they come up again different models processors, which, as a rule, differ from each other in several technical parameters, so it is practically impossible to identify a direct dependence of performance on the size of the chip’s cache memory.

Moreover, much also depends on the specifics of the software application code. Some applications, with a large cache, give a noticeable increase, others, on the contrary, begin to work worse due to the program code.

4 Core

The core is the basis of any processor, from which other characteristics are based. You can find two processors with seemingly similar technical characteristics (number of cores, clock speed), but with different architectures, and they will show completely different results in performance tests and software applications.

Traditionally, processors based on new cores are much better for working with various programs and therefore demonstrate better performance compared to models created on the basis of outdated technologies (even if the clock speeds are the same).

5 Technical process

This is the scale of modern technologies, which actually determine the size of the semiconductor elements that serve in the internal circuits of the processor. The smaller these elements, the more advanced the technology used. This does not mean at all that a modern processor, created on the basis of a modern technical process, will be faster than a representative of the old series. It just can, for example, heat up less, and therefore work more efficiently.

6 Front Side Bus (FSB)

The system bus frequency is the speed at which the processor core communicates with the RAM, discrete video card, and peripheral controllers on the computer motherboard. Everything is simple here. The higher the throughput, the correspondingly higher the computer’s performance (all other things being equal, the technical characteristics of the computers in question).

Explanation of names Intel processors

Learning to navigate the huge range of different names of Intel processors is quite simple. First you need to understand the positioning of the processors themselves:

Core i7– currently the company’s top line

Core i5– characterized by high productivity

Core i3– low price, high/medium performance

All Core i series processors are based on the Sandy Bridge core and belong to the second generation of Intel Core processors. The names of most models begin with the number 2, and more modern modifications created based on the latest core Ivy Bridge, are marked with the number 3.

Now it is very easy to determine what generation a particular processor is and what core it is based on. For example, the Core i5-3450 belongs to the third generation based on the Ivy Bridge core, and the Core i5-2310 is, accordingly, the second generation based on the Sandy Bridge core.

When you know the type of processor core, you can already roughly judge not only its capabilities, but also the potential heat dissipation during boot. Representatives of the third generation heat up much less than their predecessors thanks to a more modern technological process.

In addition to numbers, suffixes are sometimes used in processor names:

TO– for processors with an unlocked multiplier (this gives experienced users those who are computer savvy can overclock the processor themselves)

S- for products with increased energy efficiency, T - for the most economical processors.

Intel Core 2 Quad

A line of popular quad-core processors based on the now outdated Yorkfield core (45 nm process technology), thanks to an attractive low price and fairly high performance, the line of these processors is still relevant today.

Intel Pentium and Celeron

When labeling budget processors, Pentium and Celeron use the designations G860, G620 and some others. The higher the number after the letter, the more productive the processor is. If the marking numbers differ slightly, then most likely we are talking about different modifications of chips in the same production line, usually they are small and consist of only a few hundred megahertz of the core clock frequency. Sometimes the cache memory size and even the number of cores differ, and this has a much stronger impact on the differences in power and performance. Therefore, it will be better if you do not rely on the chip markings, but check everything technical specifications on the official website of the seller or manufacturer, because it will take little time, but will help save nerves and money.

An illustrative example is that the Celeron G440 and Celeron G530 processors, which differ in price by only 200 rubles, actually have different quantities cores (Celeron G440 - one, Celeron G530 - two), different core clock frequencies (the G530 has 800 MHz more), and the G530 also has twice the cache. However, the heat generation last processor almost twice as much, although both processors are based on the same Sandy Bridge core.

Intel Processor Technologies

Processors from Intel are considered the most powerful today, thanks to the Core i7 family Extreme Edition. Depending on the model, they can have up to 6 cores simultaneously, clock speeds of up to 3300 MHz and up to 15 MB of L3 cache. The most popular cores in the desktop processor segment are based on Intel - Ivy Bridge and Sandy Bridge.

Just like its competitor, Intel processors use proprietary technologies of their own to improve system efficiency.

1.Hyper Threading– Thanks to this technology, each physical core of the processor is capable of processing two threads of calculations simultaneously, it turns out that the number of logical cores actually doubles.

2. Turbo Boost– Allows the user to automatically overclock the processor without exceeding the maximum permissible core operating temperature limit.

3. Intel QuickPath Interconnect (QPI)– The QPI ring bus connects all processor components, thereby minimizing all possible delays in information exchange.

4. Visualization Technology– Hardware support for virtualization solutions.

5.Intel Execute Disable Bit– In practice, it provides hardware protection against possible virus attacks, which are based on buffer overflow technology.

6. Intel SpeedStep-A tool that allows you to change the voltage and frequency levels depending on the load on the processor.

Decoding the names of AMD processors

AMD FX

Top line of computer multi-core processors with specially lifted restriction by a multiplier (for the sake of possibility self-overclocking) to ensure high performance when working with demanding applications. Based on the first digit of the name, we can tell how many cores are installed in the processor: FX-4100 – four cores, FX-6100, respectively, six cores and FX-8150 has eight cores. There are several modifications in the line of these processors, with slightly different clock frequencies (for the FX-8150 processor it is 500 MHz higher than for the FX-8120 processor). AMD A

A line with a graphics core built into the processor. The digital designation in the name indicates belonging to a specific performance class: AC – performance sufficient for the vast majority of standard daily tasks, A6 – performance sufficient for creating a video conference in high resolution HD, A8 – performance sufficient for confident viewing of Blu-ray movies with 3D effect or launching modern 3D games in multi-display mode (with the ability to simultaneously connect four monitors).

AMD Phenom II and Athlon II

The earliest processors from the AMD Phenom II line were officially released back in 2010, but thanks to their low price and fairly high performance, they still enjoy some popularity today.

The number of cores in a processor is indicated by the number in the name immediately after the X symbol. For example, the marking of the AMD Phenom II X4 Deneb processor tells us that it belongs to the Phenom II processor family, has four cores and is based on the Deneb core. Completely similar marking rules can be seen in the Athlon series.

AMD Sempron

Under this name, the manufacturer produces budget processors designed for desktop office computers.

AMD Processor Technologies

The top-end processor models from the AMD FX line, created on the basis of the new Zambezi core, can offer the demanding user eight cores, an 8-MB L3 cache and a processor clock speed of up to 4200 MHz.

Most modern processors created by AMD support the following technologies by default:

1.AMD Turbo CORE– This technology is designed to automatically regulate the performance of all processor cores through controlled overclocking (a similar technology from Intel is called TurboBoost).

2. AVX (Advanced Vector Extensions), XOP and FMA4– A tool that has an extended set of commands specifically designed to work with floating point numbers. Definitely a toolkit.

3. AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)– In software applications that use data encryption, improves performance.

4. AMD Visualization (AMD-V)– This virtualization technology helps ensure the sharing of the resources of one computer between several virtual machines.

5. AMD PowcrNow!– Power management technology. They help the user achieve improved performance by dynamically activating and deactivating parts of the processor.

6. NX Bit– Unique anti-virus technology that helps prevent infection personal computer certain types of malware.

Processor performance comparison

Looking through price lists with prices and characteristics of modern processors, you can get really confused. Surprisingly, a processor with more cores on board and a higher clock speed can cost less than processors with fewer cores and lower clock speeds. The thing is that the real performance of the processor depends not only on the main characteristics, but also on the efficiency of the core itself, support for modern technologies and, of course, on the capabilities of the platform itself for which the processor was created (you can recall the logic of the motherboard, the capabilities of the video system, about bus throughput and much more).

That is why you cannot judge the performance of a processor based on the characteristics written on paper alone; you need to have data on the results of independent performance tests (preferably with those applications that you plan to constantly work with). Depending on the type of load created, similar processors can produce completely different results when working with the same programs. How can an unprepared person figure out which type of processor is right for him? Let's try to figure this out by comparatively testing processors with the same retail price in various software applications.

1. Working with office software. When using familiar office applications and browsers, performance gains can be achieved due to a higher processor clock speed. A large amount of cache memory or a large number of cores will not give the expected increase in application speed of this type. For example, cheaper compared to Intel Celeron G440 AMD Sempron 145 processor based on the 45nm Sargas core shows in tests with office applications better performance, but the Intel product is created on a more modern 32-nm Sandy Bridge core. Clock speed is the key to success when working with office applications.

2. Computer games. Modern 3D games with settings set to maximum are among the most demanding of computer components. Processors show performance gains in modern computer games as the number of cores increases and the amount of cache memory increases (of course, if the RAM and video system meet all modern requirements). Take the AMD FX-8150 processor with 8 cores and 8 megabytes of third-level cache. When tested, it produces better results in computer games than the almost identically priced Phenom II X6 Black Thuban 1100T with 6 cores, but with 6 megabytes of third-level cache. As noted above, when testing office programs The picture with productivity is exactly the opposite.

If you start testing performance in modern games two processors of the brands FX-8150 and Core i5-2550K that are close in price, it turns out that the latter demonstrates best results, despite the fact that it has fewer cores, a lower clock speed, and even a smaller cache size. Most likely, in terms of efficiency, the main role here was played by the more successful architecture of the kernel itself.

3. Raster graphics. Popular graphic applications, such as Adobe Photoshop, ACDSee and Image-Magick were originally created by developers with excellent multi-threaded optimization, which means that if you constantly work with these programs, additional cores will not be superfluous. There is also large number software packages that do not use multi-cores at all (Painishop or GIMP). It turns out that it is impossible to say unambiguously which technical parameter modern processors have a greater effect than others on increasing the speed of raster editors. Various programs, working with raster graphics, are demanding on a variety of parameters, such as clock speed, number of cores (especially the actual performance of a single core), and even the amount of cache memory. However, the inexpensive Core 13-2100 in tests shows much better performance in these types of applications than, for example, the same FX-6100, and this even despite the fact that basic characteristics Intel is a little behind.

4. Vector graphics. Nowadays, processors behave very strangely when working with such popular software packages as CorelDraw and Illustrator. The total number of processor cores has virtually no effect on application performance, which indicates that this type of software does not have multi-threaded optimization. In theory, a dual-core processor will even be enough for normal work with vector editors, since the clock frequency comes to the fore here.

An example is the AMD Ab-3650, which, with four cores, but with a low clock frequency, cannot compete in vector editors with the budget dual-core Pentium G860, which has a slightly higher clock frequency (while the cost of the processors is almost the same).

5. Audio encoding. When working with audio data, you can observe completely opposite results. When encoding sound files Performance increases as the number of processor cores increases and as the clock speed increases. In general, even 512 megabytes of cache memory is quite enough to perform operations of this kind, since this type of memory is practically not used when processing streaming data. A good example is eight core processor FX-8150, which in the process of converting audio files into different formats, shows much better results than the more expensive quad-core Core 15-2500K, thanks to the larger number of cores.

6. Video encoding. The kernel architecture in software packages such as Premier, Expression Encoder or Vegas Pro plays a big role. Here the emphasis is on fast ALU/FPU - these are hardware core computing units responsible for logical and arithmetic operations when processing data. Cores with different architectures (even if these are different lines from the same manufacturer), depending on the type of load, provide different levels of performance

The Core i3-2120 processor based on Intel's Sandy Bridge core, with a lower clock speed, smaller cache memory and fewer cores, outperforms the AMD FX-4100 processor built on the Zambezi core, which costs almost the same money. This unusual result can be explained by differences in kernel architecture and better optimization for specific software applications.

7. Archiving. If you often use your computer to archive and unpack large files in programs such as WinRAR or 7-Zip, then pay attention to the cache memory size of your processor. In such cases, cache memory is directly proportional: the larger it is, the greater the computer’s performance when working with archivers. The indicator is the AMD FX-6100 processor with 8 MB of Level 3 cache installed on board. It handles archiving tasks much faster than comparable priced Core i3-2120 processors with 3 MB of Level 3 cache and Core 2 Quad Q8400 with 4 megabytes of second level cache.

8. Extreme multitasking mode. Some users work simultaneously with several resource-intensive software applications with background operations activated in parallel. Just think, you are unpacking a huge RAR archive on your computer, simultaneously listening to music, editing several documents and tables, while you are running Skype and an Internet browser with several open tabs. With this active use the computer is very important role The processor's ability to execute multiple threads of operations in parallel plays a role. It turns out that the number of cores in the processor is of paramount importance in this use.

Multi-cores handle multitasking AMD processors Phenom II Hb and FX-8xxx. It is worth noting here that the AMD FX-8150 with eight cores on board, when running several applications simultaneously, has a slightly greater performance reserve than, for example, the more expensive Core i5-2500K processor with only four cores. Of course, if maximum speed is required, then it is better to look towards Core i7 processors, which can easily overtake the FX-8150.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a huge number of different factors influence the overall performance of a system. Of course, it is good to have a processor with a high clock frequency, a large number of cores and cache memory, plus the most modern architecture would not be bad, but all these parameters have different meanings for different types tasks.

The conclusion suggests itself: if you want to properly invest money in upgrading your computer, then identify the highest priority tasks and imagine everyday use scenarios. Knowing your specific goals and objectives, you can easily choose optimal model, which in the best possible way will suit your needs, work and, most importantly, budget.

Intel will soon begin shipping a new family of processors for laptops. Processors for code name Kaby Lake The 7th generation is of particular interest to those who are preparing to change the platform to a more productive one in the near future. Video encoding enthusiasts will notice a significant difference in gains from the new processor. Movie lovers will truly be satisfied when watching videos with high bitrates. Gamers will be able to enjoy video games directly on their laptops. All this is quite achievable with 7th generation Intel processors.

This month's conference Intel Developer Forum gave me a taste of all the delights of 7th generation processors. On the forum during the demonstration Dell laptop The XPS 13 was able to handle super graphics heavy video games using the standard integrated Intel graphics on a new platform. This is simply an amazing achievement.

Thus, the announcement debut of Intel on August 30, 2016 clearly demonstrated to us how much more productive these processors will be than the entire processor market that exists now.

This is what became known after the forum about multi-core processors Intel 7th generation:

100 projects by the end of the year

At its developer forum, Intel announced that the entire line of 7th generation processors is now available to leading computer industry manufacturers and Intel partners, which means the release of very promising laptops based on the new processors before the end of the year. Chris Walker, Intel's general manager for mobile client platforms, said that the new processors in the power consumption range from 4.5 Watt to 15 Watt will be the first to appear in laptops, namely in ultra-thin laptops. As previously reported when information about 7th generation processors first appeared, work is already underway on 100 projects involving 7th generation processors, which will be available in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The new family of processors will expand to other markets, but next year. So, in particular, in January, the appearance of 7th generation Intel processors in workstations is expected, gaming systems and virtual reality.

The chips have a familiar architecture

Intel built its 7th generation processors on the same Skylake architecture as the 6th generation processors introduced last year. So Intel didn't create a revolution by inventing a new architecture. Skylake was just tweaked a bit to make it perfect.

In particular, Intel announced that it has improved the voltage of transistors on processors. The result is that the microarchitecture has become more energy efficient and therefore 7th generation processors can offer performance gains compared to previous generations of Intel processors.

m5 and m7 cores are leaving

Intel is making changes to the designations of low-power chips, eliminating the 4.5-watt Core m5 and m7 processors and turning them into Core i5 and Core i7. The company hopes this change will help consumers, many of whom are confused about the difference between Core i5 and Core m5. However, 4.5-watt processors, also known as series chips Kaby Lake, with a letter Y similar in power. If you see Y at the end of the SKU, then it is one of the chips previously known as m5 or m7 cores.

What's even more interesting is that Intel won't change the core brand for its entry-level Core m3 processors, which is the slowest and least expensive of the line. m. So, in order of performance, the 4.5-watt chips are called Core m3, Core i5 Y series, and Core i7 Y series.

Performance boost

You probably shouldn't throw away your 6th generation processor if you upgraded this year or last winter. Skylake is definitely not worth changing in favor of one of the 7th generation processors of a similar line. Replacement is justified only by increasing the processor index. But Intel says that if you decide to replace it, you'll get a noticeable performance boost. Using the SYSmark benchmark to measure performance, Intel introduced a computer with a 7th processor Core generation i7-7500U, which showed a 12 percent performance increase over the 6th generation Core i7-6500U processor. Testing of WebXPRT 2015 showed a 19 percent improvement in performance.

I don’t think that even a 19 percent advantage will encourage buyers to change their not-so-old and good Skylake to Kaby Lake. Obviously, the increase in performance looks more significant when comparing processors of the 5th and 4th generations, which Intel is relying on to replace processors. The new Core i5-7200U is 1.7 times more productive than its five-year-old fellow Core i5-2467M in SYSmark. In the 3DMark test, the new processor turned out to be three times faster than a five-year-old processor.

Intel representatives reported that the 7th generation central processing units will be able to play demanding games at medium settings at 720p with integrated graphics or at 4K with a compatible graphics amplifier.

These chips are designed for video

Intel has taken notice of all the 4K and 360 degree video we consume. In response, the chipmaker has introduced a new video engine for its 7-Gen Core processors that aims to handle any content demands you can throw at it.

The new chips support hardware decoding of HEVC 10-bit color profile, which will allow you to play 4K and UltraHD video without any stutters. Intel has also added VP9 decoding capability for the 7th generation cores to improve performance when you're watching 4K videos while doing other tasks.

The 7th generation cores will also be able to perform video conversion operations much faster than other processors. For example, according to Intel, you can transcode 1 hour of 4K video in just 12 minutes.

More energy efficiency

From the point of view of improving the energy efficiency of laptop batteries Intel representatives reported that the laptop with a 7th generation processor can last for 7 hours when streaming 4K or 4K 360 degrees YouTube video. Compared to the 6th generation cores, the operating advantage will be on average 4 hours in favor of the seventh generation. As for 4K video streaming, Intel promises all-day performance, which is 9 and a half hours.

The 7th generation offers a number of other features

7th generation processors offer several other features designed to help your laptops run more efficiently. For example, Intel technology Turbo Boost 2.0. This is a feature that controls processor performance and power, like automatically overclocking the processor when the CPU clock speed exceeds its performance ratings.

Hyper-Threading technology helps the processor complete tasks faster by providing two processing threads for each core.

7th generation processors also include technology Speed ​​Shift, which should make running applications faster. This technology allows the processor to be more responsive to application requests to increase or decrease frequency to provide the best performance, thereby optimizing performance and efficiency. This is especially effective when applications require very short bursts of activity, such as browsing the web or retouching photos with numerous brush strokes in an image editor.

One day, a great sage in captain's uniform said that a computer would not be able to work without a processor. Since then, everyone has considered it their duty to find the very processor that will make their system fly like a fighter.

From this article you will learn:

Since we simply cannot cover all the chips known to science, we want to focus on one interesting family of the Intelovich family - Core i5. They have very interesting characteristics and good performance.

Why this series and not i3 or i7? It's simple: excellent potential without overpaying for unnecessary instructions that plague the seventh line. And there are more cores than in the Core i3. It’s quite natural for you to start arguing about support and find yourself partially right, but 4 physical cores can do much more than 2+2 virtual ones.

History of the series

Today on our agenda is a comparison of Intel Core i5 processors different generations. Here I would like to touch upon such pressing topics as the thermal package and the presence of solder under the lid. And if we’re in the mood, we’ll also push particularly interesting stones together. So, let's go.

I would like to start with the fact that we will only consider desktop processors, not laptop options. There will be a comparison of mobile chips, but another time.

The release frequency table looks like this:

2009

The first representatives of the series were released back in 2009. They were created on 2 different architectures: Nehalem (45 nm) and Westmere (32 nm). The brightest representatives of the line are the i5-750 (4×2.8 GHz) and i5-655K (3.2 GHz). The latter additionally had an unlocked multiplier and the ability to overclock, which indicated its high performance in games and more.

The differences between the architectures lie in the fact that Westmare are built according to 32 nm process standards and have 2nd generation gates. And they have less energy consumption.

2011

This year saw the release of the second generation of processors - Sandy Bridge. Their distinguishing feature was the presence of a built-in Intel HD 2000 video core.

Among the abundance of i5-2xxx models, I especially want to highlight the CPU with the 2500K index. At one time, it created a real sensation among gamers and enthusiasts, combining a high frequency of 3.2 GHz with Turbo Boost support and low cost. And yes, under the cover there was solder, not thermal paste, which additionally contributed to the high-quality acceleration of the stone without consequences.

2012

The debut of Ivy Bridge brought a 22-nanometer process technology, higher frequencies, new DDR3, DDR3L and PCI-E 3.0 controllers, as well as USB 3.0 support (but only for i7).

Integrated graphics have evolved to Intel HD 4000.

The most interesting solution on this platform was the Core i5-3570K with an unlocked multiplier and a frequency of up to 3.8 GHz in boost.

2013

The Haswell generation did not bring anything supernatural except for the new LGA 1150 socket, the AVX 2.0 instruction set and the new HD 4600 graphics. In fact, the entire emphasis was placed on energy saving, which the company managed to achieve.

But the fly in the ointment is the replacement of solder with a thermal interface, which greatly reduced the overclocking potential of the top i5-4670K (and its updated version 4690K from Haswell lines Refresh).

2015

Essentially this is the same Haswell, transferred to 14 nm architecture.

2016

The sixth iteration, under the name Skylake, introduced an updated LGA 1151 socket, support for DDR4 RAM, 9th generation IGP, AVX 3.2 and SATA Express instructions.

Among the processors, it is worth highlighting the i5-6600K and 6400T. The first was loved for its high frequencies and unlocked multiplier, and the second for its low cost and extremely low heat dissipation of 35 W despite Turbo Boost support.

2017

The Kaby Lake era is the most controversial because it brought absolutely nothing new to the desktop processor segment except native support for USB 3.1. Also, these stones completely refuse to run on Windows 7, 8 and 8.1, not to mention older versions.

The socket remains the same - LGA 1151. And the set of interesting processors has not changed - 7600K and 7400T. The reasons for people's love are the same as for Skylake.

2018

Goffee Lake processors are fundamentally different from their predecessors. Four cores have been replaced by 6, which previously only the top versions of the i7 X series could afford. The L3 cache size was increased to 9 MB, and the thermal package in most cases does not exceed 65 W.

Of the entire collection, the i5-8600K model is considered the most interesting for its ability to overclock up to 4.3 GHz (though only 1 core). However, the public prefers the i5-8400 as the cheapest entry ticket.

Instead of results

If we were asked what we would offer to the lion's share of gamers, we would say without hesitation that the i5-8400. The advantages are obvious:

• cost below 190$
• 6 full physical cores;
• frequency up to 4 GHz in Turbo Boost
• heat package 65 W
• complete fan.

Additionally, you don’t have to select a “specific” RAM, as for the Ryzen 1600 (the main competitor, by the way), and even the cores themselves in Intel. You lose additional virtual streams, but practice shows that in games they only reduce FPS without introducing certain adjustments to the gameplay.

By the way, if you don’t know where to buy, I recommend paying attention to some very popular and serious online store- at the same time you can find your way around the prices for i5 8400, periodically I buy various gadgets here myself.

In any case, it's up to you. Until next time, don't forget to subscribe to the blog.

And more news for those who are following ( solid state drives) - this rarely happens.

In early January Intel officially introduced a new generation of processors Intel Core on architecture Kaby Lake. The update turned out to be quite strange, so today we will dispense with lengthy discussions and will only talk about what you really need to know.

Fact one: no "Tick-Tock"

For a long time, Intel followed a simple pattern for updating processors: “Tick-tock.” One year the technical process was updated, and the next year a new architecture was released. For the first few years, the rhythm was maintained almost flawlessly, but in recent years the scheme began to noticeably falter. And with Kaby Lake, the manufacturer officially admitted that it is no longer possible to live with “tick-tock” and another stage is being added to it, called “optimization”, at which already created crystals will be finished. Unfortunately, it was precisely this new phase that Kaby Lake fell into.

It's hard to say why Intel decided to change itself. According to the company itself, the high cost of switching to new technical processes is to blame. We, however, believe that the general decline in sales in the computer market is more to blame - it is becoming increasingly difficult to recoup money with such short production cycles.

Fact two: architecture

Despite the new name and the solid word “optimization,” technically and structurally Kaby Lake exactly copies last year’s Skylake. The structure of the chips, the memory structure, the operating logic, the instruction sets - everything remains the same. Even the numerical indicators have not changed: a maximum of four cores, 8 MB of cache and 16 PCIe lanes for communicating with the video card. In general, apart from the name, there are no innovations.

Fact three: technical process

The technical process also remained unchanged. Kaby Lake is produced at the same 14nm standards. Only now a plus sign (14 nm+) is added to their name, which actually hides some updates. In Kaby Lake, the height of the fins and the distance between them slightly increased for transistors. As a result, leakage currents and heat dissipation decreased slightly, and this made it possible to increase the frequency of the crystals.

Fact four: operating frequency

The official frequency record for the Core i7-7700K is 7383 MHz. Installed, by the way, by a Russian team on an ASUS Maximus IX Apex motherboard.

Compared to processors of the previous generation, the frequency of new crystals has increased by an average of 200-300 MHz. At the same time, the TDP of the models remained the same. That is, at the same 90 W the new one Core i7-7700K takes the bar to 4.5 GHz, while the i7-6700K only rose to 4.2 GHz.

Moreover, processors also overclock better. If on average it was possible to squeeze out 4.4-4.5 GHz from Skylake, then for Kaby Lake 4.8 GHz is considered the norm, and with a successful combination of circumstances, 5 GHz. And yes, we are now talking about working under conventional air coolers.

Let us immediately note that, as before, all Intel Core and Pentium crystals can be overclocked on the bus, and models with the “K” index are also overclocked on the multiplier. By the way, unlocked crystals are now available not only in the Core i5 and Core i7 series, but also in Core i3. And the family Pentium, the cheapest Kaby Lake, now supports Hyper-Threading.

Fact five: embedded kernel

Integrated graphics also remain in Kaby Lake. But if earlier it was Intel HD Graphics 530, now it is HD Graphics 630 . Evolution? Not at all, there are still the same 24 blocks with a frequency of 1150 MHz on board. The new number in the title was added thanks to the updated media engine. Quick Sync. It can now decode H.265 and VP.9 video on the fly. In other words, if you are a keen connoisseur of 4K films or are planning to stream in this resolution, you should know - with Kaby Lake processor will no longer be loaded at 100%.

As for the performance of the graphics itself, it’s hard to complain about it. It copes with Windows rendering without any problems, and as a bonus, it can also handle not particularly demanding games. Maybe a village in Rim World build, and a prison in Prison Architect fuck off, and even in DOTA 2 drive. The latter in Full HD and at medium settings produces a quite decent 62 fps.

Fact six: chipsets

Along with Kaby Lake, Intel also introduced new 200 series chipsets. True, there are as few changes in them as in processors. The older models, Z270, received additional four PCIe lanes, to which manufacturers motherboards can connect extra USB or M.2 ports. Frankly speaking, the list is not particularly intriguing, but the scarcity is compensated to some extent by board manufacturers.

So, for example, DIMM.2 technology has appeared in top-end ASUS Apex motherboards, which allows you to install two M.2 drives in the RAM slot. And our test Maximus IX Formula could easily be connected to a custom “water heater” to remove heat from the power circuits.

However, if none of these new products appeal to you, we have a pleasant fact in store. They did not change the socket for Kaby Lake, leaving the already familiar LGA 1151. That is, the new processors work great on old Z170 Express motherboards, but Skylake works well on the Z270.

Fact Seven: Productivity

And finally, about the most important thing: performance. We were tested by the senior representative of the line - the Core i7-7700K, which replaced the Core i7-6600K. As we have already said, technically the crystals differ only in frequency: under Turbo Boost, the new product produces 300 MHz more, and in the standard it keeps the speed 200 MHz higher. Actually, this difference in frequency accounts for the performance increase. In all tasks, the i7-7700K is about 5-6% faster than its predecessor. And when comparing at the same frequency, the difference fits into the measurement error.

As for the processor temperature, nothing has changed here. At the limit, the processor easily reaches 80°C. But our processor was scalped and even at a frequency of 4.8 GHz it did not heat above 70°C.

* * *

The seventh generation Intel Core i7 can hardly be called “new”. Essentially, we have the same Skylake, but a little more high frequencies. Whether this is good or bad, decide for yourself, this is our opinion. If you are on a relatively recent Intel architecture (Skylake or Haswell), there is no point in upgrading to Kaby Lake. But if you are building a computer from scratch, then until the release of AMD Ryzen, the seventh Core is the only correct option.

Thank you ASUS company for the equipment provided.