On June 2, Intel announced ten new 14-nanometer processors for desktop and mobile PCs from the fifth-generation Intel Core family (codenamed Broadwell-C) and five new 14-nanometer processors from the Intel Xeon E3-1200 v4 family.
Of the ten new fifth-generation Intel Core processors (Broadwell-C) for desktop and mobile PCs, only two processors are desktop-oriented and have an LGA 1150 socket: these are the quad-core Intel Core i7-5775C and Core i5-5675C models. All other fifth-generation Intel Core processors are BGA-designed and are aimed at laptops. Brief characteristics new Broadwell-C processors are presented in the table.
| Connector | Number of cores/threads | L3 cache size, MB | TDP, W | Graphics core | ||
| Core i7-5950HQ | BGA | 4/8 | 6 | 2,9/3,7 | 47 | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |
| Core i7-5850HQ | BGA | 4/8 | 6 | 2,7/3,6 | 47 | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |
| Core i7-5750HQ | BGA | 4/8 | 6 | 2,5/3,4 | 47 | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |
| Core i7-5700HQ | BGA | 4/8 | 6 | 2,7/3,5 | 47 | Intel HD Graphics 5600 |
| Core i5-5350H | BGA | 2/4 | 4 | 3,1/3,5 | 47 | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |
| Core i7-5775R | BGA | 4/8 | 6 | 3,3/3,8 | 65 | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |
| Core i5-5675R | BGA | 4/4 | 4 | 3,1/3,6 | 65 | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |
| Core i5-5575R | BGA | 4/4 | 4 | 2,8/3,3 | 65 | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |
| Core i7-5775C | LGA 1150 | 4/8 | 6 | 3,3/3,7 | 65 | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |
| Core i5-5675C | LGA 1150 | 4/4 | 4 | 3,1/3,6 | 65 | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |
Of the five new processors of the Intel Xeon E3-1200 v4 family, only three models (Xeon E3-1285 v4, Xeon E3-1285L v4, Xeon E3-1265L v4) have an LGA 1150 socket, and two more models are made in a BGA package and are not intended for self-installation on the motherboard. Brief characteristics of the new processors of the Intel Xeon E3-1200 v4 family are presented in the table.
| Connector | Number of cores/threads | L3 cache size, MB | Nominal/maximum frequency, GHz | TDP, W | Graphics core | |
| Xeon E3-1285 v4 | LGA 1150 | 4/8 | 6 | 3,5/3,8 | 95 | Iris Pro Graphics P6300 |
| Xeon E3-1285L v4 | LGA 1150 | 4/8 | 6 | 3,4/3,8 | 65 | Iris Pro Graphics P6300 |
| Xeon E3-1265L v4 | LGA 1150 | 4/8 | 6 | 2,3/3,3 | 35 | Iris Pro Graphics P6300 |
| Xeon E3-1278L v4 | BGA | 4/8 | 6 | 2,0/3,3 | 47 | Iris Pro Graphics P6300 |
| Xeon E3-1258L v4 | BGA | 2/4 | 6 | 1,8/3,2 | 47 | Intel HD Graphics P5700 |
Thus, out of 15 new Intel processors, only five models have an LGA 1150 socket and are aimed at desktop systems. For users, of course, the choice is small, especially considering that the Intel Xeon E3-1200 v4 family of processors is aimed at servers, and not at consumer PCs.
Moving forward, we'll focus on reviewing the new 14nm LGA 1150 processors.
So, the main features of the new fifth-generation Intel Core processors and the Intel Xeon E3-1200 v4 family of processors are the new 14-nanometer core microarchitecture, codenamed Broadwell. In principle, there is no fundamental difference between the processors of the Intel Xeon E3-1200 v4 family and the fifth generation Intel Core processors for desktop systems, so in the future we will refer to all these processors as Broadwell.
In general, it should be noted that the Broadwell microarchitecture is not just Haswell in 14-nanometer design. Rather, it is a slightly improved Haswell microarchitecture. However, Intel always does this: when switching to a new production process, changes are made to the microarchitecture itself. In the case of Broadwell, we are talking about cosmetic improvements. In particular, the volumes of internal buffers have been increased, there are changes in the execution units of the processor core (the scheme for performing multiplication and division operations on floating point numbers has been changed).
We will not consider in detail all the features of the Broadwell microarchitecture (this is a topic for a separate article), but we will once again emphasize that we are only talking about cosmetic changes to the Haswell microarchitecture, and therefore you should not expect that Broadwell processors will be more productive than Haswell processors. Of course, the transition to a new technological process has made it possible to reduce the power consumption of processors (at the same clock frequency), but no significant performance gains should be expected.
Perhaps the most significant difference between the new Broadwell and Haswell processors is the Crystalwell fourth-level cache (L4 cache). Let us clarify that such an L4 cache was present in Haswell processors, but only in top models of mobile processors, and in Haswell desktop processors with an LGA 1150 socket it was not present.
Let us recall that some top models of Haswell mobile processors implemented the Iris Pro graphics core with additional eDRAM memory (embedded DRAM), which solved the problem of insufficient memory bandwidth used for the GPU. eDRAM memory was a separate crystal, which was located on the same substrate with the processor crystal. This crystal was codenamed Crystalwell.
The eDRAM memory had a size of 128 MB and was manufactured using a 22-nanometer process technology. But the most important thing is that this eDRAM memory was used not only for the needs of the GPU, but also for the computing cores of the processor itself. That is, in fact, Crystalwell was an L4 cache shared between the GPU and the processor cores.
All new Broadwell processors also include a separate 128 MB eDRAM memory die, which acts as an L4 cache and can be used by the graphics core and the processor's compute cores. Moreover, we note that the eDRAM memory in 14-nanometer Broadwell processors is exactly the same as in top-end Haswell mobile processors, that is, it is made using a 22-nanometer technical process.
The next feature of the new Broadwell processors is the new graphics core, codenamed Broadwell GT3e. In the version of processors for desktop and mobile PCs (Intel Core i5/i7) it is Iris Pro Graphics 6200, and in processors of the Intel Xeon E3-1200 v4 family it is Iris Pro Graphics P6300 (with the exception of the Xeon E3-1258L v4 model). We will not go deeper into the architecture of the Broadwell GT3e graphics cores (this is a topic for a separate article) and will only briefly consider its main features.
Let us recall that the Iris Pro graphics core was previously present only in Haswell mobile processors (Iris Pro Graphics 5100 and 5200). Moreover, the Iris Pro Graphics 5100 and 5200 graphics cores each have 40 execution units (EU). The new graphics cores Iris Pro Graphics 6200 and Iris Pro Graphics P6300 are already equipped with 48 EUs, and the EU organization system has also changed. Each individual GPU unit contains 8 EUs, and the graphics module combines three graphics units. That is, one graphics module contains 24 EU, and the Iris Pro Graphics 6200 or Iris Pro Graphics P6300 graphics processor itself combines two modules, that is, a total of 48 EU.
As for the difference between the graphics cores of Iris Pro Graphics 6200 and Iris Pro Graphics P6300, at the hardware level they are the same (Broadwell GT3e), but their drivers are different. In the Iris Pro Graphics P6300 version, the drivers are optimized for tasks specific to servers and graphics stations.
Before moving on to a detailed review of the Broadwell testing results, we’ll tell you about a few more features of the new processors.
First of all, the new Broadwell processors (including the Xeon E3-1200 v4) are compatible with motherboards based on Intel 9-series chipsets. We can't say that every board based on the Intel 9-series chipset will support these new Broadwell processors, but most boards do support them. True, for this you will have to update the BIOS on the board, and the BIOS must support new processors. For example, for testing we used the ASRock Z97 OC Formula board and without updating the BIOS, the system only worked with a discrete video card, and image output through the graphics core of Broadwell processors was impossible.
The next feature of the new Broadwell processors is that the Core i7-5775C and Core i5-5675C models have an unlocked multiplier, that is, they are focused on overclocking. In the Haswell family of processors, such processors with unlocked multipliers made up the K-series, and in the Broadwell family, the letter “C” is used instead of the letter “K”. But the Xeon E3-1200 v4 processors do not support overclocking (it is impossible to increase the multiplication factor for them).
Now let's take a closer look at the processors that came to us for testing. These are models , and . In fact, of the five new models with the LGA 1150 socket, the only thing missing is the Xeon E3-1285L v4 processor, which differs from the Xeon E3-1285 v4 only in lower power consumption (65 W instead of 95 W) and the fact that its nominal core clock speed slightly lower (3.4 GHz instead of 3.5 GHz). Additionally, for comparison, we also added the Intel Core i7-4790K, which is the top processor in the Haswell family.
The characteristics of all tested processors are presented in the table:
| Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i7-5775C | Core i5-5675C | Core i7-4790K | |
| Technical process, nm | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 22 |
| Connector | LGA 1150 | LGA 1150 | LGA 1150 | LGA 1150 | LGA 1150 |
| Number of Cores | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Number of threads | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 8 |
| L3 cache, MB | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 8 |
| L4 cache (eDRAM), MB | 128 | 128 | 128 | 128 | N/A |
| Rated frequency, GHz | 3,5 | 2,3 | 3,3 | 3,1 | 4,0 |
| Maximum frequency, GHz | 3,8 | 3,3 | 3,7 | 3,6 | 4,4 |
| TDP, W | 95 | 35 | 65 | 65 | 88 |
| Memory type | DDR3-1333/1600/1866 | DDR3-1333/1600 | |||
| Graphics core | Iris Pro Graphics P6300 | Iris Pro Graphics P6300 | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 | HD Graphics 4600 |
| Number of GPU execution units | 48 (Broadwell GT3e) | 48 (Broadwell GT3e) | 48 (Broadwell GT3e) | 48 (Broadwell GT3e) | 20 (Haswell GT2) |
| Nominal GPU frequency, MHz | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 350 |
| Maximum GPU frequency, GHz | 1,15 | 1,05 | 1,15 | 1,1 | 1,25 |
| vPro technology | + | + | − | − | − |
| VT-x technology | + | + | + | + | + |
| VT-d technology | + | + | + | + | + |
| Cost, $ | 556 | 417 | 366 | 276 | 339 |
And now, after our express review of the new Broadwell processors, let's move on directly to testing the new products.
Test bench
To test processors, we used a bench with the following configuration:
Testing methodology
Processor testing was carried out using our scripted benchmarks, and. More precisely, we took the methodology for testing workstations as a basis, but expanded it by adding tests from the iXBT Application Benchmark 2015 package and iXBT Game Benchmark 2015 game tests.
Thus, the following applications and benchmarks were used to test processors:
- MediaCoder x64 0.8.33.5680
- SVPmark 3.0
- Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2014.1 (Build 8.1.0)
- Adobe After Effects CC 2014.1.1 (Version 13.1.1.3)
- Photodex ProShow Producer 6.0.3410
- Adobe Photoshop CC 2014.2.1
- ACDSee Pro 8
- Adobe Illustrator CC 2014.1.1
- Adobe Audition CC 2014.2
- Abbyy FineReader 12
- WinRAR 5.11
- Dassault SolidWorks 2014 SP3 (Flow Simulation package)
- SPECapc for 3ds max 2015
- SPECapc for Maya 2012
- POV-Ray 3.7
- Maxon Cinebench R15
- SPECviewperf v.12.0.2
- SPECwpc 1.2
In addition, games and gaming benchmarks from the iXBT Game Benchmark 2015 package were used for testing. Testing in games was carried out at a resolution of 1920x1080.
Additionally, we measured the power consumption of processors in idle mode and under stress. For this purpose, a specialized software and hardware complex was used, which was connected to the gap in the power supply circuits of the system board, that is, between the power supply and the system board.
To create CPU stress, we used the AIDA64 utility (Stress FPU and Stress GPU tests).
Test results
Processor power consumption
So, let's start with the results of testing processors for energy consumption. The test results are presented in the diagram.
The most voracious in terms of energy consumption, as one might expect, turned out to be the Intel Core i7-4790K processor with a declared TDP of 88 W. Its real power consumption in stress load mode was 119 W. At the same time, the temperature of the processor cores was 95°C and throttling was observed.
The next most power-consuming processor was the Intel Core i7-5775C processor with a stated TDP of 65 W. For this processor, power consumption in stress mode was 72.5 W. The temperature of the processor cores reached 90°C, but throttling was not observed.
The third place in terms of energy consumption was taken by the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 processor with a TDP of 95 W. Its power consumption in stress mode was 71 W, and the temperature of the processor cores was 78 °C
And the most economical in terms of energy consumption was the Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4 processor with a TDP of 35 W. In stress load mode, the power consumption of this processor did not exceed 39 W, and the temperature of the processor cores was only 56 °C.
Well, if we focus on the power consumption of processors, we must state that Broadwell has significantly lower power consumption compared to Haswell.
Tests from the iXBT Application Benchmark 2015 package
Let's start with the tests included in the iXBT Application Benchmark 2015. Note that we calculated the integral performance result as the geometric mean of the results in logical groups of tests (video conversion and video processing, video content creation, etc.). To calculate results in logical groups of tests, the same reference system was used as in the iXBT Application Benchmark 2015.
Full test results are shown in the table. In addition, we present the test results for logical groups of tests on diagrams in a normalized form. The result of the Core i7-4790K processor is taken as the reference.
| Logical test group | Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i5-5675C | Core i7-5775C | Core i7-4790K |
| Video conversion and video processing, points | 364,3 | 316,7 | 272,6 | 280,5 | 314,0 |
| MediaCoder x64 0.8.33.5680, seconds | 125,4 | 144,8 | 170,7 | 155,4 | 132,3 |
| SVPmark 3.0, points | 3349,6 | 2924,6 | 2552,7 | 2462,2 | 2627,3 |
| Video content creation, points | 302,6 | 264,4 | 273,3 | 264,5 | 290,9 |
| Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2014.1, seconds | 503,0 | 579,0 | 634,6 | 612,0 | 556,9 |
| Adobe After Effects CC 2014.1.1 (Test #1), seconds | 666,8 | 768,0 | 802,0 | 758,8 | 695,3 |
| Adobe After Effects CC 2014.1.1 (Test #2), seconds | 330,0 | 372,2 | 327,3 | 372,4 | 342,0 |
| Photodex ProShow Producer 6.0.3410, seconds | 436,2 | 500,4 | 435,1 | 477,7 | 426,7 |
| Treatment digital photos, points | 295,2 | 258,5 | 254,1 | 288,1 | 287.0 |
| Adobe Photoshop CC 2014.2.1, seconds | 677,5 | 770,9 | 789,4 | 695,4 | 765,0 |
| ACDSee Pro 8, seconds | 289,1 | 331,4 | 334,8 | 295,8 | 271,0 |
| Vector graphics, points | 150,6 | 130,7 | 140,6 | 147,2 | 177,7 |
| Adobe Illustrator CC 2014.1.1, seconds | 341,9 | 394,0 | 366,3 | 349,9 | 289,8 |
| Audio processing, points | 231,3 | 203,7 | 202,3 | 228,2 | 260,9 |
| Adobe Audition CC 2014.2, seconds | 452,6 | 514,0 | 517,6 | 458,8 | 401,3 |
| Text recognition, points | 302,4 | 263,6 | 205,8 | 269,9 | 310,6 |
| Abbyy FineReader 12, seconds | 181,4 | 208,1 | 266,6 | 203,3 | 176,6 |
| Archiving and unarchiving data, points | 228,4 | 203,0 | 178,6 | 220,7 | 228,9 |
| WinRAR 5.11 archiving, seconds | 105,6 | 120,7 | 154,8 | 112,6 | 110,5 |
| WinRAR 5.11 unzipping, seconds | 7,3 | 8,1 | 8,29 | 7,4 | 7,0 |
| Integral performance result, points | 259,1 | 226,8 | 212,8 | 237,6 | 262,7 |
So, as can be seen from the testing results, in terms of integrated performance, the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 processor is practically no different from the Intel Core i7-4790K processor. However, this is an integral result based on the totality of all applications used in the benchmark.
However, there are a number of applications that benefit from the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 processor. These are applications such as MediaCoder x64 0.8.33.5680 and SVPmark 3.0 (video conversion and video processing), Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2014.1 and Adobe After Effects CC 2014.1.1 (video content creation), Adobe Photoshop CC 2014.2.1 and ACDSee Pro 8 (digital processing photographs). In these applications, the higher clock speed of the Intel Core i7-4790K processor does not give it an advantage over the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 processor.
But in applications such as Adobe Illustrator CC 2014.1.1 (vector graphics), Adobe Audition CC 2014.2 (audio processing), Abbyy FineReader 12 (text recognition), the advantage is on the side of the higher-frequency Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 processor. It is interesting to note that tests based on the Adobe Illustrator CC 2014.1.1 and Adobe Audition CC 2014.2 applications load the processor cores to a lesser extent (compared to other applications).
And of course, there are tests in which the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 and Intel Core i7-4790K processors demonstrate the same performance. For example, this is a test based on the WinRAR 5.11 application.
In general, it should be noted that the Intel Core i7-4790K processor demonstrates higher performance (compared to the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 processor) precisely in those applications in which not all processor cores are used or the cores are not fully loaded. At the same time, in tests where all processor cores are loaded at 100%, the leadership is on the side of the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 processor.
Calculations using Dassault SolidWorks 2014 SP3 (Flow Simulation)
We presented the test based on the Dassault SolidWorks 2014 SP3 application with the additional Flow Simulation package separately, since this test does not use a reference system, as in the tests of the iXBT Application Benchmark 2015.
Let us recall that in this test We are talking about hydro/aerodynamic and thermal calculations. A total of six different models are calculated, and the results of each subtest are the calculation time in seconds.
Detailed test results are presented in the table.
| Test | Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i5-5675C | Core i7-5775C | Core i7-4790K |
| conjugate heat transfer, seconds | 353.7 | 402.0 | 382.3 | 328.7 | 415.7 |
| textile machine, seconds | 399.3 | 449.3 | 441.0 | 415.0 | 510.0 |
| rotating impeller, seconds | 247.0 | 278.7 | 271.3 | 246.3 | 318.7 |
| CPU cooler, seconds | 710.3 | 795.3 | 784.7 | 678.7 | 814.3 |
| halogen floodlight, seconds | 322.3 | 373.3 | 352.7 | 331.3 | 366.3 |
| electronic components, seconds | 510.0 | 583.7 | 559.3 | 448.7 | 602.0 |
| Total calculation time, seconds | 2542,7 | 2882,3 | 2791,3 | 2448,7 | 3027,0 |
In addition, we also present the normalized result of the calculation speed (the reciprocal of the total calculation time). The result of the Core i7-4790K processor is taken as the reference.
As can be seen from the testing results, in these specific calculations the leadership is on the side of Broadwell processors. All four Broadwell processors demonstrate faster calculation speeds compared to the Core i7-4790K processor. Apparently, these specific calculations are affected by the improvements in the execution units that were implemented in the Broadwell microarchitecture.
SPECapc for 3ds max 2015
Next, let's look at the results of the SPECapc for 3ds max 2015 test for the Autodesk 3ds max 2015 SP1 application. The detailed results of this test are presented in the table, and the normalized results for the CPU Composite Score and GPU Composite Score are presented in the charts. The result of the Core i7-4790K processor is taken as the reference.
| Test | Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i5-5675C | Core i7-5775C | Core i7-4790K |
| CPU Composite Score | 4,52 | 3,97 | 4,09 | 4,51 | 4,54 |
| GPU Composite Score | 2,36 | 2,16 | 2,35 | 2,37 | 1,39 |
| Large Model Composite Score | 1,75 | 1,59 | 1,68 | 1,73 | 1,21 |
| Large Model CPU | 2,62 | 2,32 | 2,50 | 2,56 | 2,79 |
| Large Model GPU | 1,17 | 1,08 | 1,13 | 1,17 | 0,52 |
| Interactive Graphics | 2,45 | 2,22 | 2,49 | 2,46 | 1,61 |
| Advanced Visual Styles | 2,29 | 2,08 | 2,23 | 2,25 | 1,19 |
| Modeling | 1,96 | 1,80 | 1,94 | 1,98 | 1,12 |
| CPU Computing | 3,38 | 3,04 | 3,15 | 3,37 | 3,35 |
| CPU Rendering | 5,99 | 5,18 | 5,29 | 6,01 | 5,99 |
| GPU Rendering | 3,13 | 2,86 | 3,07 | 3,16 | 1,74 |
Broadwell processors take the lead in the SPECapc 3ds for max 2015 test. Moreover, if in subtests depending on CPU performance (CPU Composite Score), Core i7-4790K and Xeon E3-1285 v4 processors demonstrate equal performance, then in subtests depending on graphics core performance (GPU Composite Score), all Broadwell processors significantly ahead of the Core i7-4790K processor.
SPECapc for Maya 2012
Now let's look at the result of another 3D modeling test - SPECapc for Maya 2012. Let us recall that this benchmark was run in conjunction with the Autodesk Maya 2015 package.
The results of this test are presented in a table, and the normalized results are presented in diagrams. The result of the Core i7-4790K processor is taken as the reference.
| Test | Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i5-5675C | Core i7-5775C | Core i7-4790K |
| GFX Score | 1,96 | 1,75 | 1,87 | 1,91 | 1,67 |
| CPU Score | 5,47 | 4,79 | 4,76 | 5,41 | 5,35 |
In this test, the Xeon E3-1285 v4 processor demonstrates slightly higher performance compared to the Core i7-4790K processor, however, the difference is not as significant as in SPECapc 3ds for max 2015.
POV-Ray 3.7
In the POV-Ray 3.7 test (3D model rendering), the leader is the Core i7-4790K processor. IN in this case a higher clock speed (with an equal number of cores) gives an advantage to the processor.
| Test | Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i5-5675C | Core i7-5775C | Core i7-4790K |
| Render average, PPS | 1568,18 | 1348,81 | 1396,3 | 1560.6 | 1754,48 |
Cinebench R15
In the Cinebench R15 benchmark, the result was mixed. In the OpenGL test, all Broadwell processors significantly outperform the Core i7-4790K processor, which is natural since they integrate a more powerful graphics core. But in the processor test, on the contrary, the Core i7-4790K processor turns out to be more productive.
| Test | Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i5-5675C | Core i7-5775C | Core i7-4790K |
| OpenGL, fps | 71,88 | 66,4 | 72,57 | 73 | 33,5 |
| CPU, cb | 774 | 667 | 572 | 771 | 850 |
SPECviewperf v.12.0.2
In the tests of the SPECviewperf v.12.0.2 package, the results are determined primarily by the performance of the processor's graphics core and, in addition, by the optimization of the video driver for certain applications. Therefore, in these tests the Core i7-4790K processor lags significantly behind the Broadwell processors.
The test results are presented in the table, as well as in normalized form in diagrams. The result of the Core i7-4790K processor is taken as the reference.
| Test | Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i5-5675C | Core i7-5775C | Core i7-4790K |
| catia-04 | 20,55 | 18,94 | 20,10 | 20,91 | 12,75 |
| creo-01 | 16,56 | 15,52 | 15,33 | 15,55 | 9,53 |
| energy-01 | 0,11 | 0,10 | 0,10 | 0,10 | 0,08 |
| maya-04 | 19,47 | 18,31 | 19,87 | 20,32 | 2,83 |
| medical-01 | 2,16 | 1,98 | 2,06 | 2,15 | 1,60 |
| showcase-01 | 10,46 | 9,96 | 10,17 | 10,39 | 5,64 |
| snx-02 | 12,72 | 11,92 | 3,51 | 3,55 | 3,71 |
| sw-03 | 31,32 | 28,47 | 28,93 | 29,60 | 22,63 |
This is not to say that everything in this test is clear. In some scenarios (Media and Entertainment, Product Development, Life Sciences), Broadwell processors demonstrate better results. There are scenarios (Financial Services, Energy, General Operation) where the advantage is on the side of the Core i7-4790K processor or the results are approximately the same.
Game tests
And finally, let's look at the results of testing processors in gaming tests. Let us remind you that for testing we used the following games and gaming benchmarks:
- Aliens vs Predator
- World of Tanks 0.9.5
- Grid 2
- Metro: LL Redux
- Metro: 2033 Redux
- Hitman: Absolution
- Thief
- Tomb Raider
- Sleeping Dogs
- Sniper Elite V2
Testing was carried out at a screen resolution of 1920×1080 and in two settings modes: maximum and minimum quality. Test results are presented in diagrams. In this case, the results are not standardized.
In gaming tests, the results are as follows: all Broadwell processors show very close results, which is natural since they use the same Broadwell GT3e graphics core. And most importantly, with minimum quality settings, Broadwell processors allow you to comfortably play (at FPS over 40) most games (at a resolution of 1920x1080).
On the other hand, if the system uses a discrete graphics card, then there is simply no point in the new Broadwell processors. That is, there is no point in changing Haswell to Broadwell. And the price of Broadwells is not so attractive. For example, Intel Core i7-5775C is more expensive than Intel Core i7-4790K.
However, Intel does not seem to be betting on Broadwell desktop processors. The range of models is extremely modest, and Skylake processors are on the way, so it’s unlikely that Intel Core i7-5775C and Core i5-5675C processors will be in particular demand.
Server processors of the Xeon E3-1200 v4 family are a separate market segment. For most ordinary home users, such processors are of no interest, but in the corporate sector of the market these processors may be in demand.
08/21/2017, Mon, 09:36, Moscow time , Text: Vladimir Bakhur
Intel announced the addition of eighth-generation Core chips to its line of U-series mobile processors. A new generation of Coffee Lake processors for desktop PCs will also appear this year, but later.The first four processors of the new eighth generation
Intel introduced four new Core i5 and Core i7 mobile processors in the U line. All new chips have four computing cores with support for Hyper-Threading technology, which in total allows for up to eight computing threads per chip.
Previous generations of mobile Core processors were released with two physical cores and supported four threads with Hyper-Threading technology.
The official working name of the new mobile processors is Kaby Lake Refresh, that is, they are based on the improved seventh generation Kaby Lake architecture.
All 8th generation Core processors (Kaby Lake Refresh) presented today, like their predecessors, are manufactured in compliance with the 14 nm technological process, but “with improved characteristics,” which led to the announcement of the new 8th generation. According to Intel, the transition to 10 nm process standards will take place later in the fall, but within the same eighth generation.
The “real” next-generation architecture, working title Coffee Lake, will be presented even later and will join the list of 8th generation Core chips. However, these chips will also be produced according to 14 nm standards.
New 8th generation Intel Core processors
The transition to 10nm standards will be the next step and will debut with the Cannon Lake architecture. Thus, the list of eighth-generation Core processors will include i7/i5/i3-8xxx chips of three different architectures: Kaby Lake Refresh, Coffee Lake and Cannon Lake. One earlier Core generation Usually there were two types of architectures.
Architecture details
The new eighth-generation Core processors operate at relatively low main clock frequencies (no higher than 1.9 GHz for the older i7-8650U model), thanks to which all models fit into a thermal package (TDP) of up to 15 W with four computing cores.
Appearance of the 8th generation Core processor
At the same time, thanks to Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, the chips are capable of dynamically increasing the clock frequency by more than twice (up to 4.2 GHz for the older i7-8650U model), which allows you to significantly increase system performance as needed and remain at "cold" state in standby mode.
Basic characteristics of the first four 8th generation Core processors
All new 8th generation Intel Core mobile processors are equipped with integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 with support for up to three independent displays, inherited with some changes from 7th generation processors (Kaby Lake, Intel HD Graphics 620). The built-in UHD Graphics 620 supports HEVC and VP9 codecs and allows you to work with 4K video with 10-bit color depth.
Photo of the chip of the new 8th generation Intel Core chip
The new 8th generation mobile processors received 8 MB or 6 MB L3 cache, as well as a fast 2-channel memory controller with support for DDR4-2400 and LPDDR3-2133 modules.
About productivity and savings
According to the company's internal tests, the new eighth-generation Core i7 and i5 mobile chips provide performance gains of up to 40% compared to the previous generation chips, and are twice as fast as chips from five years ago, for example, when comparing the new Core i5-8250U with the Core i5- 3317U.
Intel Core i5 processors are mid-range CPUs that are very popular. They are very balanced and offer enough high level performance for reasonable money, differing from the basic i7 only in the absence of HyperThreading technology.
Processors of the Core i5 series first appeared in 2009, after the company abandoned the Core 2 Duo brand, becoming the heirs of this line. Since then, the manufacturer has regularly updated the lineup, releasing a new generation approximately once a year. Now progress has slowed down a little due to the complexity of mastering new technological processes, but the 9th generation Core i5 is already on the way.
The announcement of the new line of chips is scheduled, according to preliminary data, for October 1. In the meantime, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the history of Core i5, generations of chips, their capabilities and features.
First generation (2009, Nehalem architecture)
First generation Intel Core i5 processors based on the Nehalem architecture were released at the end of 2009. In fact, they became a transitional link from the Core 2 series to the new generation of chips and were produced using the old 45 nm process technology, but already had 4 cores on one chip (C2Q had 2 chips with 2 cores each). There are three models released in the series under the numbers i5-750S (low power), 750 and 760.
The first generation chips did not have built-in graphics, were installed in boards with socket 1156 and worked with DDR3 memory. An important innovation was the transfer of part of the chipset (memory controller, PCI-E bus, etc.) to the processor itself, whereas in its predecessors it was located in the north bridge. Also, the first Intel Core i5 for the first time received support for automatic overclocking Turbo Boost, which allows you to increase the frequency when the load on the cores is uneven.
First generation (2010, Westmere)
The Nehalem architecture was transitional, but already in 2010 the Core i5 Westmere processors, created using the 32 nm process technology, saw the light of day. However, they belonged to a lower segment, had 2 cores with HT support (HyperThreading - a technology for processing 2 threads of calculations on 1 core, allowing the processor to work in 4 threads) and had numbering like i5-6xx. The series included chips with numbers 650, 655K (overclockable), 660, 661, 670 and 680.
A special feature of the Intel Core i5 of this series is the appearance of a built-in GPU. It was not part of the CPU die, but was executed separately, using a 45 nm process technology. This was another step in transferring the functions of the motherboard chipset to the processor. Like the 700 series models, the chips had an s1156 socket and worked with DDR3 memory.
Second generation (2011, Sandy Bridge)
The Sandy Bridge architecture is one of the most important pages in the history of Intel. The chips on it were produced on the old 32 nm process technology, but received large internal optimizations. This allowed them to significantly surpass their predecessors in terms of specific performance: at the same frequency, the new chip was much faster than the old ones.
The processors of this series are called the Intel type Core i5-2xxx. One model, number 2390T, had two cores with HT support, the rest (from 2300 to 2550K) had 4 cores without HT. The older i5-2500K and 2550K chips had an unlocked multiplier and supported overclocking. They still work for many people, overclocked to 4.5-5 GHz, and are in no hurry to retire.
For second generation Intel Core i5 processors, a new socket 1155 was created, which is incompatible with the old one. Also new was the transfer of the GPU to the same chip with the CPU. The memory controller still worked with DDR3 sticks.
Third generation (2012, Ivy Bridge)
Ivy Bridge is the second version of the previous architecture. The processors of this series differed from their predecessors in the new 22 nm process technology. However, their internal structure remained the same, so a small increase in performance (the notorious “+5%)” was achieved only by raising the frequencies. Model numbers – from 3330 to 3570K.
The third generation processors were installed in the same boards with socket 1155, worked with DDR3 memory and were not fundamentally different from their predecessors. But for overclockers the changes have become significant. The thermal interface between the crystal and the CPU cover was replaced from “liquid metal” (a eutectic alloy of fusible metals) to thermal paste, which reduced the overclocking potential of models with an unlocked multiplier. The I5-3470T had 2 cores with HT support, the rest had 4 cores without HT.
Fourth generation (2013, Haswell)
Following the tick-tock principle, the fourth generation Intel Core i5 processors were released on the same 22 nm process technology, but received architectural improvements. It was not possible to achieve a large performance increase (again the same 5%), but the CPUs became slightly more energy efficient. 4th generation Intel Core i5 processors were named in the format i5-4xxx, with numbers from 4430 to 4690. The i5-4570T and TE models were dual-core, the rest were quad-core.
Despite the minimum changes, the chips were transferred to the new 1150 socket, which was incompatible with the old one. They worked with DDR3 memory. As before, the series came out with models with an unlocked multiplier (index K), but due to the thermal paste under the cover, they had to be “scalped” for maximum overclocking.
The two R models (4570R and 4670R) featured enhanced Iris Pro graphics for gaming and 128MB of eDRAM. However, they were not available at retail, as they had an all-in-one BGA 1364 socket, and were only sold as part of compact PCs.
Fifth generation (2015, Broadwell)
As part of the fifth generation Intel Core i5, mass-produced Intel desktop processors were not released. The line was actually a transitional stage, and the chips were the same Haswell, but transferred to a new 14 nm process technology. There were only 3 quad-core models in the series: i5-5575R, 5675C and 5675R.
All desktop i5-5xxx had an improved Iris Pro graphics processor, 128 MB of eDRAM memory. Models with the R index were also soldered onto a board and sold only as part of finished computers. The i5-5675C, in contrast, was installed in a regular 1150 socket and was compatible with older boards.
Sixth Generation (2015, Skylake)
The sixth generation has become a full update to the Intel Core i5 processor line. Chips with Skylake architecture were produced using a 14 nm process technology and had 4 cores. Processor model numbers – from i5-6400 to 6600K,all CPUs are quad-core.
The new architecture did not provide a big performance increase, but the chips had a number of changes. Firstly, they were installed in the new socket 1151, and secondly, they received a combined DDR3/DDR4 memory controller.
In the sixth generation, chips with Iris Pro graphics were also released - i5-6585R and 6685R. They still allow you to run modern games(albeit at low graphics settings) and remain relevant. Because of the BGA connector, CPUs with the R index were not sold separately, only as part of finished PCs.
Seventh generation (2017, Kaby Lake)
The seventh generation Intel Core i5 is almost no different from the sixth. The manufacturing process remained the same, 14 nm, the architecture received only cosmetic improvements, and a small increase in performance was achieved only by increasing frequencies. Chips in this series are indexed i5-7xxx, model numbers are from 7400 to 7600K.
The processor socket remained the same (1151), the memory controller also did not change, so the chips remained compatible with sixth-generation motherboards. The exception is the i5-7640K model, designed for socket 2066 (High-End boards).
Eighth generation (2017, Coffee Lake)
After numerous “+5% again” (the magnitude of the increase is eloquently evidenced by the fact that the overclocked Core i5-2500K of 2011 is almost as good as any i5-7500 of 2011) in the eighth generation of Intel, progress has moved forward. This was facilitated by competition from AMD.
Intel Core i5 processors based on Coffee Lake architecture are manufactured using the already familiar 14 nm process technology, are architecturally minimally different from Skylake and Kaby Lake, and have approximately the same performance per core. However, increasing the number of cores from 4 to 6 increased their performance up to 1.5 times compared to their predecessors. The series released chips with format names i5-8xxx, and numbers from 8400 to 8600K.
Even though the chip socket remains the same (1151), this a new version connector, and with previous boards Intel generations Core i5 8xxx series are not compatible. This fact does not allow you to upgrade a computer on a conventional i3-6100 or i5-6400 by replacing the CPU with a new six-core one.
At the time of writing, the most modern are the eighth generation Intel Core i5, although the sixth and seventh are also relevant. However, the ninth generation is approaching, codenamed Cannon Lake architecture. By the beginning of 2019, at least 3 models will go on sale: i5-9400 , 9500 and9600K .
You shouldn't expect anything revolutionary from them. As with Skylake and Kaby Lake, the new generation is just a cosmetic improvement of the previous one (Coffee Lake), which, in turn, was also not new. Thus, all Intel Core i5 from the 6th to the 9th generation differ from each other only in the number of cores, frequencies and socket.
Intel today introduced its eighth generation Core processors. Only this announcement did not turn out at all what we expected. Firstly, they presented only four CPUs of the Core i5 and Core i7 families. Secondly, they are not called Coffee Lake at all, but Kaby Lake Refresh.
So, first, about the processors themselves.
| Model | Number of cores/threads | Frequency, GHz | L3 cache size, MB | GPU | GPU frequency, MHz | TDP, W | Price, dollars |
| Core i5-8250U | 4/8 | 1,6-3,4 | 6 | UHD Graphics 620 | 300/1100 | 15 | 297 |
| Core i5-8350U | 4/8 | 1,7-3,6 | 6 | UHD Graphics 620 | 300/1100 | 15 | 297 |
| Core i7-8550U | 4/8 | 1,8-4,0 | 8 | UHD Graphics 620 | 300/1150 | 15 | 409 |
| Core i7-8650U | 4/8 | 1,9-4,2 | 8 | UHD Graphics 620 | 300/1150 | 15 | 409 |
So, as you can see, mobile CPUs of the U family have now become quad-core, which is one of the most impressive changes in Intel processors in recent years. last years. In addition, this was achieved while maintaining the TDP at 15 W. However, of course, this did not come in vain. As you can see, the frequencies are significantly lower than those of its predecessors. Moreover, all new products received a junior GPU UHD Graphics 620, while some Kaby Lake CPUs use the Iris Plus Graphics 640 core. That is, in some tasks the new processors may even be inferior to the old ones, but in general there should be a very significant advantage, especially in resource-intensive ones applications. Also, the actual energy consumption of new products will most likely still be higher.
Now let's move on to an equally interesting part of Intel's presentation. Recently, we have repeatedly asked questions regarding the logic of releasing new generations of the company’s CPUs. We finally have answers. The thing is that from now on one numbered generation of Intel processors can include several generations of CPUs that are different from an architectural point of view. More precisely, the eighth generation Core will ultimately consist not only of Kaby Lake Refresh models, but also Coffee Lake and even Cannonlake processors.
Probably, Intel decided to do this in order to at least somewhat streamline the too large number of new solutions that will be released in a short period of time. Intel promises eighth-generation desktop models in the fall, without specifying a time frame. Apparently, these processors will be called Coffee Lake-S, although they could also be called Kaby Lake Refresh. Further, within the framework of the eighth generation, there will even be a change in the technical process, since Cannonlake solutions will be 10-nanometer. In the end, everything comes together, since the ninth generation, as we already know, will be called Ice Lake. True, this probably means that with the transition to these processors, Intel will again return to the principle of one architectural generation per number.
Intel released its latest eighth generation mobile processors at the beginning of April 2018, but many users still do not know how different they are from the previous one, and are also confused between the H and U series. Therefore, in this article I would like to talk more about them , and then test them in benchmarks using the new GT75 and GS65 laptops against the previous generation GP62 laptop. By the way, if you use laptops of other brands, the difference in performance may not be so noticeable due to the lower power of the power supply and more weak system cooling.
Difference in number of cores and heat dissipation
Looking at the table below, we can see that all eighth-generation Core i9 and Core i7 H-series models feature a 6-core/12-thread architecture. This means that the performance increase in some benchmarks can be 40-50%, since we have 2 cores (and 4 computing threads) more than the Core i7-7700HQ. The Core i5-8300H and Core i7-8500U processors have a 4-core/8-thread formula and may also be faster in some tests than the Core i7-7700HQ.The more cores, the greater the heat dissipation and power consumption of the processor, so a sharp increase in the temperature of an eighth-generation Core i7 or Core i9 processor to 95°C or higher is quite normal. Some programs require increased performance, and the cooling fan accelerates with a delay of several seconds. However, this will not lead to damage to the processor or any problems in terms of speed, because MSI gaming laptops are equipped with a more powerful cooling system with more heat pipes than the competition. Its most “advanced” version is used in the GT75 model to, together with two 230-watt power supplies, ensure high performance and stable operation of the Core i9 processor at frequencies up to 4.7 GHz!
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* Thermal package in Boost mode - assessment based on reviews in the media and internal tests using the Intel XTU utility. When all processor cores operate at maximum frequency, heat dissipation increases much higher basic level. *
MSI Cooling Systems are the Best Choice for Gaming Laptops
4 heat pipes and 3 fans with 47 blades - the Cooler Boost Trinity cooling system implemented in the GS65 Stealth Thin laptop is the most powerful in its segment. Thanks to it, this ultra-thin laptop supports a special turbo mode, in which the processor operates at an increased frequency.The GT75 Titan laptop is equipped with a real masterpiece called Cooler Boost Titan. This cooling system includes 2 huge fans, 3 heatpipes for the CPU and 6 for the GPU and voltage regulator. It is capable of dissipating more than 120 watts of heat and even more, allowing you to overclock the processor to extremely high frequencies.
During testing of the Core i9-8950HK and Core i7-8750H processors, Sport mode was activated in the MSI Dragon Center 2 application. Thus, users of these laptops have the opportunity to overclock the system even more by switching to Turbo mode. In particular, the GT75 Titan can provide stable processor operation at 4.5-4.7 GHz.
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Core i9-8950HK – more than 86% faster than Core i7-7700HQ
Let's take a look at the results of the multi-threaded CPU benchmark CineBench R15, which allows you to evaluate performance in professional applications. The Core i9-8950HK processor is 86% ahead of the Core i7-7700HQ, and also outperforms the Core i7-8750H by 24%. Speed worthy of its price. And even the Core i5-8300H is more than 13% faster than the Core i7-7700HQ. As for the Core i7-8550U model, it is considered cheaper and more economical, and this affects the performance, which is 25% lower than that of the Core i7-7700HQ. |
More cores and higher frequency means higher X.264 FHD video transcoding speed
Transcoding and editing Full-HD video has already become a daily task for gamers, YouTubers and streamers, so I was interested to see what improvements the Core i9-8950HK and Core i7-8750H processors could offer in this area. For testing, I used the X264 FHD Benchmark.Let's look at the results. The six-core Core i9-8950HK and Core i7-8750H handle video transcoding much faster. If we express the results as percentages, the i9-8950HK, i7-8750H and i5-8300H processors are ahead of the i7-7700HQ by 74%, 39% and 9%, respectively.
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The maximum lead is in the pure processor benchmark PASS Mark
PASS Mark is a CPU-specific benchmark, so it does a very good job of showing the differences between different CPU architectures. Here the Intel Core i9-8950H is 99% faster than the i7-7700HQ, and the Core i7-7850H is 62% faster than the i7-7700HQ - all thanks to higher frequencies and more cores. We also see that the Core i5-8300H, having the same architecture (4 cores, 8 threads) and a similar base frequency as the i7-7700HQ, shows almost the same performance.Superior cooling and power are key to the performance of MSI laptops
Not all laptops equipped with the Core i9-8950HK and Core i7-8750H can show the same performance boost, as these processors have higher power consumption when running at maximum. The thermal package of 45 watts applies only to the base frequency. If you want the processor to operate longer at a higher frequency in Boost mode, then be prepared for the fact that the power consumption of the eighth generation Core i9/i7 processor can be 60-120 watts when all six cores are fully loaded. This is why it is so important to have a powerful power system and good cooling. |
Using Intel's XTU utility, I limited the thermal package of the Core i9-8950HK processor in the GT75 Titan running in Turbo mode and tested it in the CineBench R15 multi-threaded CPU test. As you can see, if the cooling system is weak or the processor is not getting enough power, performance will drop significantly.
So, with a thermal package of 150 watts, the result is 1444 points. Thermal package 120 W – 1348 points, 90 W – 1250 points. And with a thermal package of 60 W, the i9-8950HK processor gets 1103 points, which is even less than the i7-8750H processor (1113 points). So, the cooling system and power consumption are the key factors that determine processor performance. The more cores running under full load, the higher the power requirements. And this means that if you purchase a gaming laptop from another brand with weak cooling or an insufficiently powerful power system, you can get beautiful numbers in the specifications, but low speed in practice.
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Performance depends on cooling and power
To achieve maximum performance, the Core i9-8950HK processor requires more than 120 watts of power, and the Core i7-8750H processor requires more than 60 watts. To dissipate this amount of heat, MSI laptops are equipped with powerful cooling systems with a unique Cooler Boost fan acceleration feature. Stable power supply and good cooling are the key to high gaming performance. Replace your old laptop with a gaming laptop from MSI and you will immediately notice its excellent speed! |
