Technical characteristics of Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 processors. Intel Core i3 and i5 processors for LGA1150 intel core i 3 processors

After the announcement of the LGA1155 platform, Intel is methodically updating its processor lines. Starting with top-end CPUs, the manufacturer is moving to Sandy Bridge and more affordable solutions - Core i3 and Pentium. The latter are intended for entry-level and mid-level systems. Models costing “about $100” have always been objects of close attention from users who are accustomed to looking for the best options when completing a system. Often people who choose a processor from this price category, approach this issue even more responsibly than those who are ready to pay any price for maximum performance. Let's see what the new ones are capable of Intel products in comparison with predecessors and alternative solutions from the main competitor.

From a technical point of view, the most important difference between the Core i3 and the Core i5/i7 chips is that they are initially based on a dual-core crystal, and not a quad-core one with deactivated computing units. That is, no tricky tricks with unlocking will work here, however, Intel chips have not provided such an opportunity before. The area has decreased from 216 to 131 mm2, therefore, significantly more workpieces are obtained from one silicon wafer, and the cost of their production is lower. Accordingly, Intel has a chance to offer interesting retail prices, continuing to make money even on budget processors.

What changes have occurred in terms of functional equipment? The amount of L1 and L2 cache memory is identical for all models on Sandy Bridge (64 KB and 256 KB per core), but the third level buffer in the Core i3 has decreased in proportion to the number of cores - from 6 to 3 MB. The compact crystal, made using 32-nanometer technology, allows you to count on good power consumption indicators. The TDP for the second generation Core i3 is 65 W, while for predecessors from the Clarkdale family this parameter was within 73 W.

3DMark 06, CPU test, scores

System energy consumption, W

PCMark 7, Computation scenario, points

Fritz chess Benchmark 4.2, thousand nodes/c

x264 HD Benchmark 4.0, fps

WinRAR 4.0, KB/s

CineBench 11.5, points

Resident Evil 5, 1920×1080, DX9, average quality, fps

Colin McRae: DiRT 3, 1920×1080, medium quality, fps

Far Cry 2, 1920×1080, medium quality, fps

The chip integrates Intel HD Graphics 2000 with 6 computing units. The standard frequency of the video core is 850 MHz, while during operation it can dynamically increase to 1.1 GHz. Support for Quick Sync, a powerful tool for video transcoding, is retained. The advantage of Core i3 is also its technology Hyper Threading, which adds a couple more virtual cores to two physical cores. In multi-threaded applications, this function sometimes plays a very important role, allowing you to use CPU resources more efficiently. We also note that the processor has the ability to execute instructions from the AVX (Advanced Vector Extensions) set, which, with the proper degree of optimization, will help speed up floating-point calculations, which are actively used in multimedia software.

Alas, Core i3 does not support Turbo Boost technology for dynamically increasing the frequency of processor cores, which is to some extent compensated for by high nominal values. Given the positioning of the CPUs of this family, there are also no AES encryption instructions here.

The current line of processors consists of four models. Junior Core The i3-2100 with a clock speed of 3.1 GHz is offered for $117. The Core i3-2120 operates at 3.3 GHz and costs $20 more. Intel has also included a cost-effective version of the i3-2100T with a TDP of 35 W. As a rule, it is possible to reduce CPU power consumption by reducing the operating clock frequency and supply voltage. On motherboards that allow the user to perform downclocking themselves and reduce the voltage below the recommended values, it is often possible to achieve similar results. But in cases where this is not possible, purchasing energy-efficient models will be justified. The Core i3-2100T operates at 2.5 GHz, and the graphics unit frequency is reduced from 850 to 650 MHz, while it can dynamically increase to 1.1 GHz.

Chips with reduced power consumption will be in demand for systems with compact cases that have a small volume and, accordingly, limited options for choosing a cooling system.

The Core i3-2105 stands out in the series. This model has identical clock speeds to the i3-2100, but differs from other devices in the family in the use of more powerful Intel HD Graphics 3000 graphics. Returning to the topology of the crystal, we note that the graphics component occupies a significant part of it - about a quarter. In turn, the lion's share of space is allocated to computing units. Therefore, taking into account the fact that most budget models will have built-in HD Graphics 2000 with 6 blocks, not 12, Intel developers rightly considered that simply deactivating half of the computers is not a completely rational solution. Therefore, from a technological point of view, it turned out to be more profitable to have two designs of dual-core crystals. The version with more powerful graphics has a slightly larger area (149 mm2), but in terms of power consumption it also falls within 65 W. As we could see earlier, the performance of HD Graphics 2000 and 3000 is noticeably different: depending on the tasks, the latter is 1.5–2 times faster, while being a serious competitor to budget discrete video cards. An overpayment of $14 for a modification with faster graphics will make sense if you are determined to use integrated video, and the capabilities of HD Graphics 2000 seem insufficient for the intended tasks.

Unlike mobile solutions, where even dual-core processors can be offered under the Core i7 brand, among desktop Core models with Sandy Bridge architecture current moment There is a fairly clear segmentation by the number of computing units (physical and virtual): Core i7 – 4 cores and Hyper Threading, Core i5 – 4 cores without HT, Core i3 – 2 cores and Hyper Threading.

Pentium

If we move down the conventional scale of differentiation of actual Intel processors, Core i3 is followed by Pentium chips. With the advent of the Core architecture, without exaggeration legendary brand used to denote fairly affordable CPUs with a traditionally good price/performance ratio. Modernization of this line has been asking for a long time. Recently, models for the still relevant LGA775 platform have not been easy to hold back the onslaught of inexpensive solutions from AMD, especially to compete on equal terms with the tri-core Athlon II X3, which often offered higher performance at a similar price. Pentium based on the Clarkdale core for the LGA1156 socket have not gained significant popularity. The market situation at the time of the release of this platform was such that it was primarily positioned by Intel as a solution for mid- and high-end systems. Therefore, even after expanding the initial range of processors, the minimum cost of admission here remained quite high. The retail price of the most affordable Pentium G6950 is about $100, which is a bit expensive for an entry-level PC. It is easy to assume that Pentium for LGA1156, combining two crystals (CPU and GPU), has a higher cost. Therefore, it is quite difficult to seriously reduce the price of these processors. Moreover, in this case we're talking about about low-cost, mass-produced chips. And boards cheaper than $80–90 for LGA1156 actually appeared only after the announcement of Sandy Bridge.

The updated Pentium modifications were the result of a simple simplification of the dual-core chips used for the Core i3. First of all, Pentium lost Hyper Threading technology, as well as the ability to execute AVX instructions. At the same time, the cache memory volumes are identical to those for the Core i3. The new Pentium family chips also use Intel HD Graphics 2000, although with a number of restrictions regarding support for proprietary technologies. In particular, Quick Sync, a visual video enhancement feature, does not work here. Intel Clear Video HD and stereoscopic image output (Intel InTru 3D).

On initial stage the line includes four models: Pentium G850 (2.9 GHz), G840 (2.8), G620 (2.6 GHz) and G620T (2.2 GHz). As you might guess, the latter refers to economical modifications, the energy consumption level of which does not exceed 35 W. In addition to the clock frequency reduced to 2.2 GHz, like the energy-efficient Core i3-2100T model, it also has a reduced graphics core frequency to 650 MHz with a limit value of 1.1 GHz.

As you can see, the new Pentium processors, compared to the Core i3, are mainly lighter in terms of functionality, while the basic characteristics should provide a decent level of performance. The Sandy Bridge microarchitecture used promises a good increase in performance, which we will try to verify during practical tests. As for the price, in wholesale quantities the cost of the CPU family lies in the range of $64–86. The retail price will be slightly higher, but it is obvious that Pentium will be cheaper not only than the Core i3, but also its predecessors with the Clarkdale core.

The updated Pentium models were presented quite recently - at the end of May. And almost immediately they appeared in retail sales in Ukraine. Intel has good practice bringing their products to market when they become available to customers either simultaneously with the global presentation or as soon as possible after it.

Processor Specifications

Model	Core i3-2120	Core i3-530	Pentium G620/G850	Pentium G6950	Athlon II X3 455	Phenom II X4 955
Codename	Sandy Bridge	Clarkdale	Sandy Bridge	Clarkdale	Rana	Deneb
Number of cores (threads), pcs.	2 (4)	2 (4)	2	2	3	4
Clock frequency, GHz	3,3	2,93	2,6/2,9	2,8	3,3	3,2
L3 cache size	3	4	3	3	–	6
Integrated graphics (core frequency)	Intel HD Graphics 2000 (850/1100)	Intel HD Graphics (733)	Intel HD Graphics 2000 (850/1100)	Intel HD Graphics (533)	–	–
Technology production, nm	32	32 + 45	32	32 + 45	45	45
CPU socket	LGA 1155	LGA 1156	LGA 1155	LGA 1156	AM3	AM3
Power consumption (TDP), W	65	73	65	73	95	125
Recommended price, $	138	~105*	64	87	76	117
*According to the Hotline.ua catalog

Overclocking

Overclocking is a fairly popular pastime for many enthusiasts. Someone is trying to increase system performance in this way in the hope of delaying the next upgrade. For some, it is a hobby, a sport, or a way to satisfy idle curiosity by exploring the capabilities and hidden potential of the CPU.

Unfortunately, those who like to experiment with overclocking will be a little disappointed this time. Considering the specifics of the clock generator in the new platform and the locked processor multiplier of the chips reviewed, it is obvious that the room for maneuver here is seriously limited. Even despite the relatively high multiplication factors (+100–150 MHz), this is all that can be squeezed out after increasing the carrier bus to 103–106 MHz, at which the current motherboards maintain stability. Of course, these are not the indicators that we would like to get, especially considering that older Sandy Bridge models often reach frequencies of 4500 MHz and higher even in the air. Alas, new Pentiums and Core i3 are absolutely not designed for overclocking. You will have to come to terms with this fact and take it into account when purchasing. At the same time, it is also important not to forget that these chips, even in normal mode, are noticeably more productive than their predecessors, which can even out the difference in frequencies.

In our opinion, you can’t expect modifications with unlocked multipliers among Core i3 and Pentium. Models with the K index, so beloved by overclockers, will be available only in the more expensive Core i5/i7 lines.

Results

As the test results demonstrate, the new Intel processors in the mid-price category have a noticeable performance advantage over their predecessors in terms of performance. Under conditions of good multi-threaded program optimization, AMD chips with a large number physical computing units can sometimes provide serious resistance. For example, if you look at the performance of the Athlon II X3 455 and Pentium G620, which are now offered at approximately the same price, then a triple-core CPU in applications where calculations can take place in parallel has a definite advantage. Even though the core speed in terms of megahertz of AMD products with K10.5 architecture is noticeably lower than that of Intel chips on Sandy Bridge, in such software “brute force” is often quite effective, although this is achieved by increasing energy costs by one and a half times. However, we must admit that this is an ideal case when all processor cores are used as efficiently as possible. In real applications, this does not happen often, unfortunately. In games, new ones have unconditional primacy Intel solutions. As we have already seen, the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture copes well with such loads, and the gap between both its predecessors and competitor models is maximum.

New Pentiums are on average 20% more productive than CPUs of the same name for LGA1156 and compete almost equally with Core i3 on the Clarkdale core, which are noticeably more expensive. Simplification of the functional part of these chips did not greatly affect their speed performance. Therefore, these models can be fully recommended for creating universal systems and entry-level gaming platforms. In turn, the second generation Core i3 also noticeably accelerated. Of course, it’s difficult for them to compete with quad-core Core i5s, but high clock speeds and support for Hyper Threading technology allow them to demonstrate very decent results, including in applications with multi-threaded optimization. Well, in games they sometimes look preferable to the quad-core AMD Phenom II X4. Considering that these processors have retained the functionality of older models, they may be interesting for creating both mid-level gaming PCs and powerful multimedia systems.

This time, Intel has done everything to make the LGA1155 platform truly universal. The existing infrastructure allows you to create both a top-end system and an inexpensive entry-level PC. For powerful configurations, there are enough motherboards on the market based on Intel Z68 and P67 chips, and for the most affordable solutions, it is quite possible to use models based on Intel H61. Intel's processor line now looks very smooth. There are no distortions or obvious competition between solutions from different families. So far, one brick is missing - the most affordable CPU models. Soon, Celeron is also planned to be transferred to the 32-nanometer process and a progressive microarchitecture. Presumably, these chips will appear in the third quarter of this year, at which time the range of other lines on Sandy Bridge will be expanded.

Configuration test bench

Intel, www.intel.ua

Hello, dear subscribers of our blog. Today I will try to explain how the i3 processor differs from the i5. Surely many are interested in why one Intel Core it costs much more than the other, although you won’t immediately understand where the salt lies. In this article we will analyze which stone is best suited for PC games and work tasks.

The comparison will be multi-stage and contain pivot tables. By the way, in the second part we will look at and also advise which one for certain tasks.

Separately, I would like to say that we do not specifically mention mobile processors - everything is much more complicated there, and besides, special attention is paid to labeling rather than to the numerical value of chips and characteristics.

Difference between Coffee Lake and previous generations

The release of the 8th generation of Intel Core literally put the entire computer hardware market on edge. The difference between previous generations is colossal, and is expressed in the following figures:

Characteristic	Core i3 (2–7)	Core i5 (2–7)	Core i3 (8)	Core i5 (8)
Number of physical cores	2	4	4	6
Level 3 cache	3 MB	8 MB	6 MB	9 MB
Hyper Threading support	+	-	-	-
Turbo Boost support	-	+	-	+
Memory support	DDR-2400	DDR-2400	DDR-2400	DDR-2666
Unlocked multiplier	-	+	+ (8350K)	+
Socket	1151	1151	1151v2	1151v2

As you can see, the usual concept has changed radically, as well as technical specifications. The exit contributed to this AMD Ryzen, which in the minimum configuration included 4 computing cores (Ryzen 3 1200).

I'm glad that the built-in video remains, as do most proprietary technologies and instructions. Another thing is that the quality of graphics has not changed compared to Kaby Lake - still the same Intel UHD 630.

Difference between i3 and i5

First, let's look at the classic confrontation between processors, and then switch to more recent ones Coffee Lake. The confrontation scheme will include several points.

• Number of cores

The more physical cores, the more operations the chip performs per clock cycle. For i3 this indicator is 2, for i5 – 4, respectively.

For Coffee Lake the situation is as follows: both chips added 2 physical cores, but i5 is still the leader in this area.

• Turbo Boost

This technology allows you to significantly increase the CPU frequency in automatic mode only in cases where it is really necessary. In essence, this is a “lazy” version of overclocking by a multiplier, which is limited by the limitations of the platform, heat package and cooling. Only i5 has this mode, when i3 has fixed frequencies.

• Hyper-Threading

For processors, one physical core usually receives one stream of data, which is processed by this core. This function (i.e. HT) allows you to use 2 threads per core at once.

Many people mistakenly believe that virtual cores are almost identical to physical ones, but in fact the processor performs one operation not with one, but with two hands, to put it as simply and intelligibly as possible.

Second, third, fourth and even seventh generation i3 processors supported this function, but with the advent of Coffee Lake, the number of physical computing units increased from 2 to 4, and the need for the technology disappeared. Core i5s do not support the mode natively.

• Cache size

A little over 8 years ago, Steve Jobs introduced the Macbook Air - a device that opened new class portable laptops - ultrabooks. Since then, many different ultrabooks have been released, but they all had one thing in common - low-voltage processors with a thermal dissipation (TDP) of 15-17 watts. However, in 2015, with the transition to the 14 nm process technology, Intel decided to go even further and introduced a line of Core m processors, which have a TDP of only 4-5 W, but should be much more powerful than the Intel Atom line with a similar TDP. The main feature of new processors is that they can be cooled passively, that is, the cooler can be removed from the device. But alas, removing the cooler brought quite a lot of new problems, which we will discuss below.

Comparison with closest competitors

And although Kaby Lake processors have already been released, there are no tests of them yet, so we will limit ourselves to the previous line, Skylake - from a technical point of view, the difference between them is small. For comparison, let's take three processors - Intel Atom x7-Z8700, as one of the most powerful representatives of the Atom line, Intel Core m3-6Y30 - the weakest Core m (later I will explain why you should not take more powerful ones), and Intel Core i3-6100U - a popular representative of the weakest line of “full-fledged” low-voltage processors:

An interesting picture emerges - from a physical point of view, the Core m3 and i3 are absolutely identical, only the maximum graphics and processor frequencies differ, while the thermal package differs threefold, which in general cannot be the case. Atom has the same TDP as Core m3, comparable frequencies, but 4 physical cores. At the same time, although there are more cores, they are greatly reduced in capabilities to reduce heat dissipation: for example, the i5-6300HQ with 4 “full-fledged” physical cores with the same frequencies has a TDP an order of magnitude higher - 45 W. Therefore, it will be interesting to compare the capabilities of stripped-down and full-fledged architectures with the same heat dissipation.

Processor tests

As we have already found out above, m3 is essentially i3, sandwiched three times smaller in heat package. It would seem that the difference in performance should be at least twofold, but there are several nuances here: firstly, Intel allows Core m not to pay attention to TDP until its temperature reaches a certain point. This is very clearly visible when running the Cinebench R15 benchmark multiple times:

As you can see, the processor scored about 215 points in the first 4 runs of the test, and then the results stabilized at 185, that is, the loss of performance due to such cheating by Intel was about 15%. Therefore, it makes no sense to take the more powerful Core m5 and m7 - after 10 minutes of load they will reduce performance to the level of Core m3. But the result of the i3-6100U, whose operating frequency is only 100 MHz higher than that of the m3-6Y30, is much better - 250 points:

That is, when the load is only on the processor, the difference in performance between m3 and i3 is 35% - a fairly significant result. But Atom showed its best side - although the cores were cut down, twice their number allowed the processor to score 140 points. Yes, the result is still 25% worse than the Core m3, but don’t forget about the eight-fold difference in price between them.

The second caveat is that the heat package is designed for both the video card and the processor at the same time, so let’s look at the results of the 3Dmark 11 Performance test: this is a test designed for mid-level PCs (which our systems belong to), testing both the processor and the video card at the same time. And here the final difference turns out to be the same, Core m3 turns out to be 30% worse than i3 (because Core i3 also ceases to have enough thermal package - it needs about 20 watts to operate at maximum frequencies):
Intel Core m3-6Y30:

Intel Core i3-6100U:

But Intel Atom fails miserably - the result is 4-5 times worse than m3 and i3:

And this, in principle, is expected - Cinebench tests the bare mathematical performance of a processor and is only good for comparing processors of the same architecture, but 3Dmark gives a versatile load that is much closer to real life. However, the eightfold difference in price still allows Atom to stay afloat.

Energy consumption

As can be seen from the tests above, a threefold difference in TDP gives a performance increase of about 35%. However, this is only true under heavy load, which is quite rare for ultrabooks. For convenience, let's take two MacBooks, 12" and 13" 2016 - macOS on different devices is optimized equally well, and this will allow you to find out the difference in the power consumption of devices without reference to operating system(yes, the energy consumption of the entire system is tested below, but only screens and processors make a significant contribution to it, and since the first ones are very similar, only processors make a significant contribution to the difference in energy consumption). And here the difference turns out to be... only one and a half watts on average, 7.2 and 8.9 W (and the 13" Macbook has a processor more powerful than the i3-6100U):

What does this mean? This means that under normal load, both processors consume only a few watts, and the Core m does not reach the TDP limit. Intel Atom shows power consumption comparable to Core m3 (for example, Microsoft Surface 3 is taken, which is well optimized for working with Windows):

Conclusions

What happens in the end? Intel Atom is a good choice for inexpensive tablet or a netbook on which no one will run anything heavier than 1080p60 from YouTube. The processor is cheap, and for this you can forgive the difference in performance with the Core lines. Intel Core m is a good choice for a productivity tablet or a simple ultrabook. Due to the absence of a cooler, such a device will be absolutely silent, and normal tasks no slower than its more powerful Core i counterparts. However, it’s clearly not worth taking it for photo or video processing, and even more so for games - the performance quickly comes up against the low TDP and drops quite significantly even in comparison with a simple i3. Well, the Core i line is a good choice for a productive ultrabook. If the system has at least simple discrete graphics, such a device is at the level of gaming laptops from 5 years ago, and allows you to easily process photos and light video, as well as make it possible to play mainstream games even at the lowest graphics settings. However, any load above average will lead to noticeable noise from a small high-speed cooler, which can irritate those who like to work at night in silence.

Part two: "The most important characteristics of each Intel Core i3/i5/i7 processor family. Which of these chips are of particular interest"

Introduction

First we will give the most important characteristics each family of Intel Core i3/i5/i7 processors, and then we'll talk about which of these chips are of particular interest. For the convenience of readers, we considered it appropriate to present the information in the form of a kind of reference book, and all data about current models summarize the models in small tables. The prices we give are Russian retail prices, fixed at the time of publication of this material, for processors in a “boxed” configuration (that is, with a proprietary cooler).

Core i3

Core i3 (Clarkdale) - dual core processor latest generation, intended for desktop computers entry level. First introduced on January 7, 2010. Installed in LGA1156 connector. Produced using 32nm technology.

Equipped with a built-in PCI Express 2.0 x16 controller, thanks to which the graphics accelerator can be connected directly to the processor. To connect to the set system logic The DMI bus (Digital Media Interface) with a bandwidth of 2 GB/s is used.

IN Core processors i3 built-in graphics core GMA HD with twelve pipelines and a clock frequency of 733 MHz.

The base clock frequency for all Core i3 models is 133 MHz, nominal frequencies are achieved by using multipliers.

Compatible chipsets: Intel H55 Express, H57 Express, P55 Express, Q57 Express

Main technical parameters of Core i3

• Nehalem microarchitecture
• Two cores
• L3 cache - 4 MB, common to all cores
• Built-in PCI Express 2.0 x16 controller
• Integrated graphics adapter with a clock frequency of 733 MHz
• SSE 4.2 instruction set
• AES-NIS instruction set

Core i5

Core i5 (Clarkdale or Lynnfield) - two or quad core processor latest generation, designed for mid-range desktop computers. First introduced on September 8, 2009. Installed in LGA1156 connector. Dual-core Clarkdale are manufactured using 32nm technology, quad-core Lynnfield - using 45nm technology.

Equipped with a built-in two-channel controller RAM DDR3-1066/1333 with voltage up to 1.6 V. Modules designed for higher voltage will not work with this chip and may even damage it.

Equipped with a built-in PCI Express 2.0 x16 controller, thanks to which the graphics accelerator can be connected directly to the processor. In models with a built-in GMA HD graphics core, one video card in x16 mode can be connected to the chip; in models without built-in graphics, two video cards in x8 mode each can be connected.

To connect to the system logic set, a DMI (Digital Media Interface) bus with a bandwidth of 2 GB/s is used.

Dual-core models (6xx series) have a built-in GMA HD graphics adapter and Hyper-Threading technology; quad-core (7xx series) do not have graphics or Hyper-Threading. In models whose number ends in 1, the graphics clock speed is 900 MHz, in models whose number ends in 0, the graphics core operates at 733 MHz.

All Core i5s feature Turbo Boost technology for automatically increasing the clock speed in resource-intensive tasks.

The base clock frequency for all Core i5 models is 133 MHz, nominal frequencies are achieved by using multipliers.

Compatible chipsets: Intel H55 Express, H57 Express, P55 Express, Q57 Express.

Main technical parameters of Core i5

• Nehalem microarchitecture
• Two or four cores
• L1 cache - 64 KB (32 KB data and 32 KB instruction) per core
• L2 cache - 256 KB per core
• L3 cache - 4 or 8 MB, common to all cores
• Built-in dual-channel DDR3-1066/1333 MHz RAM controller
• Integrated PCI Express 2.0 controller (one x16 lane or two x8 lanes on models without integrated graphics)
• Integrated graphics adapter with a clock frequency of 733 or 900 MHz
• Support for VT virtualization technology
• 64-bit support Intel instructions EM64T
• Support for Hyper-Threading technology in dual-core models
• SSE 4.2 instruction set
• AES-NIS instruction set
• Antivirus technology Execute Disable Bit
• Enhanced SpeedStep technology

Core i7

Core i7 (Bloomfield, Lynnfield or Gulftown) is the latest generation four or six-core processor designed for high-end desktop computers. First introduced in November 2008. Quad-core Bloomfield and Lynnfield are manufactured using 45 nm technology, six-core Lynnfield - using 32 nm technology.

Available in two modifications: 9xx series (for LGA1366 socket) with a built-in three-channel memory controller and QPI bus, and 8xx series (for LGA1156 socket) with a dual-channel memory controller, built-in PCI Express 2.0 controller and DMI bus) DDR3-1066/1333 RAM is supported with voltages up to 1.6 V. Modules designed for higher voltages will not work with this chip and may even damage it.

Processors for the LGA1366 socket are equipped with a high-speed QPI bus operating at a frequency of 2.4 GHz (up to 4.8 GB/s) in regular i7s and at a frequency of 3.2 GHz (6.4 GB/s) in Extreme modifications (these include i7-965, i7-975 and i7-980X.

Chips for the LGA1156 connector are equipped with a built-in PCI Express 2.0 x16 controller, thanks to which the graphics accelerator can be connected directly to the processor. To connect to the system logic set, a DMI (Digital Media Interface) bus with a bandwidth of 2 GB/s is used here.

All Core i7s feature Turbo Boost technology for automatically increasing the clock speed in resource-intensive tasks, as well as Hyper-Threading technology.

The base clock frequency for all Core i7 models is 133 MHz, nominal frequencies are achieved by using multipliers. In Core i7 Extreme modifications, the multiplier is unlocked, which allows you to freely increase the processor clock speed.

Compatible chipsets: 8xx series - Intel H55 Express, H57 Express, P55 Express, Q57 Express, 9xx series - Intel X58 Express.

Main technical parameters of Core i7

• Nehalem microarchitecture
• Four or six cores
• L1 cache - 64 KB (32 KB data and 32 KB instruction) per core
• L2 cache - 256 KB per core
• L3 cache - 8 or 12 MB, common to all cores
• Built-in dual-channel (LGA1156) or triple-channel (LGA1366) DDR3-1066/1333 MHz RAM controller
• QPI bus operating at 2.4 GHz (4.8 GB/s) or 3.2 GHz (6.4 GB/s) on LGA1366 models
• DMI bus (2 GB/s) on LGA1156 models
• Integrated PCI Express 2.0 controller (one x16 lane or two x8 lanes on models without integrated graphics) on LGA1156 models
• Support for VT virtualization technology
• Support for 64-bit Intel EM64T instructions
• Hyper-Threading Technology Support
• Turbo Boost technology support
• SSE 4.2 instruction set
• AES-NIS instruction set for i7-980X
• Antivirus technology Execute Disable Bit
• Enhanced SpeedStep technology

What to choose?

The Core i3-530 and 540 processors are quite powerful and inexpensive chips, and the price difference between them is negligible, so there is no point in purchasing the 530 unless you are strictly on a budget.

Core i3 series chips are direct competitors of processors previous generation Core 2 Duo Exxx: They cost about the same and provide comparable levels of performance, albeit slightly faster. However, although LGA1156 motherboards are more expensive than their LGA775 counterparts, buying an i3 chip is a smarter long-term investment than a Core 2 Duo, since these processors are not only fast enough today, but can be replaced with any LGA1156 chip in the future - even on a super-powerful Core i7. If the i3-530 is too expensive for you, you can pay attention to the Pentium G6950 (the “boxed” version complete with a standard cooler will cost about 3,200 rubles), which is slower than both “three rubles”, but practically not inferior to most Core 2 Duo.

As for the quad-core Core 2 Quad, which are slightly more expensive than the dual-core Core i3 (for example, the “boxed” Core 2 Quad Q8300 costs about 5,000 rubles), then buying them today only makes sense for an upgrade existing system for the LGA775 socket - in this case it is a very reasonable choice.

All Core i5 600 series processors are different high performance, however, if you don't need a chip with integrated graphics, there's not much point in buying a model from this family. These models are aimed more at the corporate market - office computer no need for powerful graphics, and the simpler it is in design, the more convenient it is to maintain.

For the same money that they ask for chips of the 600 family, it is better to buy a quad-core i5-750 - this is an ideal choice for building a powerful home PC for a reasonable price. If you make a choice within the 600 series, you should know that the 661 differs from the 660 only in slightly faster integrated graphics, but at the same time increased power consumption and the lack of hardware support for VT-d I/O virtualization, which is only relevant for corporate users. In other words, if you are buying a CPU for home computer, it makes sense to prefer the Core i5-661.

To build a powerful gaming PC, best choice according to the price/performance criterion - Core i7-860, all other options will cost much more, since a more expensive one will be required motherboard on the X58 Express chipset for the LGA1366 socket.

The six-core “extreme” Core i7-980X is the unsurpassed leader in performance not only of the entire modern line of Intel desktop processors, but also of competing AMD models. Therefore, you should not be surprised that a system based on it will cost a rather impressive amount. Lovers of the very best can prepare their wallets - this chip is about to hit the shelves Russian stores, replacing previous flagship Core i7-975