Choosing a suitable laptop has become quite difficult due to the increasing complexity of its hardware. If previously all processors were single-core, you could safely choose the laptop with the highest rating. With the increase in the number of cores and performance requirements, the hardware requirements have also increased, and if a laptop is required for certain purposes, you should dive a little into this hardware component. This means that you should study the performance of processors. A table is a great way to visualize everything, but the individual device architecture must be taken into account and matched to the required tasks.

One or another component can play a decisive role in performance. For example, if a PC must withstand as much time as possible without recharging, then the processor must be energy efficient. Often, manufacturers voice “flashy” parameters such as high RAM, “forgetting” to say that the device lasts for a maximum of 3 hours without recharging.

To avoid falling for this (and many other) tricks, it is better to understand a little about the assortment of modern laptops than to be disappointed in the purchase in the future. And the simplest task is to study the performance of processors. The table, which will be presented below, will clearly show the line of their main advantages and disadvantages. However, it will be easier to consider the advantages and disadvantages of a particular processor using a “live” example of several popular models, typical representatives of a particular user category.

"Notepads and Immortals" Intel Atom

A popular solution for journalists and writers looking for inspiration outside the walls of the home (and therefore, far from recharging sources) is equipment with an integrated microprocessor. This processor is more often found in the architecture of laptops and netbooks and is leading in terms of power consumption due to low heat dissipation requirements. Thus, the Eee PC X101CH model can work for 5 hours under average load. By reducing the screen brightness and using software to optimize energy consumption, the period increases to 8-9(!) hours. The given example is typical, characterizing the energy-efficient performance of processors. A table with detailed data on operation without recharging individually for each model is published on the manufacturer’s website.

Office and headscarf battle. Intel Core i3

An excellent find for home and office are laptop models based on Similar dual core processors can fully support the execution of several simple tasks at the same time: viewing photos, surfing and an arcade game that does not require hardware. That is why they are a popular solution when working with office applications at work and a full-fledged multimedia center at home. Performance for needs other than capacitive graphics processing needs is generally limited to the i3 series.

Space scales and wars. and i7

Dedicated to fans of online battles and 3D games...

For those who are used to multitasking and high graphics work, the best option is a gaming machine based on one of the i5 or i7 series processors. Many might argue that the i7 line offers better performance, but such a high-capacity, expensive processor is not worth the investment. Such performance of laptop processors is often simply not needed, since their mobility is not justified: they are very energy-intensive and quickly drain the laptop. Meanwhile, this is an excellent solution for business and IT due to the high performance and, most importantly, the mobility of the device with this data.

Processor performance: table of basic user characteristics

It should be repeated that the technical features of a particular device based on a processor of a certain line may differ, however, the information popularized by the manufacturer for regular user looks exactly like this.

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 weak sides, 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 a higher clock frequency. Now performance is determined by other parameters.

2. Number of Cores

Most modern computer processors have 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 high-speed memory blocks are installed on manufactured processors (the so-called first, second, third level caches, 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 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 at working with various programs and therefore demonstrate better performance compared to models based on outdated technologies (even if clock speeds match up).

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 RAM, discrete video card, and peripheral controllers motherboard computer. Everything is simple here. The higher the throughput, the correspondingly higher the computer’s performance (other things being equal, the technical characteristics of the computers in question).

Explanation of names Intel processors

Core i7- on this moment top line of the company

Core i5– differ high performance

Core i3– low price, high/medium performance

All Core i series processors are built on the core Sandy Bridge and belong to the second generation of processors Intel Core. 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 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 unlocked multipliers (this allows experienced computer savvy users to overclock the processor on their own)

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

Intel Core 2 Quad

Intel Pentium and Celeron

When labeling budget Pentium processors 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 specifications on the official website of the seller or manufacturer, because it will take little time, but will help save nerves and money.

An indicative example is that the Celeron G440 and Celeron G530 processors, which differ in price by only 200 rubles, actually have a different number of cores (Celeron G440 - one, Celeron G530 - two), different core clock frequencies (the G530 has 800 MHz more ), the G530 also has twice the cache. However, the heat dissipation of the latest processor is almost twice as high, 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 Extreme Edition family. 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's processors use proprietary technologies of their own to improve system efficiency.

1. Hyper Threading - Due 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 make automatic acceleration processor, without exceeding the maximum permissible operating temperature limit of the cores.

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

4. Visualization Technology- Hardware support for virtualization solutions.

5.Intel Execute Disable Bit- In practice, it provides hardware protection against possible virus attacks 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 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 has four cores, FX-6100 has 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 definition HD, A8 - performance sufficient for confident viewing of Blu-ray movies with a 3D effect or launching modern 3D games in multi-display mode (with the ability simultaneous connection 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 the 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

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 a 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 motherboard, about the capabilities of the video system, about bus bandwidth and much more).

That is why you cannot judge the performance of a processor based on 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 running comparative testing processors with the same retail price in different 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 processor Sempron 145 based on the 45 nm Sargas core shows better performance in tests with office applications, 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 at the same time, 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 already noted above, when testing office programs, the performance picture is exactly the opposite.

If you start testing the performance in modern games of two processors of the FX-8150 and Core i5-2550K brands that are close in price, it turns out that the latter demonstrates better results, despite the fact that it has fewer cores, and it has a lower clock frequency and even volume It has a smaller memory cache. 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 graphics 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 are also a large number of software packages that do not use multi-cores at all (Painishop or GIMP). It turns out that it is impossible to say unequivocally which technical parameter of modern processors has the most influence on increasing the speed of operation raster editors . Various programs, working with raster, are demanding on a variety of parameters, such as clock frequency, number of cores (especially applies to real performance one core), and even to 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 is even despite the fact that the basic characteristics of Intel are slightly inferior.

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 does not have software multithreaded 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 audio 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 the eight-core FX-8150 processor, which, when converting audio files to different formats, shows much better results than the more expensive quad-core Core 15-2500K, due to the larger number of cores.

6. Video encoding. 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 the 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 with several resource-intensive applications at once software applications with parallel activated background operations. Just think, you are unpacking a huge RAR archive on your computer, simultaneously listening to music, editing several documents and spreadsheets, while you have Skype running and an Internet browser with several open tabs. With such active use of the computer, the ability of the processor to perform several threads of operations in parallel plays a very important role. It turns out that the number of cores in the processor is of paramount importance in this use.

Handles multitasking multi-core processors AMD 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 outperform the FX-8150.

Conclusion

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 the optimal model that best suits your needs, work and, most importantly, budget.

This article will take a detailed look at the latest generations of Intel processors based on the Kor architecture. This company occupies a leading position in the computer systems market, and most PCs are currently assembled on its semiconductor chips.

Intel's development strategy

All previous generations were subject to a two-year cycle. This company’s update release strategy is called “Tick-Tock.” The first stage, called "Tick", consisted of transferring the CPU to a new technological process. For example, in terms of architecture, the Sandy Bridge (2nd generation) and Ivy Bridge (3rd generation) generations were almost identical. But the production technology of the former was based on 32 nm standards, and the latter - 22 nm. The same can be said about HasWell (4th generation, 22 nm) and BroadWell (5th generation, 14 nm). In turn, the “So” stage means a radical change in the architecture of semiconductor crystals and a significant increase in performance. Examples include the following transitions:

1st generation Westmere and 2nd generation Sandy Bridge. The technological process in this case was identical - 32 nm, but the changes in terms of chip architecture were significant - the north bridge of the motherboard and the built-in graphics accelerator were transferred to the CPU.

3rd generation "Ivy Bridge" and 4th generation "HasWell". Energy consumption optimized computer system, the clock frequencies of the chips have been increased.

5th generation "BroadWell" and 6th generation "SkyLike". The frequency has been increased again, power consumption has been further improved, and several new instructions have been added to improve performance.

Segmentation of processor solutions based on the Kor architecture

Central processor devices Intel companies have the following positioning:

Introduction

Third generation Intel Core i5: detailed introduction

Intel Core i5-3570K

Intel Core i5-3570

Intel Core i5-3550

Intel Core i5-3470

Intel Core i5-3450

How we tested

Processors:

AMD FX-8150 (Zambezi, 8 cores, 3.6-4.2 GHz, 8 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-2400 (Sandy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.1-3.4 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-2500K (Sandy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.3-3.7 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-3450 (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.1-3.5 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-3470 (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.2-3.6 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-3550 (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.3-3.7 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-3570 (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.4-3.8 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i5-3570K (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.4-3.8 GHz, 6 MB L3);
Intel Core i7-2700K (Sandy Bridge, 4 cores + HT, 3.5-3.9 GHz, 8 MB L3);
Intel Core i7-3770K (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores + HT, 3.5-3.9 GHz, 8 MB L3).

CPU cooler: NZXT Havik 140;
Motherboards:

ASUS Crosshair V Formula (Socket AM3+, AMD 990FX + SB950);
ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe (LGA1155, Intel Z77 Express).

Memory: 2 x 4 GB, DDR3-1866 SDRAM, 9-11-9-27 (Kingston KHX1866C9D3K2/8GX).
Graphic cards:

AMD Radeon HD 6570 (1 GB/128-bit GDDR5, 650/4000 MHz);
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 (2 GB/256-bit GDDR5, 1006/6008 MHz).

Hard drive: Intel SSD 520 240 GB (SSDSC2CW240A3K5).
Power supply: Corsair AX1200i (80 Plus Platinum, 1200 W).
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate x64.
Drivers:

AMD Catalyst 12.8 Driver;
AMD Chipset Driver 12.8;
Intel Chipset Driver 9.3.0.1019;
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator Driver 15.26.12.2761;
Intel Management Engine Driver 8.1.0.1248;
Intel Rapid Storage Technology 11.2.0.1006;
NVIDIA GeForce 301.42 Driver.

Computational performance

Energy consumption

GPU performance

Ruler mobile processors Intel Haswell

Labeling, positioning, use cases

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

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

We remind you that we recently released short reviews Haswell architectures, which are quite applicable to both desktop and mobile solutions:

Additionally, the performance of quad-core Core i7 processors was examined in an article comparing desktop and mobile processors. The performance of the Core i7-4500U was also examined separately. Finally, you can check out Haswell laptop reviews that include performance testing: the MSI GX70 is at its best powerful processor Core i7-4930MX, HP Envy 17-j005er.

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

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

New letter indices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Digital indexes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4th generation Intel Core series and lines

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

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

Approximate performance level depending on the line

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

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

So, some preliminary notes:

• Core processors The U-series i7 will be about 10% faster than the Core i5 thanks to slightly higher clock speeds and more L3 cache.
• The difference between Core i5 and Core i3 U-series processors with a TDP of 28 W excluding Turbo Boost is about 30%, i.e., ideally, performance will also differ by 30%. If we take into account the capabilities of Turbo Boost, the difference in frequencies will be about 55%. If we compare Core i5 and Core i3 U-series processors with a TDP of 15 W, then with stable operation at maximum frequency, Core i5 will have a frequency 60% higher. However, its nominal frequency is slightly lower, i.e. when operating at the nominal frequency, it may even be slightly inferior to the Core i3.
• In the M-series, the presence of 4 cores and 8 threads in the Core i7 plays a big role, but we must remember that this advantage only manifests itself in optimized software (usually professional). Core i7 processors with two cores will have slightly higher performance due to higher overclocking frequencies and a slightly larger L3 cache.
• In the Y series, the Core i5 processor has a base frequency of 7.7% and a boost frequency of 50% higher than the Core i3. But even in this case, there are additional considerations - the same energy efficiency, noise level of the cooling system, etc.
• If we compare processors of the U and Y series with each other, then only the frequency gap between the U- and Y-processors Core i3 is 54%, and for Core i5 processors it is 63% at the maximum overclocking frequency.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Haswell vs Ivy Bridge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Suitable tasks for different fourth generation Intel Core processors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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