Once, a great sage in captain's uniform said that a computer would not be able to work without a processor. Since then, everyone considers it his duty to find the very processor, thanks to which his system will fly like a fighter.

From this article you will learn:

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

Why this particular series and not i3 or i7? It's simple: excellent potential without overpaying for unnecessary instructions that the seventh line sins with. Yes, and more cores than in Core i3. You will quite naturally start arguing about support and you will be partially right, but 4 physical cores can do much more than 2 + 2 virtual ones.

Series history

Today we have a comparison on the agenda Intel processors Core i5 different generations. Here I would like to touch on such pressing topics as heat pack and the presence of solder under the lid. And if there is a mood, then we will also push especially interesting stones together with our foreheads. So let's go.

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

The output frequency table looks like this:

2009

The first representatives of the series saw the light back in 2009. They were created on 2 different architectures: Nehalem (45nm) and Westmere (32nm). The brightest representatives of the line should be called i5-750 (4x2.8 GHz) and i5-655K (3.2 GHz). The latter additionally had an unlocked multiplier and the possibility of overclocking, which indicated its high performance in games and not only.

The differences between the architectures lie in the fact that Westmare is built according to the 32 nm process technology and has 2 generation gates. Yes, they use less energy.

2011

This year saw the light of the second generation of processors - Sandy Bridge. Their distinguishing feature was the presence of embedded video Intel cores HD 2000.

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

2012

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

The integrated graphics have evolved to the Intel HD 4000.

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

2013

The Haswell generation brought nothing supernatural except for the new LGA 1150 socket, the AVX 2.0 instruction set and the new HD 4600 graphics. In fact, all the emphasis was on energy saving, which the company managed to achieve.

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

2015

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

2016

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

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

2017

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

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

2018

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

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

Instead of totals

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

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

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

By the way, if you don’t know where to buy, I recommend paying attention to one very popular and serious one (believe me, it is known and familiar to many people) - at the same time you can find out about the prices for the i5 8400 there, from time to time, or rather very often I use this resource myself, to decide which one to buy from.

In any case, it's up to you. Until we meet again, do not forget to subscribe to the blog.

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

Moscow, November 19, 2015 - Intel Corporation has introduced the 6th generation of Intel® Core™ processors in Russia and other CIS countries. How the new generation of processors will change the user experience, said Intel experts and partners of the corporation. Faster performance, new integrated 3D graphics, fast and efficient video processing are just a few of the benefits of the new processors, as detailed by Intel engineers, architects and partners.

Processors 6th Generations of Intel® Core™ - the best ever history of Intel– in the high orbit of performance and energy efficiency

For one day, the Moscow club ARTI HALL turned into a Mission Control Center. The bright show was attended by engineers, architects and partners of Intel, who reported on the readiness to launch devices that take the user to a new performance orbit. The presentation opened with the ceremonial launch of a new generation of processors, designed to resemble the launch of a spacecraft.

Bernadette Andrietti, Vice President of Intel Corporation and Director of Marketing for Intel Europe, Middle East and Africa, announced the launch of the PC Refresh Campaign, a joint action by Intel, Microsoft and leading PC manufacturers dedicated to the capabilities of the modern computer. Computers purchased 4-5 years ago turn on slowly, do not support all functionality available to users today, their batteries don't last long. That is why Intel is conducting a PC Refresh campaign, the main idea of ​​which is to tell users about the new features of modern gadgets that old devices are not capable of.

The 6th generation processors were presented by Dmitry Konash, the regional director of Intel in Russia and other CIS countries. “Today, users expect the highest performance and lower power consumption from their devices,” said Dmitry Konash. “Both of these challenges are addressed by new processors, the best in the history of Intel, bringing computers to new levels of performance, energy efficiency and new opportunities for implementation. creativity users".

Mikhail Tsvetkov, an Intel architecture specialist in Russia and other CIS countries, noted a number of key features 6th Gen Intel® Core™ processors that have taken the corporation to another big leap in energy efficiency. Processor Core Performance Growth While Power Consumption Is Reduced With Intel® Technology speed shift and integration of new hardware features on the processor chip, such as the Image Signal Processor (ISP). With Intel® Speed ​​Shift Technology, the processor is able to self-manage its operating modes. This allows you to reduce the response time to load changes up to 30 times and increase the overall system performance by 20-45%.

6th Gen Intel® Core™ processors are built on an industry-leading 14nm manufacturing process and deliver up to 2.5x faster performance, 3x longer battery life, and 30x better graphics for smoother gaming and video playback compared to computers purchased 5 years ago. Plus, they can be 2x thinner, 2x lighter, get up and running faster, and last all day on a single charge.

For users, this means improved visual performance for games, photos and videos. The new Intel Speed ​​Shift technology increases the agility of mobile systems so that users, for example, can apply filters to edit photos up to 45% faster. The ability to control RealSense cameras will allow you to take realistic 3D selfies, scan objects and print them using 3D printers, and easily change the background during video chats. The new platform also supports Intel WiDi and Pro WiDi technologies, allowing users to stream images from computers to TVs, monitors or projectors without the need for wired connections.

Dmitry Khalin, director of technology policy for Microsoft Russia, spoke about the strategic collaboration between the companies, noting that the new Intel® Core™ processors are optimized for Windows* 10, which provides them with new functionality and reliable protection. For example, devices with an Intel RealSense camera and Windows Hello support allow users to sign in securely using facial recognition.

“Microsoft has been working with Intel for decades. Together we are working hard to provide users with a wide range of devices that are ever more powerful, faster and easier to use. We recently released our most advanced operating system Windows system 10. We are confident that in combination with the latest processors Intel, it will allow customers around the world to more effectively perform any personal and work tasks,” says Dmitry Khalin.

Vlad Zakharov, marketing manager of ASUS Russia, presented records overclocking intel® Core™ 6th generation. The new processors demonstrate a number of significant advances in computing technology. Thanks to them, Team Russia set a record Super Pi 32M result at ASUS OC Summit 2015 in Moscow. RAM while working at a frequency of 3733 MHz with timings CL15 18-18-28 1T. The result of 4 minutes 42.141 seconds was the first among the results on the Core i7-6700K in the world, ahead of the previous leader by more than 6 seconds.

Throughout the event, there was a partner showcase showcasing 6th generation Intel® Core™ processor devices. ASUS, Dell, Lenovo, MSI and other vendors demonstrated the whole variety of form factors: laptops, incl. gaming models, desktops, monoblocks, mini-PCs.

The guests of the presentation could also get acquainted with other Intel solutions: Cappasity Easy 3D Scan and Aldebaran NAO. Cappasity Easy 3D Scan is software for ultrabooks with the Intel RealSense 3D camera, with which you can create high-quality 3D models. The Aldebaran NAO robot is a companion robot equipped with Intel® Atom™. He independently navigates in space, has 25 degrees of freedom of movement, the ability to take small objects, shoot videos, take photos and send them to the Web.

On August 5, Intel announced two new 6th generation Intel Core processors (codename Skylake): Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K. In addition, the new Intel Z170 chipset was announced, and leading manufacturers motherboards at the same time, they announced their solutions based on the Intel Z170 chipset.

We had the opportunity to test the Intel Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K processors and compare them with the previous generation processors.

Skylake processors

This article was being prepared, as they say, in emergency mode even before the announcement of the new platform, when official information relatively new processors were few. Therefore, we will leave some questions regarding new processors out of consideration. In particular, we will not consider the microarchitecture of the new processors and the features of the new Intel graphics core. Intel is going to announce the details of the new microarchitecture at IDF 2015, which will be held at the end of August.

So, let's start with the fact that the new family of 6th generation Intel Core processors is known under the code name Skylake. These are processors made using a 14-nanometer process technology. Recall that Intel releases its processors in accordance with the Tick-Tock rule, which was invented by Intel itself. The meaning of the rule is that the processor microarchitecture changes every two years, and the manufacturing process changes every two years. But the change in microarchitecture and process technology is shifted relative to each other by a year. That is, once a year the technical process changes, then, a year later, the microarchitecture changes, then, again a year later, the technical process changes, etc. It occurred to someone very creative to associate such periodic changes in the microarchitecture and technical process with the movement of the pendulum in the clock and the "Tick-Tock" rule arose. Moreover, a change in the technical process is a “Tick” cycle, and a change in microarchitecture is a “Tock” cycle. It cannot be said that Intel strictly adheres to the time frame of this rule, but, in any case, tries to adhere to this rule.

So, the processors of the previous generation, known under the code name Broadwell, marked the transition to the 14-nanometer process technology (“Tick”). These were processors with Haswell microarchitecture (with minor improvements), but produced using a new 14-nanometer process technology.

Accordingly, the Skylake family of processors are "Tock" cycle processors, that is, they are manufactured using the same 14-nanometer process technology as Broadwell processors, but they have a new microarchitecture.

As already noted, on August 5, Intel announced only two models of the Skylake family of processors for desktop PCs. But this, of course, does not mean that the Skylake family will consist of only two models. According to unofficial information, in late August - early September, 8 more models of Skylake processors for desktop PCs will be announced. So far, we are talking about only two models that have an unlocked multiplier (K-series).

In general, the Skylake processor family will include four separate series: Skylake-S, Skylake-H, Skylake-U, and Skylake-Y. Processors of the Skylake-H, Skylake-U and Skylake-Y series will be BGA-based and targeted at laptops, tablets and all-in-ones. Moreover, the processors of these series are SoC (System-on-Chip), that is, they do not require a separate chipset (Platform Controller Hub, PCH).
Desktop systems are focused on the Skylake-S series processors, which have an LGA design and work only in conjunction with a single-chip chipset (PCH). It is about these processors that we will continue to talk.

The Skylake-S series processors have an LGA1151 socket and, of course, are only compatible with motherboards based on the new Intel 100 series chipsets.

One of the innovations in Skylake-S processors is that the processor voltage regulator (Fully Integrated Voltage Regulator, FIVR), which in Haswell processors was located inside the processor itself (and which, in fact, Intel was very proud of), is now moved outside limits of the processor and is located on the motherboard.

Another innovation is that Skylake-S processors will support both DDR3L memory (with a lower supply voltage) and DDR4 memory. Moreover, the memory controllers are dual-channel and support up to two memory modules per channel.

Just like Haswell and Broadwell processors, Skylake processors have PCI controller Express 3.0 (PCIe 3.0) for 16 ports that can be used to organize slots for discrete graphics cards or expansion cards.

The new Skylake-S processors also have a new graphics core. For desktop processors, Skylake-S will only use the Skylake-GT2 graphics core, while for the laptop processor family there will be models with Skylake-GT2, Skylake-GT3e and Skylake-GT4e graphics cores.

Recall that the graphics cores, in the code designation of which the letter “e” appears (GT3e, GT4e), use additional memory eDRAM (embedded DRAM). Such memory appeared in the top models of Haswell mobile processors, and Haswell processors for desktop PCs did not have this memory. The eDRAM memory was a separate die, which was located on the same substrate as the processor die. This crystal also became known under the code name Crystalwell.

AT mobile processors Haswell eDRAM was 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.

The Broadwell desktop processor family also features a separate 128MB eDRAM die that acts as an L4 cache and can be used by the processor's graphics and compute cores. Moreover, the eDRAM memory in the 14nm Broadwell processors is exactly the same as in the top Haswell mobile processors, that is, it is performed according to the 22nm process technology.

The Skylake-S family of processors will not use eDRAM.

In general, there was practically no data on the graphics core in Skylake-S processors at the time of this writing. It is only known that in the Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K models, the graphics core is called Intel HD Graphics 530 (codenamed Skylake-GT2). As for the number of actuators (EU), there is no information about this yet. It is only known that the top version of the new Intel graphics core (apparently, we are talking about the GT4 core) will have 72 EU.

Now we list the characteristics of the Intel Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K processors that were known at the time of this writing:

Both processors (Intel Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K) have an unlocked multiplier, that is, they are focused on overclocking. The processor multiplier can vary from 8 to 83.

We also note that the Intel Core i7-6700K processor is the top model in the Skylake-S family.

Intel 100-series chipsets

Along with the new 14nm Skylake-S processors, Intel also announced a new Intel 100-series chipset (codenamed Sunrise Point). On August 5th, only one chipset was introduced: the Intel Z170. Later, in early September, several more models of 100-series chipsets will be presented. In total, the Intel 100 series chipset family will include six models: Z170, H170, H110, Q170, Q150 and B150.

The Q170 and Q150 models are aimed at the corporate market and are replacing the Q87 and Q85 chipsets, respectively.

Models Z170, H170, H110 are focused on user PCs and replace models Z97, H97 and H81, respectively. The B150 chipset is a replacement for the B85 chipset and is aimed at the SMB market sector.

Note that if the Intel 9-series chipsets practically did not differ from their predecessors, the Intel 8-series chipsets, then the differences between Intel 100-series chipsets and Intel 9-series chipsets are very significant.

Next, we will consider the features of the Intel 100 series chipsets as a whole, without reference to a specific model, while focusing on the top chipset models in which everything is implemented to the maximum, and we will consider the features of each chipset separately a little later.

To start with, all Intel 100-series chipsets now have an integrated controller PCI Express 3.0 (previously, chipsets had a PCI Express 2.0 controller), and therefore, you need to distinguish PCIe 3.0 ports from the processor and from the chipset. As noted, Skylake processors have 16 PCIe 3.0 (PEG) ports. The Intel 100-series chipsets allow these 16 PCIe 3.0 processor ports to be combined to provide a variety of PCIe slot options. For example, the Intel Z170 and Q170 chipsets (as well as their Intel Z97 and Q87 counterparts) allow you to combine 16 PEG PCIe 3.0 ports in the following combinations: x16, x8/x8 or x8/x4/x4. Thus, on boards with Intel chipset Z170 or Q170 based PCIe 3.0 processor ports can be implemented with one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, two PCIe 3.0 x8 slots, or one PCIe 3.0 x8 slot and two PCIe 3.0 x4 slots. The Intel H170, B150 and Q150 chipsets allow only one possible combination of PEG port allocation: x16. That is, on boards with these chipsets, only one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot based on PCIe 3.0 processor ports can be implemented.

Intel 100 series chipsets also support dual-channel DDR4 or DDR3L memory.

In addition, Intel 100-series chipsets support the ability to connect up to three monitors to the processor graphics core at the same time (just like in the case of 9-series chipsets).

The Skylake processor is connected to the Intel 100-series chipset using the new DMI 3.0 bus. Recall that the Intel 9 and 8 series chipsets used the DMI 2.0 bus with a bandwidth of 20 Gb / s in each direction (the bandwidth of the DMI 2.0 bus corresponds to bandwidth PCI bus Express 2.0x4). However, given that the Intel 100-series chipsets now have a PCIe 3.0 controller built in, using the DMI 2.0 bus to communicate the processor to the chipset would be counterintuitive, as this bus could become a bottleneck. That is why the chipset communicates with the processor using a faster DMI 3.0 bus with twice the bandwidth.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that, apart from the DMI 3.0 bus, there is no more connection between the processor and the chipset. That is, there is no longer an FDI bus, which previously allowed analog video output through the chipset. Thus, with the advent of a new platform, the VGA connector is becoming a thing of the past. If VGA support will be implemented on motherboards, then it will be due to an additional circuit for converting a digital video signal into analog. But this is unlikely, because it simply does not make sense.

As already noted, one of the main features of the new Intel 100-series chipsets is that they implement a PCI Express 3.0 controller. Moreover, in the top models of chipsets, up to 20 PCIe 3.0 ports are supported (only up to 8 PCIe 2.0 ports were supported in Intel 9-series chipsets).

In addition, as before, there is an integrated SATA controller in the new chipsets, which provides up to six SATA 6 Gb / s ports.

And, of course, Intel RST (Rapid Storage Technology) technology is supported, which allows you to configure the SATA controller in RAID controller mode (though not on all ports) with support for levels 0, 1, 5 and 10. An innovation is the fact that that Intel RST technology is now supported not only for SATA ports, but also for drives with PCIe (x4/x2) interface (M.2 and SATA Express connectors). This option is called Intel RST for PCIe Storage. Moreover, Intel 100 series chipsets support Intel technology RST for PCIe Storage for three PCIe x4/x2 interfaces that can be implemented as M.2 or SATA Express connectors. We also note that up to three SATA Express connectors can be implemented on the board using the Intel 100-series chipset.

The number of USB 3.0 ports in the new chipsets has become larger. So, in the Intel 9-series chipsets (just like in the 8-series chipsets) there were only 14 USB ports, of which up to 6 ports could be USB 3.0, and the rest - USB 2.0. Intel 100-series chipsets also have a total of 14 USB ports, but up to 10 ports can be USB 3.0 and the rest USB 2.0. Note that one USB 3.0 port supports the OTG (USB On-The-Go) function (this was not previously the case). Theoretically, this allows you to directly connect two USB-host devices to each other without using a special cable. However, it is not a fact that this feature of the USB port can be used in practice. It all depends on the manufacturer of the motherboard and the availability of the appropriate driver. For example, on Asus motherboard The Z170-Deluxe we tested did not support OTG.

Just like Intel 9 and 8 series chipsets, Intel 100 series chipsets support Flexible I/O technology, which allows you to configure high-speed I/O ports (PCIe, SATA, USB 3.0), removing some ports and adding others. However, there is a significant difference between the Flexible I/O technology in Intel 9/8 series chipsets and this technology in Intel 100 series chipsets.

Recall that in Intel 9/8 series chipsets, there could only be 18 high-speed I / O ports in total. All high-speed chipset ports are numbered. Moreover, 14 ports were strictly fixed: these are four USB 3.0 ports, six PCIe 2.0 ports and four SATA 6 Gb / s ports. And here are four more ports that can be reconfigured: two of them can be either USB 3.0 or PCIe ports, and the other two can be either PCIe or SATA 6 Gb / s. In this case, the total number of PCIe ports cannot be more than eight.

The distribution diagram of high-speed I / O ports for Intel 9/8 series chipsets is shown in the figure.

In the Intel 100 series chipsets, a total of 26 high-speed I / O ports can be implemented in total (in the Intel technical documentation, these ports are called High Speed ​​I / O lanes (HSIO)).

The first six high-speed ports (Port #1 - Port #6) are strictly fixed. it USB ports 3.0. The next four chipset high-speed ports (Port #7 - Port #10) can be configured as either USB 3.0 ports or PCIe ports. Moreover, Port #10 can also be used as a GbE network port. That is, we are talking about the fact that the Gigabit network interface MAC controller is built into the chipset itself, but the PHY controller (the MAC controller in conjunction with the PHY controller form a full-fledged network controller) can only be connected to certain high speed ports chipset. In particular, these can be Port #10, Port #11, Port #15, Port #18 and Port #19.

Another eight high-speed chipset ports (Port #11 - Port #14, Port #17, Port #18, Port #25 and Port #26) are assigned to PCIe ports.

Four more ports (Port #21 - Port #24) are configured as either PCIe or SATA 6 Gb/s ports.

Port #15, Port #16 and Port #19, Port #20 have a feature. They can be configured as either PCIe ports or SATA 6Gb/s ports. The peculiarity is that one SATA 6 Gb / s port can be configured either on Port # 15 or on Port # 19 (that is, it is the same SATA port # 0, which can be output to either Port # 15 , or on Port #19). Similarly, another SATA 6Gb/s port (SATA #1) is routed to either Port #16 or Port #20.

As a result, we get that in total you can implement up to 10 USB 3.0 ports, up to 20 PCIe ports and up to 6 SATA 6 Gb / s ports on the chipset. However, here it is worth noting one more circumstance. A maximum of 16 PCIe devices can be connected to these 20 PCIe ports at the same time. Devices in this case are controllers, connectors and slots. A single PCIe device may require one, two, or four PCIe ports. For example, if it is about PCI slot Express 3.0 x4 is a single PCIe device that requires 4 PCIe 3.0 ports to connect.

The distribution diagram of high-speed I / O ports for Intel 100-series chipsets is shown in the figure.

So far, we have considered the functionality of the Intel 100-series chipsets in general, without reference to specific models. Further, in the summary table, we present brief characteristics Intel 100 series chipsets.

A diagram of the distribution of high-speed I / O ports for six Intel 100-series chipsets is shown in the figure.

As you can see, Intel 100-series chipsets are fundamentally different from Intel 9/8-series chipsets.

As already noted, the Intel Z170 (top-end version), H170 (mass solutions) and H110 (budget sector) chipsets are intended for custom motherboards. Most likely, boards based on the Z170 chipset will support DDR4 memory, boards based on the H110 chipset will support DDR3 memory, and boards based on the H170 chipset will most likely be found in both DDR4 and DDR3 memory versions.

It is interesting to note that boards with the Z170 chipset will differ from boards with the H170 chipset not only in the number of PEG slots implemented on the basis of PCIe 3.0 processor lanes. The Z170 and H170 chipsets implement Flexible I/O slightly differently, resulting in H170 chipset boards with fewer USB 3.0 ports and fewer PCIe 3.0 ports that can be used for additional controllers, slots, and connectors.

Now, after our express review of the new Skylake-S processors and Intel 100-series chipsets, let's move on to testing the new products.

test stand

To test the Intel Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K processors, we used the stand with the following configuration:

In addition, in order to be able to evaluate the performance of new processors in relation to the performance of processors of previous generations, we also present the results of testing two Broadwell processors (Core i7-5775C and Core i5-5675C models) and a top Haswell processor (Core i7-4790K ). To test the Core i7-5775C, Core i5-5675C and Core i7-4790K processors, the stand of the following configuration was used:

Test Methodology

We tested the Intel Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K processors using the same methodology as testing the Broadwell processors. However, being under time pressure, we slightly reduced the testing methodology by excluding such test packages as SPECviewperf v.12.0.2 (most of the tests from the SPECviewperf v.12.0.2 package are included in the SPECwpc 1.2 package) and SPECapc for Maya 2012.

Recall that tests from our scripted benchmarks iXBT Workstation Benchmark 2015 , iXBT Application Benchmark 2015 and iXBT Game Benchmark 2015 were used for testing. As a result, the following applications and benchmarks were used to test the 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),
• SPCapc for 3ds max 2015,
• POV Ray 3.7,
• Maxon Cinebench R15
• SPEC wpc 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 1920×1080 in two modes of game settings: for maximum performance and for maximum quality.

Note that due to lack of time for full-fledged testing, we will leave some aspects unattended for now, however, we will definitely return to them. In particular, we have not yet considered the overclocking potential of Skylake processors, the ability to overclock DDR4 memory (Intel declares that Skylake processors have improved memory overclocking capabilities), as well as processor power consumption.

Test results

Tests from iXBT Application Benchmark 2015

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 the results in logical groups of tests, the same reference system was used as in the iXBT Application Benchmark 2015.

The full test results are shown in the table. In addition, we present the results of testing for logical groups of tests on diagrams in a normalized form. The result is taken as a reference. processor Core i7-4790K.

So, as you can see from the test results, the Intel Core i7-6700K processor is the leader in terms of integrated performance. However, it outperforms the Intel Core i7-4790K by only 9%. As you can see, the performance difference between these processors is quite modest.

As for the Intel Core i5-6600K processor, in terms of its integrated performance it is a complete analog of the Intel Core i5-5675C processor.

Despite the fact that the Core i7-6700K processor outperforms the Core i7-4790K processor by only 9% in terms of integrated performance, there are a number of tasks in which the advantage of the new Skylake processor is more significant. These are tasks such as video conversion and video processing (MediaCoder x64 0.8.33.5680 and SVPmark 3.0), video content creation (Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2014.1 and Adobe After Effects CC 2014.1.1), as well as text recognition (Abbyy FineReader 12).

But there are also such applications (and there are many of them) in which the Core i7-6700K processor does not have any advantage at all over the Core i7-4790K processor, or this advantage is very insignificant. In particular, in applications such as Photodex ProShow Producer 6.0.3410, Adobe Photoshop CC 2014.2.1, Adobe Illustrator CC 2014.1.1, Adobe Audition CC 2014.2, WinRAR 5.11, the Core i7-6700K demonstrates almost the same performance as the Core processor i7-4790K.

Calculations in Dassault SolidWorks 2014 SP3 (Flow Simulation)

The test based on the Dassault SolidWorks 2014 SP3 application with the optional Flow Simulation package was taken separately, since this test does not use a reference system, as in the tests of the iXBT Application Benchmark 2015 benchmark.

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 results testing are presented in the table.

In addition, we also give 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 a reference.

As can be seen from the test results, in these specific calculations, the leadership is on the side of the Skylake-S processor. A system based on the Core i7-6700K processor outperforms a system based on the Core i7-4790K processor by 28%. Moreover, in this test, even the Core i5-6600K demonstrates 18% more high speed computing performance compared to the Core i7-4790K.

SPCapc for 3ds max 2015

Next, consider the results of the SPECapc for 3ds max 2015 test for an 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 shown in the charts. The result of the Core i7-4790K processor is taken as a reference.

In tests that depend on CPU performance (CPU Composite Score), the platform based on the Core i7-6700K processor shows the best result. Moreover, the difference in the result between platforms based on the Core i7-6700K processor and based on the Core i7-4790K processor is 15%.

But in tests that depend on the performance of the graphics core (GPU Composite Score), the leaders are Broadwell processors, which are significantly ahead of both the Core i7-4790K processor and the Skylake-S processors. If we compare the Core i7-6700K and Core i7-4790K processors, then the Core i7-6700K processor demonstrates 26% higher performance.

POV Ray 3.7

In the POV-Ray 3.7 test (3D model rendering), the leader is the Core i7-6700K processor. Although, of course, its advantage over the Core i7-4790K processor is very small (only 8%).

Cinebench R15

In the Cinebench R15 benchmark, the result was mixed. In the OpenGL test, Broadwell-C processors significantly outperform Skylake-S processors, which is natural, since they integrate a more powerful graphics core. Moreover, in this test, the Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K processors demonstrate higher performance than the Core i7-4790K processor.

But in the processor test, the leader, although with a slight advantage on the Core i7-4790K processor, is the Core i7-6700K processor.

SPECwpc v.1.2

Well, the last benchmark is a specialized test package for SPECwpc v.1.2 workstations.

The test results are presented in the table, as well as in a normalized form in the diagrams. The result of the Core i7-4790K processor is taken as a reference.

• Aliens vs Predator D3D11 Benchmark v.1.03,
• World of Tanks 0.9.5,
• Grid 2,
• Metro: LL Redux,
• Metro: 2033 Redux,
• Hitman Absolution,
• Thief,
• Tomb Raider,
• sleeping dogs,
• Sniper Elite V2 Benchmark 1.05.

Testing was carried out at a screen resolution of 1920×1080 and in two settings: maximum and minimum quality. The test results are presented in the diagrams. In this case, the results are not normalized.

Note that the Thief test on Skylake-S processors in the minimum quality setting mode with current version video driver is not working.

In gaming tests, the results are as follows. For the Core i5-6600K and Core i7-6700K processors in the game settings mode for maximum quality, the results are almost the same, which is quite logical, since in this case the bottleneck is the graphics core, which is the same for these processors. In the mode of setting games to minimum quality in some processor-dependent games (World of Tanks, GRID 2), the Core i7-6700K processor with a higher clock speed has an advantage.

If we compare the results of the new Skylake-S processors with the Core i7-4790K processor (Haswell), then the advantage, of course, is on the side of the Skylake-S processors. However, this advantage is quite small. And just like the Haswell-GT2 graphics core couldn't be considered gaming, the Skylake-GT2 graphics core won't let you play games. Out of ten games, only three games can be played at FPS over 40 and only with settings set to the minimum quality.

That is, it is possible, of course, that the Skylake-GT2 graphics core is superior in performance to the Haswell-GT2 graphics core, but there is no point in this, since it will not work to play everything alone.

If we compare the results of Skylake-S processors with the results of Broadwell-C processors (Core i5-5675C and Core i7-5775C), then there is an obvious advantage on the side of Broadwell-C processors. Actually, this is understandable, since Broadwell-C processors use a more efficient Broadwell GT3e graphics core.

A platform based on the top processor of the Skylake-S family (Core i7-6700K) in normal operation provides only slightly higher performance than a platform based on the top processor of the Haswell family (Core i7-4790K). Of course, there are specific applications where the platform based on the Core i7-6700K processor is faster than the platform based on the Core i7-4790K processor by almost 40%, however, there are not so many such applications and in most applications the platforms based on these processors provide almost the same performance.

As for the new Skylake-GT2 graphics core, there is no dramatic performance increase here either. That is, this graphics core is slightly superior in performance to the Haswell-GT2 core, but not so much that it would be possible to play without using a discrete graphics card.

In a word, based on the results of our testing, we can conclude that there is simply no point in changing the Haswell platform to Skylake. However, let us remind you once again that we are talking about testing platforms in the normal operating modes of processors. In addition, in this case we are talking only about comparing the performance of the two platforms. However, it should be taken into account that the platform based on the Skylake-S processor with the Intel Z170 chipset has wider functionality than the platform based on the Haswell processor with the Intel 9-series chipset. In addition, we have not yet considered the overclocking potential of Skylake-S processors.