Kaby lake i5 7600 tests. Intel® Clear Video Technology

Our first acquaintance with the processors of the family took place more than a month ago. Then we tested the flagship model in the line and came to the conclusion that Intel decided to offer almost the same thing as before (see Skylake), but with an optimized voltage-frequency curve. In other words, there are no differences in the microarchitecture of the new processors, but there is an improved 14+ nm manufacturing technology, which makes it possible to obtain semiconductor crystals with better energy efficiency and increased frequency potential. It is thanks to this that the updated Core line makes some sense. The processors included in it received higher performance, remaining within the usual thermal packages. In ours, we talked about this in relation to a representative of the Core i7 class. But in fact, a similar acceleration affected all seventh-generation Core models. And today we will look at what Intel can now offer consumers in a more mundane price segment, which includes LGA1151-class Core i5 processors. Like the Core i7, this class has its own fresh overclocker model, the Core i5-7600K, and it was she who became the protagonist of the second review of Kaby Lake on 3DNews.

Historically, Core i5 desktop processors are one of the most talked about products from Intel. The fact is that the differences between Core i5 and Core i7 are not so obvious. Everything revolves around the fact that the younger family is deprived of support for Hyper-Threading virtual multithreading technology, but at the same time, like the older one, it continues to have four computing cores. Formally, this can cause a fairly significant difference in performance, but in fact it appears only in a few cases - in those applications that can create more than four equal threads. As practice shows, there are not so many applications of this kind, and they mainly refer to professional tools for creating or processing digital content. In the majority of tasks solved by average users, including games, there is practically no sense from Hyper-Threading. The price of Core i5 processors is much lower compared to Core i7. For example, the same Core i5-7600K is cheaper than the Core i7-7700K by almost $100, which can be successfully used to buy a more powerful graphics card, more memory or an SSD drive. Therefore, Core i5 processors may well seem like a much more rational basis for the LGA1151 platform.

And until recently, this is exactly how it was: the older Core i5 traditionally acted as one of the best options for a gaming computer in terms of price and performance. However, with the release of the latest generations of processors, Intel slightly tweaked the characteristics of the older representatives in the Core i7 and Core i5 series, and now it makes sense not only to give preference to the Core i7 not only to notorious maximalists. The fact is that, starting from about the middle of 2014, when the Devil’s Canyon line came to the market, representatives of the Core i7 series acquired an additional plus: their nominal frequencies became noticeably higher compared to the Core i5. This situation is observed even now: the gap in the operating frequencies of the older Core i7 and Core i5 is about 300 MHz, which is actually not so small.

Of course, it can be argued that the older Core i7 and Core i5 are CPUs with unlocked multipliers that are very easy to overclock, and therefore the superiority in nominal frequencies is only an imaginary advantage. But practice shows that not everything is so simple. For some reason, Core i7 overclock better than their younger counterparts, although logically it should be the other way around. Indeed, Core i5s do not support Hyper-Threading technology, so at the same frequency they should generate less heat and, therefore, should conquer more distant frequency boundaries without problems. However, in reality, it turns out that Core i7 overclocked can operate at an average frequency of 100 MHz higher than that of similar Core i5 - this is evidenced by both our experience and statistics collected on overclocker forums. It's hard to say what's the matter with full confidence, but it looks like Intel deliberately chooses more successful semiconductor crystals for the older family.

It turns out that the microprocessor giant is trying with all its might to reorient the Core i5 in such a way as if this is a compromise offer for those who cannot afford a full-fledged Core i7. How fair is this attitude and can the current Core i5 from the Kaby Lake generation really be considered as a full-fledged replacement for the Core i7? In this review, we will try to reasonably answer this question.

Our overclocking history of the Core i5-7600K is a disappointment. The first tests of representatives of the Kaby Lake family became a source of very bold expectations: still, those samples that the microprocessor giant gave out to reviewers for reviews easily took milestones unthinkable for processors of past generations. For example, the Core i7-7700K sample that got into our laboratory worked without problems at a frequency of 4.8 GHz, and some of our colleagues managed to conquer the psychologically important five-GHz milestone. But the test copy of the Core i5-7600K, which we bought in a regular retail store, could not even come close to the coveted mark of 5.0 GHz. And this doesn't seem to be a coincidence. Back in the time of Devil's Canyon and Skylake, we began to notice that processors with disabled Hyper-Threading technology overclocked no better than their counterparts from the Core i7 family. With the release of Kaby Lake, this pattern has only worsened. Therefore, if you want to get the maximum frequency, then it is better to immediately focus on the more expensive Core i7-7700K. For the Core i5-7600K, apparently, Intel uses the worst semiconductor crystals in terms of frequency properties. In addition, it is very likely that the first batches of Kaby Lake semiconductor crystals, which also went into press samples, had the best frequency potential. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to explain what happened.

And what happened is that the test Core i5-7600K could only overclock to a frequency of 4.5 GHz, that is, about the same as not the most successful Core i5 processors of the Skylake generation are overclocked.

To ensure stable operation in this state and error-free testing in LinX 0.7.0, the supply voltage had to be increased to 1.325 V. Errors occurred with lower voltages. However, even with such a very moderate increase in voltage, temperatures stormed the limit marks: the heating of the hottest core reached 96 degrees. It is quite obvious that we could not talk about any further overclocking here.

Thus, our experience with the serial Core i5-7600K allows us to at least say that the best overclocking of Kaby Lake compared to Skylake is far from an indisputable truth. And situations are quite possible when the overclocking potential of the Core i5-7600K may turn out to be even worse than that of its predecessor.

However, the Core i5-7600K, like the Core i7-7700K, has a new feature that allows you to get out of this situation: AVX Offset. The bottom line is that AVX instructions cause the highest heat generation, and it is their execution that most often leads to overheating of the computing cores. To counteract this selective heat, Kaby Lake processors provide the ability to temporarily throttle down while processing complex vector instructions. This feature is available via motherboard BIOS boards and is implemented as an additional negative multiplier that is applied to the processor frequency when it encounters AVX instructions. As a result, by sacrificing performance in not very common applications relying on AVX commands, the user can get better processor overclocking in other cases.

To put all of this into practice, we tried to fix the extremely limited overclocking of the test Core i5-7600K by applying a 10x "AVX inverse multiplier". In other words, we configured the processor in such a way that its frequency when working with AVX commands was temporarily reduced by 1000 MHz, which should have allowed us to get rid of overheating in the most energy-intensive tasks. And this helped: without provoking overheating, the supply voltage turned out to be raised significantly above 1.325 V, due to which the maximum frequency of the test Core i5-7600K quite expectedly moved further - up to 4.8 GHz.

An important nuance: when checking overclocking in the case of using the “reciprocal AVX multiplier”, it makes no sense to rely on the usual modern utilities for checking stability. All of them actively use AVX instructions, so the processor will work in them in a relaxed mode - at a reduced frequency. To take this into account, we used old version LinX 0.6.4: it works with SSE4, but does not use AVX.

Stable operation at a frequency of 4.8 GHz required an increase in the supply voltage to 1.4 V. The maximum heating of the processor cores in such conditions did not exceed 80 degrees. It is clear that such a mode would be completely unacceptable if AVX commands were present in the load. But when working with them, the frequency dropped to 3.8 GHz, and therefore there were no signs of overheating. In other words, the appearance of the “AVX inverse multiplier” in Kaby Lake really allows you to get more or less decent overclocking even in completely hopeless cases.

In general, all the difficulties with overclocking the Core i5-7600K that we encountered can be safely attributed to the thermal interface that Intel puts between the processor chip and the copper (nickel-plated) heat-distributing cover covering it. Quad-core Kaby Lake die area with GT2 graphics is about 125mm2. This is a very small surface, and effective heat removal from it is one of the key factors affecting the final result of overclocking. However, in the case of processors in the LGA1151 version, Intel saves on high-quality thermal paste, and the polymer thermal interface used with the heat flux density coming from the overclocked Kaby Lake clearly cannot cope.

Product release date.

Lithography

Lithography indicates the semiconductor technology used to produce integrated chipsets and the report is shown in nanometer (nm) indicating the size of the features embedded in the semiconductor.

Number of Cores

The number of cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing modules in a single computing component (chip).

Number of threads

A thread or thread of execution is a software term for a basic ordered sequence of instructions that can be passed to or processed by a single CPU core.

CPU base clock

The base frequency of the processor is the speed of opening / closing of the processor transistors. The base frequency of the processor is the operating point where the design power (TDP) is set. Frequency is measured in gigahertz (GHz) or billions of computing cycles per second.

Maximum clock speed with Turbo Boost technology

The maximum turbo clock speed is the maximum single-core processor clock speed that can be achieved with the Intel® Turbo Boost and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost technologies it supports. Frequency is measured in gigahertz (GHz) or billions of computing cycles per second.

Cache

The processor cache is an area of ​​high-speed memory located in the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to an architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

System bus frequency

A bus is a subsystem that transfers data between computer components or between computers. An example is the system bus (FSB), through which data is exchanged between the processor and the memory controller unit; DMI interface, which is a point-to-point connection between the onboard Intel memory controller and the Intel I/O controller box on system board; and a Quick Path Interconnect (QPI) interface connecting the processor and the integrated memory controller.

Number of QPI connections

QPI (Quick Path Interconnect) provides a high-speed point-to-point bus connection between the processor and the chipset.

Estimated power

Thermal Design Power (TDP) indicates the average performance in watts when processor power is dissipated (when running at base frequency with all cores engaged) under a complex workload as defined by Intel. Review the requirements for thermoregulation systems in the datasheet.

Embedded options available

Available Options for Embedded Systems indicate products that offer extended purchasing options for smart systems and embedded solutions. Product specifications and terms of use are provided in the Production Release Qualification (PRQ) report. Contact your Intel representative for details.

Max. amount of memory (depends on the type of memory)

Max. memory means the maximum amount of memory supported by the processor.

Memory types

Intel® processors support four different types of memory: single-channel, dual-channel, triple-channel, and Flex.

Max. number of memory channels

Application bandwidth depends on the number of memory channels.

ECC Memory Support‡

ECC memory support indicates the processor's support for ECC memory. ECC memory is a type of memory that supports the detection and repair of common types of internal memory corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both the processor and the chipset to be supported.

Processor-integrated graphics ‡

The processor graphics system is the graphics data processing circuit integrated into the processor, which forms the operation of the video system, computing processes, multimedia and information display. Intel® HD Graphics, Iris™ Graphics, Iris Plus Graphics, and Iris Pro Graphics deliver advanced media conversion, high frame rates, and 4K Ultra HD (UHD) video. See the Intel® Graphics Technology page for more information.

Graphics Base frequency

The base frequency of the graphics system is the nominal/guaranteed graphics rendering clock (MHz).

Max. graphics system dynamic frequency

Max. graphics dynamic frequency is the maximum conventional rendering frequency (MHz) supported by Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency.

Max. graphics system video memory

The maximum amount of memory available for the processor's graphics system. The processor's graphics system uses the same memory as the processor itself (subject to OS, driver and system restrictions, etc.).

4K support

4K support refers to the ability of a product to play at least 3840 x 2160 resolution.

Max. Resolution (HDMI 1.4)‡

Maximum resolution (HDMI) - the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24 bits per pixel at 60 Hz). The system or screen resolution depends on several system design factors, namely the actual resolution on the system may be lower.

Max. Resolution (DP)‡

Maximum Resolution (DP) - The maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24 bits per pixel at 60 Hz). The system or screen resolution depends on several system design factors, namely the actual resolution on the system may be lower.

Max. resolution (eDP - built-in flat screen)

Maximum Resolution (Integrated Flat Screen) - The maximum resolution supported by the processor for the integrated flat screen (24 bits per pixel at 60 Hz). System or screen resolution depends on several system design factors; the actual resolution on the device may be lower.

DirectX* support

DirectX indicates support for a specific version of a collection of Microsoft Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for handling multimedia computing tasks.

OpenGL* support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-platform language or cross-platform application programming interface for displaying two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) vector graphics.

Intel® Quick Sync Video

Intel Technology® Quick Sync Video provides fast video conversion for portable media players, web sharing, and video editing and creation.

InTru™ 3D technology

Intel® InTRU™ 3D Technology delivers 1080p Blu-ray* stereoscopic 3D content with HDMI* 1.4 and high quality audio.

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a set of video encoding and processing technologies built into an integrated graphics system processor. These technologies make video playback more stable and graphics more clear, vivid and realistic. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology delivers brighter colors and more realistic skin through video quality improvements.

Intel® Clear Video Technology

Intel® Clear Video Technology is a set of video encoding and processing technologies built into the processor's integrated graphics system. These technologies make video playback more stable and graphics more clear, vivid and realistic.

PCI Express Edition

Editorial PCI Express is the version supported by the processor. PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial expansion bus standard for computers to connect hardware devices to it. Different versions of PCI Express support different data transfer rates.

PCI Express Configurations‡

PCI Express (PCIe) configurations describe the available PCIe link configurations that can be used to map PCIe PCH links to PCIe devices.

Max. number of PCI Express lanes

The PCI Express (PCIe) link consists of two pairs of signaling links, one for receiving and the other for transmitting data, and this channel is the base module of the PCIe bus. The number of PCI Express lanes is the total number of lanes supported by the processor.

Supported connectors

A connector is a component that provides mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and the motherboard.

Cooling system specifications

Intel Cooling System Reference Specifications for proper operation of this heading.

T JUNCTION

The temperature at the actual contact patch is the maximum temperature allowed on the processor die.

Support for Intel® Optane™ Memory‡

Intel® Optane™ memory is a revolutionary new class of non-volatile memory that works between system memory and storage devices to improve system performance and responsiveness. Combined with the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology driver, it efficiently manages multiple storage tiers by providing a single virtual disk for OS needs, keeping the most frequently accessed information in the fastest storage tier. Intel® Optane™ memory requires specific hardware and software configurations to function. For configuration requirements, visit www.intel.com/OptaneMemory .

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology‡

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the frequency of the processor to the desired level, using the difference between the nominal and maximum values ​​\u200b\u200bof temperature and power consumption, which allows you to increase power efficiency or "overclock" the processor if necessary.

Compliant with Intel® vPro™ platform ‡

Intel® vPro™ Technology is a suite of security and management tools built into the processor that addresses four key areas of security: 1) Threat management, including protection against rootkits, viruses, and other malware 2) Identity protection and targeted website access protection 3) Protection of confidential personal and business information 4) Remote and local monitoring, correction, repair of PCs and workstations.

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology‡

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) provides two processing threads for each physical core. Multithreaded applications can perform more tasks in parallel, which greatly speeds up the work.

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) ‡

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-x) allows a single hardware platform to function as multiple "virtual" platforms. The technology improves manageability by reducing downtime and maintaining productivity by dedicating separate partitions for computing operations.

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) ‡

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O enhances virtualization support in IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® (VT-i) processors with I/O virtualization features. Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O helps users improve system security, reliability, and I/O device performance in virtualized environments.

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT) ‡

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables, also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT) technology, accelerates memory-intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables on Intel® Virtualization Technology-enabled platforms reduces memory and power overhead and improves battery life through hardware-based optimizations for page forwarding table management.

Intel® TSX-NI

Intel® Transactional Synchronization Extensions New Instructions (Intel® TSX-NI) are a set of instructions designed to scale performance in multi-threaded environments. This technology helps to more efficiently perform parallel operations through improved control of software blocking.

Intel® 64 architecture ‡

Intel® 64 architecture combined with the corresponding software supports 64-bit applications on servers, workstations, desktops, and laptops.¹ Intel® 64 architecture delivers performance improvements that allow computing systems to use more than 4 GB of virtual and physical memory.

Command set

The instruction set contains the basic commands and instructions that the microprocessor understands and can execute. The value shown indicates which Intel instruction set the processor is compatible with.

Command Set Extensions

Instruction set extensions are additional instructions that can be used to improve performance when performing operations on multiple data objects. These include SSE (Support for SIMD Extensions) and AVX (Vector Extensions).

Idle States

The idle state (or C-state) mode is used to conserve power when the processor is idle. C0 means running state, that is, the CPU is in this moment does useful work. C1 is the first idle state, C2 is the second idle state, and so on. The higher the numerical indicator of the C-state, the more energy-saving actions the program performs.

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology delivers high performance while meeting the energy-saving requirements of mobile systems. Standard Intel SpeedStep® technology allows you to switch the voltage level and frequency depending on the load on the processor. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is built on the same architecture and uses design strategies such as separation of voltage and frequency changes, and clock distribution and recovery.

Thermal control technologies

Thermal management technologies protect the processor package and system from failure due to overheating through multiple control functions temperature regime. An on-chip Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS) detects the core temperature, and thermal management functions reduce the power consumption of the processor package when necessary, thereby lowering the temperature to ensure operation within normal operating specifications.

Intel® Privacy Protection Technology‡

Intel® Privacy Protection Technology is a built-in security technology based on the use of tokens. This technology provides simple and secure access control to online commercial and business data, protecting against security threats and fraud. Intel® Privacy Protection Technology uses PC hardware authentication mechanisms in websites, banking systems, and online services to authenticate a PC's uniqueness, protect against unauthorized access, and prevent malware attacks. Intel® Privacy Protection Technology can be used as a key component of two-factor authentication solutions designed to protect information on websites and control access to business applications.

Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (Intel® SIPP)

The Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (Intel® SIPP) can help your company find and implement standardized, stable PC platforms for at least 15 months.

New Intel® AES Commands

Intel® AES-NI Commands (Intel® AES New Instructions) are a set of commands that allow you to quickly and securely encrypt and decrypt data. AES-NI commands can be used for a wide range of cryptographic tasks, such as applications that provide bulk encryption, decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Secure Key

Intel® Secure Key Technology is a random number generator that generates unique combinations to enhance encryption algorithms.

Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)

Intel® SGX (Intel® Software Guard Extensions) opens up the possibility of building trusted and hardened hardware protection when applications perform critical procedures and data processing. Such performance is protected from unauthorized access or interference by any other software (including privileged applications) on the system.

Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX) Commands

Intel® MPX (Intel® Memory Protection Extensions) are a set of hardware features that can be used by software, in conjunction with compiler modifications, to check the safety of generated memory references at compile time due to possible buffer overflow or underflow.

Intel® Trusted Execution Technology‡

Intel® Trusted Execution Technology enhances secure command execution through hardware enhancements to Intel® processors and chipsets. This technology provides digital office platforms with security features such as measured application launch and secure command execution. This is achieved by creating an environment where applications run in isolation from other applications on the system.

Function Execute override bit ‡

The Execute Cancel Bit is a hardware security feature that helps reduce vulnerability to viruses and malicious code, as well as prevent malware from executing and spreading on a server or network.

Intel® Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard is used to protect systems from viruses and malware before operating systems are loaded.

Packaging, scope of delivery and appearance

The novelty came to us for testing without packaging and delivery. Therefore, we turn to the official press materials to familiarize ourselves with it. At first glance, it uses the same bright design of the Intel Skylake series processors, but there are still some differences.

Firstly, the designation "7th Generation" was added on the front side, which does not require translation. Secondly, in boxes with processors with a locked multiplier, there is a proprietary cooler, and the viewing window is located on the top panel. Multiplier unlocked models have added the word "Unlocked" to the front and moved the viewing window to the back. Also in their kit it is quite logical that there is no cooling system.

Finally, the "For a great VR experience" logo has been added to the Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7 series CPUs, which will help inexperienced users quickly navigate the choice.

Intel Core i5-6600K

The appearance of the Intel Kaby Lake series processors is quite logically no different from its predecessors, since they are designed for the same socket (Socket LGA1151). Accordingly, owners of cooling systems should not have any problems installing a cooler on new CPUs.

By tradition, on the heat-distributing cover of the Intel Core i5-7600K you can find its name, marking, base clock frequency and other designations. On the reverse side there are contact pads for the Socket LGA1151 connector.

Analysis of technical characteristics

In load mode, the clock frequency of the novelty rises to 4 GHz at a voltage of 1.136 V. In turn, the model in a similar mode operated at a speed of 3.6 GHz at a voltage of 1.193 V.

Under certain loads, it is possible to achieve the maximum declared frequency of 4.2 GHz at a voltage of 0.768 V. For its predecessor, it was 3.9 GHz at a voltage of 1.304 V.

After deactivating the dynamic overclocking technology (Intel Turbo Boost 2.0), the frequency of the Intel Core i5-7600K in the load does not exceed 3.8 GHz at a voltage of 1.072 V. But the Intel Core i5-6600K can boast only a speed of 3.5 GHz at a voltage of 1.194 V.

And finally, in power-saving mode, both processors can reduce the frequency to 800 MHz. But if the representative of Intel Kaby Lake requires 0.688 V for this, then Intel Skylake is already 0.846 V.

In general, we can state a decrease in operating voltages while increasing the frequency and maintaining the thermal package. These are clear results of optimizations in design and production technology.

Left - Intel Core i5-7600K, right - Intel Core i5-6600K

Absolutely nothing has changed in the organization of the cache memory. We still have the following structure:

• 32 KB of L1 cache per core with 8 associativity channels is reserved for instructions and the same amount for data;
• 256 KB L2 cache per core with 8 associativity channels;
• 6 MB shared L3 cache with 12 associativity channels.

But the integrated RAM controller has been improved, and now it is guaranteed to support DDR4 modules with a frequency of 2400 MHz instead of 2133 MHz. Support for DDR3L-1600 MHz memory has not gone away either.

Now a few words about the integrated graphics adapter Intel HD Graphics 630, based on the Intel Gen9.5 microarchitecture. In its presentation, Intel did not indicate the number of execution units, but the AIDA64 program suggests that there are 24 of them, like its predecessor. The base frequency is not indicated, and the dynamic is also at 1150 MHz.

The maximum temperature indicator for the Intel Core i5-7600K at the time of writing the review was not officially designated, so we will focus on the Tjmax parameter of the AIDA64 program, which is 100 ° C.

When loading processor and graphics cores the clock frequency of the first slightly exceeded 3.8 GHz, and the second - 1150 MHz. CPU power consumption reached 60 watts. In turn, the temperature of the processor cores did not exceed 55°C, and iGPU - 49°C.

Testing

When testing, we used the Stand for testing Processors No. 2

We will traditionally start the analysis of the results with the efficiency of the Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 technology, the deactivation of which reduces the maximum possible clock frequency from 4.2 to 3.8 GHz. Turning it off reduces Intel performance The Core i5-7600K averaged 3.3% in synthetic tests and 1% in games.

We express our gratitude to Intel for providing the processor for testing.

Exactly on the third day of this year, the PC industry once again stirred up. Intel has introduced a new, already the seventh generation of Intel Core processors, as well as the 200th line of chipsets. If everything is more or less clear with chipsets, we got acquainted with the Intel Z270 Express in the review of the ASUS Strix Z270E Gaming motherboard, then we have not yet paid attention to processors. In this article, we will consider, if I may say so, the popular overclocker processor - Core i5-7600K, and also consider the main innovations and changes in the CPU data architecture.

Specifications.

How is KabyLake different from its predecessor Skylake?

If you start to understand the differences between the “newcomer” Intel Core i5-7600K and the already well-known Intel Core i5-6600K, then we will not find big, some radical and cardinal changes. To put it bluntly, we have SkylakeRefresh, which was singled out in the new 7th generation, and given the new name Kaby Lake. Why did it happen? Why is Intel not in a hurry to spoil us with a big performance boost?
Firstly, a large increase in Intel's performance is not needed at the moment, because there is almost no competition from AMD for the giant's processors, and therefore, why then strain?
But the second reason is more global and weighty. The fact is that the well-known strategy for the release of processors called “Tick-Tock” no longer works. At the moment, releasing a new architecture with a high frequency of a year or a year and a half, followed by an improved technical process, has become much more difficult. And even a giant like Intel cannot afford the luxury of following this strategy.
With the advent of the 22 nm process technology, followed by today's 14 nm technology, it has set many tasks for re-equipping production lines, which in turn increases the time frame for mastering new technological processes.
Time passes, the processes are being mastered, although much longer, if you estimate, the older technical processes were replaced once a year and a half or two years, while today's technical processes, 14 nm, followed by 10 nm, replace each other already with a frequency of 3-4 years. This is a very long period of time, because the company needs to earn money somehow. :)
Therefore, Intel decided to change the strategy "Tick-Tock" to "Tick-Tock-Tock", i.e. strategy "Workflow-Microarchitecture" to "Workflow-Architecture-Optimization". To make it clearer, let's show it in a table:

And if you look at this table, then we can conclude that Kaby Lake should be named Skylake Refresh, but Intel decided to bring these processors into a new separate generation with its own name.
If we talk about specific changes in the microarchitecture of the processor, then there are none. It is more correct to say that Intel has optimized the production line, and was able to achieve the release of more suitable processors than before.
And by optimizing the production line, it was possible to achieve higher operating frequencies with the same power consumption, in fact, that's all!

Externally, the processors also practically do not differ. The only change that can be seen is two small protrusions on the edges of the heat spreader cover of the CPU. Thanks to them, now it has become much more convenient to install or remove the processor from the socket.

On this we will finish with the theoretical part and go directly to testing the Intel Core i5-7600K processor.

Testing.

We will first look at the performance of the Intel Core i5-7600K and then compare it to its predecessor, the Intel Core i5-6600K. Testing was carried out in two stages, at first test applications were run with nominal settings, and then the overclocking potential of the processor was checked. The Intel Core i7-6600K processor was overclocked to 4700 MHz with all cores active. To do this, we needed to increase the voltage to 1.310 V.
But his new brother Intel Core i5-7600K was able to accelerate to an impressive 5200 MHz, while maintaining full stability. At the same time, we had to increase the vCore voltage to 1.375 V.
Also note that both processors were under the same conditions, both were scalped, and both were cooled by the CBO Corsair H110i GTX.

Test stand:
– Intel Core processor [email protected] MHz
– Maternal ASUS board Maximus VIII Hero
– Cooling CorsairH110iGTX


- Radeon R9 380 video card.

Test stand:
– Intel Core processor [email protected] MHz
– Motherboard ASUS Strix Z270E Gaming
– Cooling Corsair H110i GTX
– Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-2800 MHz RAM
– Corsair AX1200i power supply
- Radeon R9 380 video card.

SuperPi 1M - 8.720 sec.

SuperPi 1M - 7.064 sec.

SuperPi 32M - 7 min 46.894 sec.

SuperPi 32M - 6 min 11,481 sec.

wPrime 32M –6.377 sec,
wPrime 1024M -200.426 sec.

wPrime 32M - 5.127 sec,
wPrime 1024M -161.628 sec.

PiFast - 15.25 sec.

PiFast - 12.28 sec.

Cinebench R11.5 - 8.13 pts.

Cinebench R11.5 - 10.05 pts.

Fryrender - 5 min 21 sec.

Fryrender- 4 min 32 sec.

During testing, the processor warmed up to temperatures:

In nominal mode, the maximum temperature was 47 degrees.

After overclocking to 5200 MHz, the processor began to warm up to 60 degrees.

Next, we will compare the performance of Core i5-7600K vs Core i5-6600K. For the convenience of perceiving the information, we will present them to you in the form of graphs. Screenshots with passed benchmarks on the i5-6600K processor can be found in.

Core i5-7600K vs Core i5-6600K performance comparison.

SuperPi 1M (Less is Better)

SuperPi 32M (Less is Better)

PiFast (Less is Better)

wPrime 32M (Less is Better)

wPrime 1024M (Less is Better)

Cinebench R11.5 (Bigger is Better)

Fryrender (Less is Better)

Conclusion.
What do we have as a result? The picture is as follows. Intel has released processors that are slightly better overclocked and slightly cooler. Otherwise, this is Skylake already familiar to us, just optimized, and for good reason this family of processors should have been called not KabyLake, but Skylake Refresh. Is it worth it to run to the store and upgrade if you already have a Core i5-6600K, definitely not! Unless, of course, you are an avid overclocker, and you are not chasing every megahertz. But if your computer has an older processor, then in this case it’s worth going to the store, you will feel the difference!
Therefore, according to the results of testing, we still recommend the Intel Core i5-7600K processor for purchase.

Product release date.

Lithography

Lithography indicates the semiconductor technology used to produce integrated chipsets and the report is shown in nanometer (nm) indicating the size of the features embedded in the semiconductor.

Number of Cores

The number of cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing modules in a single computing component (chip).

Number of threads

A thread or thread of execution is a software term for a basic ordered sequence of instructions that can be passed to or processed by a single CPU core.

CPU base clock

The base frequency of the processor is the speed of opening / closing of the processor transistors. The base frequency of the processor is the operating point where the design power (TDP) is set. Frequency is measured in gigahertz (GHz) or billions of computing cycles per second.

Maximum clock speed with Turbo Boost technology

The maximum turbo clock speed is the maximum single-core processor clock speed that can be achieved with the Intel® Turbo Boost and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost technologies it supports. Frequency is measured in gigahertz (GHz) or billions of computing cycles per second.

Cache

The processor cache is an area of ​​high-speed memory located in the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to an architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

System bus frequency

A bus is a subsystem that transfers data between computer components or between computers. An example is the system bus (FSB), through which data is exchanged between the processor and the memory controller unit; DMI interface, which is a point-to-point connection between the onboard Intel memory controller and the Intel I/O controller box on the motherboard; and a Quick Path Interconnect (QPI) interface connecting the processor and the integrated memory controller.

Number of QPI connections

QPI (Quick Path Interconnect) provides a high-speed point-to-point bus connection between the processor and the chipset.

Estimated power

Thermal Design Power (TDP) indicates the average performance in watts when processor power is dissipated (when running at base frequency with all cores engaged) under a complex workload as defined by Intel. Review the requirements for thermoregulation systems in the datasheet.

Embedded options available

Available Options for Embedded Systems indicate products that offer extended purchasing options for smart systems and embedded solutions. Product specifications and terms of use are provided in the Production Release Qualification (PRQ) report. Contact your Intel representative for details.

Max. amount of memory (depends on the type of memory)

Max. memory means the maximum amount of memory supported by the processor.

Memory types

Intel® processors support four different types of memory: single-channel, dual-channel, triple-channel, and Flex.

Max. number of memory channels

Application bandwidth depends on the number of memory channels.

ECC Memory Support‡

ECC memory support indicates the processor's support for ECC memory. ECC memory is a type of memory that supports the detection and repair of common types of internal memory corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both the processor and the chipset to be supported.

Processor-integrated graphics ‡

The processor graphics system is the graphics data processing circuit integrated into the processor, which forms the operation of the video system, computing processes, multimedia and information display. Intel® HD Graphics, Iris™ Graphics, Iris Plus Graphics, and Iris Pro Graphics deliver advanced media conversion, high frame rates, and 4K Ultra HD (UHD) video. See the Intel® Graphics Technology page for more information.

Graphics Base frequency

The base frequency of the graphics system is the nominal/guaranteed graphics rendering clock (MHz).

Max. graphics system dynamic frequency

Max. graphics dynamic frequency is the maximum conventional rendering frequency (MHz) supported by Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency.

Max. graphics system video memory

The maximum amount of memory available for the processor's graphics system. The processor's graphics system uses the same memory as the processor itself (subject to OS, driver and system restrictions, etc.).

4K support

4K support refers to the ability of a product to play at least 3840 x 2160 resolution.

Max. Resolution (HDMI 1.4)‡

Maximum resolution (HDMI) - the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24 bits per pixel at 60 Hz). The system or screen resolution depends on several system design factors, namely the actual resolution on the system may be lower.

Max. Resolution (DP)‡

Maximum Resolution (DP) - The maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24 bits per pixel at 60 Hz). The system or screen resolution depends on several system design factors, namely the actual resolution on the system may be lower.

Max. resolution (eDP - built-in flat screen)

Maximum Resolution (Integrated Flat Screen) - The maximum resolution supported by the processor for the integrated flat screen (24 bits per pixel at 60 Hz). System or screen resolution depends on several system design factors; the actual resolution on the device may be lower.

DirectX* support

DirectX indicates support for a specific version of a collection of Microsoft Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for handling multimedia computing tasks.

OpenGL* support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-platform language or cross-platform application programming interface for displaying two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) vector graphics.

Intel® Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video Technology provides fast video conversion for portable media players, network sharing, and video editing and creation.

InTru™ 3D technology

Intel® InTRU™ 3D Technology delivers 1080p Blu-ray* stereoscopic 3D content with HDMI* 1.4 and high quality audio.

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a set of video encoding and processing technologies built into the processor's integrated graphics system. These technologies make video playback more stable and graphics more clear, vivid and realistic. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology delivers brighter colors and more realistic skin through video quality improvements.

Intel® Clear Video Technology

Intel® Clear Video Technology is a set of video encoding and processing technologies built into the processor's integrated graphics system. These technologies make video playback more stable and graphics more clear, vivid and realistic.

PCI Express Edition

The PCI Express edition is the version supported by the processor. PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial expansion bus standard for computers to connect hardware devices to it. Different versions of PCI Express support different data transfer rates.

PCI Express Configurations‡

PCI Express (PCIe) configurations describe the available PCIe link configurations that can be used to map PCIe PCH links to PCIe devices.

Max. number of PCI Express lanes

The PCI Express (PCIe) link consists of two pairs of signaling links, one for receiving and the other for transmitting data, and this channel is the base module of the PCIe bus. The number of PCI Express lanes is the total number of lanes supported by the processor.

Supported connectors

A connector is a component that provides mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and the motherboard.

Cooling system specifications

Intel Cooling System Reference Specifications for proper operation of this heading.

T JUNCTION

The temperature at the actual contact patch is the maximum temperature allowed on the processor die.

Support for Intel® Optane™ Memory‡

Intel® Optane™ memory is a revolutionary new class of non-volatile memory that works between system memory and storage devices to improve system performance and responsiveness. Combined with the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology driver, it efficiently manages multiple storage tiers by providing a single virtual disk for OS needs, keeping the most frequently accessed information in the fastest storage tier. Intel® Optane™ memory requires specific hardware and software configurations to function. For configuration requirements, visit www.intel.com/OptaneMemory .

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology‡

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the frequency of the processor to the desired level, using the difference between the nominal and maximum values ​​\u200b\u200bof temperature and power consumption, which allows you to increase power efficiency or "overclock" the processor if necessary.

Compliant with Intel® vPro™ platform ‡

Intel® vPro™ Technology is a suite of security and management tools built into the processor that addresses four key areas of security: 1) Threat management, including protection against rootkits, viruses, and other malware 2) Identity protection and targeted website access protection 3) Protection of confidential personal and business information 4) Remote and local monitoring, correction, repair of PCs and workstations.

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology‡

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) provides two processing threads for each physical core. Multithreaded applications can perform more tasks in parallel, which greatly speeds up the work.

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) ‡

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-x) allows a single hardware platform to function as multiple "virtual" platforms. The technology improves manageability by reducing downtime and maintaining productivity by dedicating separate partitions for computing operations.

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) ‡

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O enhances virtualization support in IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® (VT-i) processors with I/O virtualization features. Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O helps users improve system security, reliability, and I/O device performance in virtualized environments.

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT) ‡

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables, also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT) technology, accelerates memory-intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables on Intel® Virtualization Technology-enabled platforms reduces memory and power overhead and improves battery life through hardware-based optimizations for page forwarding table management.

Intel® TSX-NI

Intel® Transactional Synchronization Extensions New Instructions (Intel® TSX-NI) are a set of instructions designed to scale performance in multi-threaded environments. This technology helps to more efficiently perform parallel operations through improved control of software blocking.

Intel® 64 architecture ‡

Intel® 64 architecture, combined with appropriate software, supports 64-bit applications on servers, workstations, desktops, and laptops.¹ Intel® 64 architecture delivers performance improvements that enable computing systems to use more than 4 GB of virtual and physical memory .

Command set

The instruction set contains the basic commands and instructions that the microprocessor understands and can execute. The value shown indicates which Intel instruction set the processor is compatible with.

Command Set Extensions

Instruction set extensions are additional instructions that can be used to improve performance when performing operations on multiple data objects. These include SSE (Support for SIMD Extensions) and AVX (Vector Extensions).

Idle States

The idle state (or C-state) mode is used to conserve power when the processor is idle. C0 means the operating state, that is, the CPU is currently doing useful work. C1 is the first idle state, C2 is the second idle state, and so on. The higher the numerical indicator of the C-state, the more energy-saving actions the program performs.

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology delivers high performance while meeting the energy-saving requirements of mobile systems. Standard Intel SpeedStep® technology allows you to switch the voltage level and frequency depending on the load on the processor. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is built on the same architecture and uses design strategies such as separation of voltage and frequency changes, and clock distribution and recovery.

Thermal control technologies

Thermal management technologies protect the processor package and system from thermal failure through multiple thermal management features. An on-chip Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS) detects the core temperature, and thermal management functions reduce the power consumption of the processor package when necessary, thereby lowering the temperature to ensure operation within normal operating specifications.

Intel® Privacy Protection Technology‡

Intel® Privacy Protection Technology is a built-in security technology based on the use of tokens. This technology provides simple and secure access control to online commercial and business data, protecting against security threats and fraud. Intel® Privacy Protection Technology uses PC hardware authentication mechanisms in websites, banking systems, and online services to authenticate a PC's uniqueness, protect against unauthorized access, and prevent malware attacks. Intel® Privacy Protection Technology can be used as a key component of two-factor authentication solutions designed to protect information on websites and control access to business applications.

Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (Intel® SIPP)

The Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (Intel® SIPP) can help your company find and implement standardized, stable PC platforms for at least 15 months.

New Intel® AES Commands

Intel® AES-NI Commands (Intel® AES New Instructions) are a set of commands that allow you to quickly and securely encrypt and decrypt data. AES-NI commands can be used for a wide range of cryptographic tasks, such as applications that provide bulk encryption, decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Secure Key

Intel® Secure Key Technology is a random number generator that generates unique combinations to enhance encryption algorithms.

Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)

Intel® SGX (Intel® Software Guard Extensions) opens up the possibility of building trusted and hardened hardware protection when applications perform critical procedures and data processing. Such performance is protected from unauthorized access or interference by any other software (including privileged applications) on the system.

Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX) Commands

Intel® MPX (Intel® Memory Protection Extensions) are a set of hardware features that can be used by software, in conjunction with compiler modifications, to check the safety of generated memory references at compile time due to possible buffer overflow or underflow.

Function Execute override bit ‡

The Execute Cancel Bit is a hardware security feature that helps reduce vulnerability to viruses and malicious code, as well as prevent malware from executing and spreading on a server or network.

Intel® Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard is used to protect systems from viruses and malware before operating systems are loaded.