4 core intel core i5 processor. Again about i5: an overview of the line of Intel Core i5 processors with Ivy Bridge microarchitecture

This article provides a small comparison of i3 to i5 i7 processors. Typical tasks for all Core series processors will also be briefly described. The names of processors from Intel vary so much that an ordinary user does not understand at all what one or another processor name means. Of course, in itself it carries its own meaning, but at first glance, this is a confusion of abbreviations and numbers.

Before buying a new processor from Intel, the reasonable question is what is the difference between the i3 i5 i7 processors. To understand all this, we can divide all the names of Core processors into two groups. The first one, the most interesting for us, is the line (i3 / i5 / i7), which we will focus on. The rest of the name, including numbers and letters, shows us the distinctive features of a particular processor, which we will consider below.

There are a couple of main features in the Core series. The socket (socket for installing the processor) in the same generation will always be the same. You don't need a different motherboard for the same Core i3 than the i5 or i7. All processors have a built-in graphics core. The sixth generation Skylake we are reviewing uses 1151 sockets and integrated HD530 graphics.

Core i3

Although the i3 processors are the least powerful in the Core series, they are a great choice for everyday computing. They have two physical cores, but Hyper-Threading technology smooths out this disadvantage. Hyper-Threading doubles the available processor threads by emulating 4 "virtual" cores. The L3 cache reaches 3-4 MB, depending on the specific model, and the frequencies range from 2.7 to 3.9 GHz. The processor is available for $ 110-140.

He knows a little bit of everything, but he can’t do anything perfectly. The performance of these processors is sufficient for the responsiveness of the system, but heavy tasks like rendering or editing video on them will be a torment. They are fast enough to open up a modern graphics card, so they can be used in entry-level gaming systems with a mid-range graphics card.

Core i5

Sitting exactly in the middle between the i3 and i7 series, the i5 processor line has many of the latter features, while being quite energy efficient. This series lacks Hyper-Threading technology, but has 4 physical cores, Turbo Boost, and processor models with an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The amount of L3 cache reaches 6MB (in desktop i5 models).

Turbo Boost allows a processor to temporarily increase the frequency of one or more cores under load by increasing power consumption and decreasing the processing power of other cores. In fact, this technology is a kind of overclocking of the physical core. Sixth Gen i5 frequencies range from 2.2 to 3.5 GHz, and prices range from $ 180 to $ 220

Core i7

At the top are the i7 series processors. They have four logical cores, as in the i5 line. Hyper-Threading is also present, creating as many as 8 threads on 4 physical cores. These processors have the highest frequencies, reaching 4 GHz by default and 4.2 GHz in Turbo Boost. The i7 comes with 8MB of L3 cache and can be purchased for a range of $ 300 to $ 340.

Although these processors are endowed with the highest performance, this is clearly more than enough for the average user. It is the processors of this line that will allow you to see by eye what distinguishes the i3 i5 i7 processors. I7 processors are great for programs that can take full advantage of all 8 threads. Despite this, many games to this day use only 4 cores. Even Photoshop wins in work with more than 2 cores only when using special filters and operations. If you do not work in Maya and Autodesk on a regular basis, you will see practically no gain, how and how the i3 i5 i7 differs in simple tasks.

Index values

A processor from any manufacturer has its own indices found in the remainder of the name after the manufacturer and the product number. The larger the product ID, the more powerful the processor is usually. Letters T, U and Y designates processors designed for low power consumption. K at the end designate processors with overclocking potential, and P indicates the presence of a less powerful graphics core. If you want a more detailed description of the indexes, take a look at the Intel website.

What should you buy?

Without going deep into all these notations, we can say that Core processors make it easy to determine which one is more suitable for you. This can be seen even from one symbol in the name of the line. The difference between the i3 i5 i7 lies in the processing power. Another difference between the i3 i5 i7 processors is the graphics core. In the i5 and i7 it is usually the same, but in the i3 it is weaker. Unfortunately, not all users think about the difference between the i3 i5 i7 and take a processor whose capabilities are simply not used, or vice versa.

For most users, the i5 will be fine with a good price-performance ratio. i3 will still be an excellent choice for budget assemblies, this is a good option for the money. If you are confident that heavy tasks will fall on the shoulders of your processor, such as rendering or editing large video files or modeling, then the capabilities of the Core i7 will completely satisfy you.

I think this article has clarified how the i3 i5 i7 processors are different. I hope this information will play a role in choosing a particular processor when purchasing.

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

Introduction

First, we present the essential characteristics of each Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 processor family, and then we'll talk about which of these chips are of particular interest. For the convenience of the readers, we considered it expedient to present the information in the form of a kind of reference book, and to bring all the data on the current models of the model into small tables. The prices we quoted are Russian retail prices, fixed at the time of publication of this material, for boxed processors (that is, with a proprietary cooler).

Core i3

Core i3 (Clarkdale) is the latest generation of dual-core processor for entry-level desktops. First introduced on January 7, 2010. Fits into the LGA1156 socket. Manufactured using 32nm technology.

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

Core i3 processors have an integrated GMA HD graphics core with twelve pipelines and a clock speed of 733 MHz.

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

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

Main technical parameters of Core i3

• Microarchitecture Nehalem
• Two cores
• L3 Cache - 4MB shared across all cores
• Integrated PCI Express 2.0 x16 controller
• Integrated graphics 733 MHz
• SSE 4.2 Instruction Set
• AES-NIS Instruction Set

Core i5

Core i5 (Clarkdale or Lynnfield) is the latest generation of dual or quad-core processor for mid-range desktop computers. First presented on September 8, 2009. Fits into the LGA1156 socket. Dual-core Clarkdale is produced using 32nm technology, quad-core Lynnfield - using 45nm technology.

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

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

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

The dual-core models (6xx series) have built-in GMA HD graphics and Hyper-Threading technology, while the quad-core (7xx series) do not have graphics and Hyper-Threading. Models ending in 1 have a graphics clock speed of 900 MHz, while models ending in 0 have a graphics core running at 733 MHz.

All Core i5s feature Turbo Boost, an automatic overclocking technology for demanding tasks.

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

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

Main technical parameters of Core i5

• Microarchitecture Nehalem
• Two or four cores
• 64K L1 cache (32K for data and 32K for instructions) per core
• L2 Cache - 256KB per core
• L3 cache - 4 or 8 MB shared across all cores
• Integrated dual channel DDR3-1066 / 1333 MHz memory controller
• Integrated PCI Express 2.0 controller (one x16 lane or two x8 lane in models without integrated graphics)
• Integrated graphics 733 or 900 MHz
• VT virtualization technology support
• Supports 64-bit Intel EM64T instructions
• Supports Hyper-Threading Technology on Dual Core Models
• SSE 4.2 Instruction Set
• AES-NIS Instruction Set
• Antivirus technology Execute Disable Bit
• Enhanced SpeedStep Dynamic Frequency Change Technology

Core i7

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

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

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

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

All Core i7s feature Turbo Boost for demanding tasks, as well as Hyper-Threading.

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

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

Main technical parameters of Core i7

• Microarchitecture Nehalem
• Four or six cores
• 64K L1 cache (32K for data and 32K for instructions) per core
• L2 Cache - 256KB per core
• L3 cache - 8 or 12 MB shared across all cores
• Integrated dual-channel (LGA1156) or three-channel (LGA1366) DDR3-1066 / 1333 MHz memory controller
• QPI bus operating at 2.4 GHz (4.8 GB / s) or 3.2 GHz (6.4 GB / s) on LGA1366 models
• DMI bus (2 GB / s) on models for LGA1156
• Integrated PCI Express 2.0 controller (one x16 lane or two x8 lane for non-integrated graphics models) on LGA1156 models
• VT virtualization technology support
• Supports 64-bit Intel EM64T instructions
• Hyper-Threading Technology Support
• Turbo Boost Technology Support
• SSE 4.2 Instruction Set
• I7-980X AES-NIS Instruction Set
• Antivirus technology Execute Disable Bit
• Enhanced SpeedStep Dynamic Frequency Change Technology

What to choose?

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

The Core i3 series chips are direct competitors to the previous generation Core 2 Duo Exxx processors: they cost about the same and provide a comparable level of performance, albeit somewhat faster. However, although motherboards with LGA1156 socket are more expensive than LGA775 counterparts, buying an i3 chip is a more reasonable long-term investment than Core 2 Duo, since these processors are not only fast enough today, but can also be replaced with any LGA1156 chip in the future. - even on the super-powerful Core i7. If the i3-530 is too expensive for you, you can pay attention to the Pentium G6950 (the "boxed" version with a standard cooler will cost about 3200 rubles), which is slower than both "three rubles", but practically not inferior to most Core 2 Duos.

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

All Core i5 600-series processors are very powerful, but if you don't need a chip with integrated graphics, it doesn't make much sense to buy a model of this family. These models are aimed, rather, at the corporate market - an office computer does not need powerful graphics, and the simpler it is in design, the more convenient it is to maintain.

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

To build a powerful gaming PC, the best choice in terms of price / performance is the Core i7-860, all other options will cost significantly more, since you will need a more expensive motherboard on the X58 Express chipset for the LGA1366 socket.

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

When choosing a processor from Intel, the question arises: which chip from this corporation to choose? Processors have many characteristics and parameters that affect their performance. And in accordance with it and some features of the microarchitecture, the manufacturer gives the appropriate name. Our task is to highlight this issue. In this article, you will find out what exactly the names of Intel processors mean, as well as learn about the microarchitecture of chips from this company.

Indication

It should be noted in advance that solutions earlier than 2012 will not be considered here, since technologies are advancing at a fast pace and these chips have too low performance with high power consumption, and it is also difficult to buy them in a new state. Also, server solutions will not be considered here, since they have a specific scope and are not intended for the consumer market.

Caution The nomenclature below may not be valid for processors older than the above period.

And also if you have any difficulties, you can visit the site. And read this article, which tells about. And if you want to know about integrated graphics from Intel, then you should.

Tick-tock

Intel has a special strategy for releasing its "stones" called Tick-Tock. It consists of annual incremental improvements.

• Tick ​​means a change in microarchitecture, which leads to a change in socket, better performance and optimization of power consumption.
• This means that it leads to a decrease in power consumption, the possibility of placing more transistors on a chip, a possible increase in frequencies and an increase in cost.

This is how this strategy looks for desktop and laptop models:

MODEL "TIK-TAK" IN DESKTOP PROCESSORS

MICROARCHITECURA	STAGE	EXIT	TECHPROCESS
Nehalem	So	2009	45 nm
Westmere	Teak	2010	32 nm
Sandy bridge	So	2011	32 nm
Ivy bridge	Teak	2012	22 nm
Haswell	So	2013	22 nm
Broadwell	Teak	2014	14 nm
Skylake	So	2015	14 nm
Kaby lake	So +	2016	14 nm

But for low-power solutions (smartphones, tablets, netbooks, nettops) platforms look like this:

MICROARCHITECTURE MOBILE PROCESSORS

CATEGORY	PLATFORM	CORE	TECHPROCESS
Netbooks / Nettops / Laptops	Braswell	Airmont	14 nm
	Bay Trail-D / M	Silvermont	22 nm
Top tablets	Willow trail	Goldmont	14 nm
	Cherry trail	Airmont	14 nm
	Bay Tral-T	Silvermont	22 nm
	Clower trail	Satwell	32 nm
Top / mid-range smartphones / tablets	Morganfield	Goldmont	14 nm
	Moorefield	Silvermont	22 nm
	Merrifield	Silvermont	22 nm
	Clower Trail +	Satwell	32 nm
	Medfield	Satwell	32 nm
Medium / budget smartphones / tablets	Binghamton	Airmont	14 nm
	Riverton	Airmont	14 nm
	Slayton	Silvermont	22 nm

It should be noted that Bay Trail-D is made for desktops: Pentium and Celeron with index J. And Bay Trail-M for is a mobile solution and will also be denoted among Pentium and Celeron by its letter N.

Judging by the latest trends of the company, the performance itself is progressing rather slowly, while energy efficiency (performance per unit of energy consumed) is growing from year to year, and even soon, laptops will have the same powerful processors as on large PCs (although such representatives there is now).

For the first time desktop 6-core processors appeared eight years ago at a price of $ 600. But the Socket LGA1366 platform itself was quite expensive, and only wealthy enthusiasts could afford it. Although, perhaps, the main reason why such solutions could not become popular can be considered the lack of widespread distribution of software capable of taking full advantage of the new opportunities at that time. Of course, there was specialized software, but only in certain narrow niches. For multi-core processors to go mainstream, it was necessary to set the stage, which Intel did.

For this, starting with the mainstream platform Socket LGA1156 and subsequent ones, a hierarchy was introduced, which remained practically unchanged until the seventh generation Intel Core. So, at the very bottom there are 2-core chips Intel Celeron and Intel Pentium (the 4-thread "hyperpen" and the like are knocked out of the general row). The Intel Core i3 series models go a step higher, which also have 2 cores, but thanks to the support of Intel Hyper-Threading logical multithreading technology, they are able to process 4 threads. At the very top are the Intel Core i5 / i7 processors: they have 4 full cores (the exception is the 2-core 4-thread models of the Intel Core i5-6xx family), and in the latter case, the number of threads is doubled. This approach allowed the microprocessor giant to cover all the needs for building a wide range of home, school or office computers. And all subsequent years, engineers from Santa Clara were engaged in quality improvement of their products and expansion of their functionality.

At the same time, HEDT platforms were also taking shape, which, in their composition, offer multi-core "stones" for creating uncompromising gaming or workstations. It is noteworthy that with the release of Socket LGA2011-v3, the recommended price tag for 6-core processors dropped below $ 400, and for the first time 8-core 16-thread models, and then 10-core 20-thread models, leaked into the desktop segment.

What about AMD? I must say that after the appearance on the scene of Intel Core 2 Duo, the "red" were in the role of catching up. The company tried to take on quantity, offering more cores than the competitor. We are talking about 6-core AMD Phenom II X6 and newer 8-core AMD FX. But at the dawn of their appearance, game engines used only 1-2 threads, and due to faster cores, Intel solutions looked preferable. However, this does not mean that these processors turned out to be unsuccessful, it was just that their time had not come yet. As a proof, we can recall a lot of modern tests of "fufiks", which even now look very good, especially after correct overclocking. Separately, it should be mentioned that AMD managed to firmly establish itself in consoles thanks to its 8-core Jaguar CPU, which pushed game developers to parallelize the code.

It would seem that nothing can break this hegemony, and everyone has already come to terms with the insignificant (5-10%) increase in computing power during the transition of the CPU from generation to generation, which was confirmed by the release of the line , which in fact is just a slightly modified version . But with the debut of the long-awaited processors, the Sunnyvale-based company managed to impose an active struggle on Intel in price segments of $ 100 and above. Moreover, AMD remained true to its principles - "more features for less money." As a result, in every price range, the Reisens outnumber the competitor in the number of cores or threads. In fairness, it should be noted that this does not always translate into an unconditional performance advantage, but from a purely psychological and marketing point of view, the blow was tangible. Naturally, the “blues” had to quickly respond to such a daring attack from their eternal rival. First of all, the plans for the release of the platform were adjusted and the line of Intel Core X chips was significantly expanded, including a real monster - the 18-core 36-thread Intel Core i9-7980XE.

But the debut of the 8th Gen Intel Core processors was much more hype. This is due to the fact that the new Intel Coffee Lake family for the first time in many years received a proportional increase in the number of cores / threads and the amount of cache memory. That is, now in the series of Intel Core i5 / i7 CPUs, solutions are offered with six processing cores, which are characterized by the presence / absence of support for Intel Hyper-Threading technology and L3 cache 9/12 MB, and Intel Core i3 acquired four full cores, without HT, but with the L3 cache increased to 6 MB. In practice, this resulted in a significant increase in productivity, which was confirmed by our practical acquaintances with and. By the way, a couple of our experiments showed that it bypasses not only its 2-core predecessor, the Core i3-7100, but also the younger 4-core Core i5s of previous generations. Curiously, it can also compete on an equal footing with a more expensive one. And this suggests that the new Core i5 look very attractive options for building a modern gaming computer.

Now Intel has the most affordable 6-core in the lineup. For a minute, according to the official price list price Intel Core i5-8400 is $ 187 in lots of 1000 pieces, which makes it a very tasty purchase. But the real picture is slightly different. At the time of this writing, its average cost reached $ 250 in the domestic market, while a direct competitor in the face can be found for $ 220. Taking into account the temporary lack of available motherboards for Kofi Lake, when assembling real systems on Socket AM4, you can additionally save about $ 60 or even more. But what should you choose in this case? And you will find out by reading this material.

Specification

CPU socket
Base / dynamic clock frequency, GHz
Base multiplier
The base frequency of the system bus, MHz
Number of cores / threads
L1 cache size, KB	6 x 32 (data memory) 6 x 32 (instruction memory)
L2 cache, KB
L3 cache size, MB
Microarchitecture	Intel Coffee Lake
Codename	Intel Coffee Lake-S
Maximum design power (TDP), W
Process technology, nm
Critical temperature (T junction), ° C
Support for instructions and technologies	Intel Turbo Boost 2.0, Intel Optane Memory, Intel vPro, Intel VT-x, Intel VT-d, Intel VT-x EPT, Intel TSX-NI, Intel 64, Execute Disable Bit, Intel AEX-NI, MMX, SSE, SSE2 , SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, EM64T, AES, AVX, AVX 2.0, FMA3, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep, Thermal Monitoring, Intel Identity Protection, Intel Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Built-in memory controller
Memory type
Supported frequency, MHz
Number of channels
Maximum memory size, GB
Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630
Number of executive units (EU)
Base / dynamic frequency, MHz
Maximum video memory (allocated from RAM), GB
Maximum screen resolution at 60 Hz
Maximum number of displays supported
Supported technologies and APIs	DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.5, Intel Quick Sync Video, Intel InTru 3D, Intel Clear Video HD, Intel Clear Video
Products webpage
Processor page
Buy page

Packaging, delivery set and appearance

The processor was kindly provided for testing by the company BRAIN Computers... In the company store it is available in the BOX version (BX80684I58400) with a simple cooler. He came to us in the OEM version (CM8068403358811) without a cooling system. The difference in price is about $ 15-20, which will allow the user to choose a more efficient cooler, but instead of a three-year warranty, he will have to limit himself to only one.

The markings on the Intel Core i5-8400 heat spreader cover indicate that our sample was manufactured in Malaysia during week 37 of 2017, that is, between September 11 and 17. Considering the use of the same Socket LGA1151, there are practically no visual differences from their predecessors.

But it's worth remembering that any Intel Coffee Lake processor will need a motherboard based on Intel 300 series chipsets to work. Although at your own peril and risk, you can use and either endow a model based on Intel 100- / 200-series chipsets with the ability to work with new CPUs, or, at best, waste time (and at worst, turn it into a museum exhibit).

At the moment, only models based on the overclocking chipset are available for the updated platform. Naturally, if you are the owner of a chip with an unlocked multiplier, then this is a completely justified choice, but the owners of models without the “K” index will have to overpay for the functionality they do not need. The cheapest motherboards based on it will cost around $ 120-130, which is approximately 2.5 times more expensive than budget solutions based on Intel H110 for Intel Skylake / Kaby Lake. The debut of available options on low-end chipsets (Intel H310, H370 and B360) is expected in January, but so far they have not appeared on the public sale.

Analysis of technical characteristics

As mentioned, the Intel Core i5-8400 is a 6-core processor that is manufactured using a 14nm process technology. At the microarchitectural level, Intel Coffee Lake has a minimum of differences from, that is, with a single-threaded load and at the same frequency, they are equal. But the new chips use a modified manufacturing process, which the manufacturer himself refers to as 14 ++ nm (recall that Intel began using 14 nm back in 2015 in Intel Broadwell processors). This technology makes it possible to produce multicore solutions with relatively low heat emission, increases the yield of suitable crystals and reduces their cost. As an example, our test subject has a TDP of 65 W. Of course, its base frequency is quite modest and is only 2.8 GHz, but thanks to Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 technology, this value can rise to 4 GHz.

We carried out practical tests on a motherboard with an inexpensive cooler. Vinga CL-2001B which is suitable for 65 watt processors from AMD and Intel. Its design consists of an aluminum radiator and a 120mm FDB fan with blue LED lighting.

In the AIDA64 stress test, the maximum core temperature did not exceed 72 ° C with a critical indicator of 100 ° C, and their clock frequency was at 3.8 GHz. The chip can operate at a frequency of 3.9 GHz in case of a load on 2-4 cores, or accelerate up to 4 GHz in a single-threaded mode. The cooler speed did not exceed 1400 rpm, although the specification states 1600 rpm. The background noise was absolutely comfortable.

For comparison, recall that the predecessor in the face of a smaller number of cores and the same thermal package can operate at maximum load only at 3.3 GHz, and when it decreases, you can see the value of 3.5 GHz. with a load on all cores, it operates at a frequency of 4.1 GHz, when using 2-4 cores, this figure increases to 4.2 GHz, and in a single-stream it should be 4.3 GHz.

We express our gratitude to the companyBRAIN Computers for the processor provided for testing.

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Posted on October 30 2017

We chose the HQ and U series Core i7 and Core i5 processors. These four models are used in most of the notebooks on the market. As you may have noticed above, the two U-series processors are faster than the Core i5-7300HQ and are generally offered at a lower price point.
Is this enough to win?

The short answer is NO. Full-fledged HQ series processors are still cooler.

Cinebench R15

Let's start with one of the iconic Cinebench CPU benchmarks. We chose the multi-core scenario, not only because most applications (including games) use multiple cores at once, but also to see how the result will be affected by the processor having additional processing cores (or the ability to execute more instruction streams).

We are seeing the same picture: the HQ-series processors are tearing their U-series rivals to shreds. Moreover, the Core i5-7300HQ model is not only ahead of the i5-7200U by as much as 40%, but also leaves behind the Core i7-7500U - by 22%!

X264 Benchmark

If the term "computing performance" sounds too vague to you, the X264 benchmark will help to clarify the picture, which simulates video transcoding by the CPU. The higher the result, the faster the processor can convert videos from one format to another.
The HQ series processors are winning again. This time their advantage is about 30% on average.

conclusions

If you expect decent performance from your computer, go for the HQ series processor.

Don't be confused by the name "i7". Even the i5-HQ processor will be faster than the i7-U! In addition to the number of cores and execution threads, HQ processors have other advantages, such as larger cache sizes, and therefore are better suited for high-performance laptops, including gaming models.
This does not mean that U-series processors are worse. They are simply intended for other purposes. Their destiny is ultrabooks, for which mobility and low power consumption are priorities. When speed is paramount, the HQ series should always be your choice.