Extra-curricular event for Cosmonautics Day for schoolchildren....
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.
Terms of Use
The terms of use are the terms environment and exploitation arising from the context in which the system is used.
See the PRQ report for specific SKU terms and conditions.
For current terms of use, see Intel UC (CNDA site)*.
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.
Estimated power
Thermal Design Power (TDP) indicates the average performance in watts when the processor's 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 memory: single-channel, dual-channel, triple-channel and Flex.
Max. number of memory channels
Application bandwidth depends on the number of memory channels.
Max. memory bandwidth
Max. memory bandwidth refers to the maximum rate at which data can be read from memory or stored in memory by the processor (in GB/s).
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 a graphics data processing circuit integrated into the processor that generates 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.
Base frequency of the graphics system
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.
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® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® Flexible Display is an innovative interface that allows you to display independent images on two channels using an integrated graphics system.
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.
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.
Max. number of PCI Express lanes
The PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signal pairs for receiving and transmitting data, and is also the basic element 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 motherboard.
T CASE
The critical temperature is Maximum temperature allowed in the integrated heat spreader (IHS) of the processor.
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology‡
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the frequency of the processor to the required level, using the difference between the nominal and maximum values of temperature and power consumption, which allows you to increase power efficiency or "overclock" the processor if necessary.
Compliant with Intel® vPro™ platform ‡
Intel platform vPro® is a set of hardware and technologies used to build end-to-end business computing systems with high performance, built-in security, advanced management features, and platform stability.
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 augments virtualization support on 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 optimizations for page forwarding table management.
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 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 thermal failure through multiple thermal management features. An on-chip Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS) senses 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 limits.
Intel® Fast Memory Access Technology
Intel® Fast Memory Access Technology is an advanced Video Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) backbone architecture that improves system performance by optimizing the use of available bandwidth and reducing memory access latency.
Intel® Flex Memory Access Technology
Intel® Flex Memory Access makes it easy to upgrade by supporting a variety of memory module sizes in dual-channel mode.
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-based hardware authentication mechanisms to websites that banking systems and network services, confirming the uniqueness of this PC, protects against unauthorized access and prevents attacks using malware. 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.
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.
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.
17.02.2014 01:55
The time of Sandy Bridge architecture has passed, the time has passed and . But even despite the leading position of code-named processors (at least for home systems of ordinary users), silicon veterans of the past can still demonstrate very good performance, fortunately, not all of them have been discontinued. Moreover, socket number LGA 1155 is still the most alive. And motherboards based on the top Intel Z77 chipset actually crammed with the most popular and relevant peripheral technologies. This means that there is still no great need to switch to Socket 1150. However, today we will not talk about that. A CPU called the Intel Core i7-2600K fell into our hands, albeit very late.
Intel Core i7 is Intel Core i7, with it the system works more than quickly, it is felt when working in any application, the difference is especially clearly visible when switching to Intel Core i7-2600K from Intel Core i5 or even from third line processors.
There is some technical detail, which, although not so significant, but reflected in systems built on the basis of Socket 1155, which is absent on a more modern platform for Socket 1150, which is quite natural. The fact is that the second generation of processors for LGA 1155 does not formally function with the PCI-Express 3.0 interface, but Ivy Bridge is quite capable. And some video cards, for example, the seventh series from NVIDIA, may not work quite correctly. But in most cases, the problem is solved by updating the motherboard software.
quad core Intel Core i7-2600K processor with 8 compute threads (thanks to Hyper-Threading virtualization technology) based on the process technology 32 nm. The nominal clock frequency of the CPU is 3400 MHz(in turbo mode - 3800 MHz). The volume of the L3 cache is 8 MB, and this fact is most attractive to users who prefer speed when working with severe graphics, rendering and other tasks that require resources for large amounts of data. However, the most important feature of the Intel Core i7-2600K, of course, is the unlocked multiplier, which allows you to conquer sky-high clock speeds and set world records if you are an avid computer enthusiast.
Even an aluminum cooler (of course, rather big) is quite enough for a full-fledged heat sink from the Intel Core i7-2600K.
Do not forget about the built-in graphics core of the generation HD Graphics 3000(clock frequency - 1350 MHz). But this chip is not able to process DirectX 11 applications, besides, its performance is only suitable for watching HD video, you can hardly count on more.
We decided to test the Intel Core i7-2600K on the ECS Z77H2-A2X (V1.0) motherboard, which allows you to increase the processor multiplier, as well as change the voltage on the core. Note that by pressing buttons automatic overclocking, which is present in the BIOS of the specified board, managed to conquer 4500 MHz, which is called with light hand. For automatic overclocking, a pretty good result. By the way, ECS Z77H2-A2X (V1.0) in this mode adds for insurance +0.200 V to the rated voltage of the processor.
Manually, we managed to overclock the Intel Core i7-2600K to 4800 MHz by simply increasing the multiplier to 48 units, as well as increasing the voltage to 1.440 V.
Intel Core i7 is Intel Core i7, with it the system works more than quickly, this is felt when working in any application, the difference is especially clear when switching to Intel Core i7-2600K from Intel Core i5 or even from processors. Take a look at the test results, they really correspond to the power that the test person demonstrates a rock.
For cooling 95 W The heat of the Intel Core i7-2600K used the DeepCool LUCIFER cooler. Note that the possibilities of CO were more than enough, even for a solid overclocking. On the one hand, the cooler is really powerful, but on the other hand, the heat dissipation of the reviewed processor cannot be called too large. Even an aluminum cooler (of course, rather big) is quite enough for a full-fledged heat sink from the Intel Core i7-2600K.
The production of the Intel Core i7-2600K at Intel factories is gradually fading away, but the retail price for the specified processor still causes some shudder.
Manually, we managed to overclock the Intel Core i7-2600K to 4800 MHz by simply increasing the multiplier to 48 units, as well as increasing the voltage to 1.440 V. At a higher clock frequency, the processor behaved no longer so stably, even in the OS there were some whims, expressed in uncharacteristic thoughtfulness CPU and other symptoms that tell about the close limit of the capabilities of a particular instance. On the specified characteristics, the temperature of the hottest core in the S&M test did not rise above 67 degrees which is quite worthy.
The production of the Intel Core i7-2600K at Intel factories is gradually fading away, but the retail price for the specified processor still causes some shudder. Cheaper 11500 rubles finding a 2600K is hardly possible. This is quite natural, because the performance that today's guest demonstrates is enough not only in 2014, but it will be enough in a few years, this is obvious. And it is unlikely that the price factor can stop true connoisseurs of speed and users who are eager to conquer overclocking heights.
Test results for the Intel Core i7-2600K processor:
When it comes to choosing a productive processor, many potential buyers are guided only by the number of cores in it, forgetting about clock speeds and embedded technologies. This approach to selection led to the appearance on the market of multi-core crystals with a suspiciously low price. However, for many resource-intensive applications, 6-8 cores are useless.
In this article, the reader will get acquainted with the representative of the elite class - the I7 2600 processor, for which there are no restrictions. Any games and programs can work with it without problems. Characteristics, tests and reviews about the product will allow the buyer to get to know the legendary representative of the computer market closer.
Market positioning
The fact that the Intel Core I7 2600 crystal is designed for work, not games, is indicated by its cost (25,000 rubles). For comparison: the same is the cost of a regular portable laptop. The manufacturer placed the processor in a corporate niche, positioning it as a tool for working with complex calculations and resource-intensive applications. Graphics processing, video encoding, 3D modeling, complex mathematical calculations are the tasks for which this crystal is designed.
However, the company does not hide the fact that the Intel Core i7 2600 CPU can also be used in games. Quite a lot of reviews conducted by independent laboratories confirm the high performance of the crystal with resource-intensive productive games. But all testing leads to the conclusion that buying an expensive processor for entertainment is unreasonable. But first things first.
Specifications
A successful modification of the Sandy Bridge chip has long been discussed by many owners - the manufacturer has managed to achieve a compromise between high performance and heat dissipation, which affects all powerful processors. The working Core I7 2600 is 3.40 GHz. In mode, it easily increases to 3.80 GHz. And if we take into account the features of some motherboards to overclock processors on their own, then the user can contemplate 4.30 gigahertz under heavy loads, however, for this you will have to worry about decent cooling for the crystal.
Cache memory levels provide high performance to the processor. Only server solutions can boast of an L1 volume of 512 kilobytes. The second level cache is also large - 1 megabyte, and the third level - 8 MB. With such data, any mathematical calculations are within the power of this processor.
Worthy Opportunities
The I7 2600 processor is equipped with a Hyper-Threading system. This means that the user receives an additional 4 virtual cores to the 4 already available hardware ones. Owners will also be pleased with the presence of integrated graphics, however, it is not at all intended for games - HD Graphics 2000 can replace the cheapest video adapter from the budget class. But for resource-intensive applications, this is a rather interesting resource, because the graphics adapter takes the video memory from the RAM.
The processor platform also supports a virtual environment: Intel VT-x and Intel VT-d, respectively, the crystal can be safely used for workstations and servers. There is also Intel TXT technology in the I7 2600 processor - the penetration of malicious codes into the calculation is impossible at the hardware level.
Do not forget about the support for video encoding. Intel Quick Sync Video technology is implemented at the hardware level in the processor in question. True, the manufacturer is silent that the motherboard chipset must support this functionality. But, as practice shows, users of the legendary processor buy appropriately priced motherboards with support for this technology.
Weak link
The overall impression of the Intel Core I7 2600 chip is spoiled by working with RAM. Support for DDR3 is good, but there are problems with frequencies. The processor at the hardware level can synchronously operate at a frequency not higher than 1333 MHz. Fans of the AMD competitor are a favorite topic of discussion, although they have never found a suitable die that can match the performance of the I7 2600.
There are also questions about heat dissipation. A processor that is cold by definition (TDP 95 watts) does not exceed the declared performance in normal mode. But in acceleration, it heats up very much, making all owners pretty nervous. There are several solutions here: limit overclocking or install a powerful cooling system. The second option is more popular, because everyone wants to have the most powerful processor at hand.
Mobile Market
The manufacturer Intel presented its product with integrated graphics for mobile devices. Manufacturers did not limit its performance and provided the market with powerful laptops for complex tasks and games. In means mass media there are a lot of reviews of such mobile devices. If we sum up the results of the tests of all laptops, the reader will come to the conclusion that for the powerful Core I7 2600 processor there is still no decent mobile video card that can unlock the full potential of the crystal.
Again, the stumbling block for the processor in question is heat dissipation. If in a personal computer the problem is solved by installing a powerful cooling system, then things are more complicated with a mobile representative. A lot of negative user reviews on laptop overheating. You need to constantly clean your mobile device from dust and monitor the flow of cold air to the processor.
Higher, faster, stronger
And yet, many potential buyers are interested in comparing the legendary representative of Intel with a direct competitor. It is quite realistic to test the I7 2600 vs FX-9590, because the AMD representative, judging by its price and owner reviews, is the fastest representative on the processor market. Yes, when working with RAM at high frequencies, Intel shows unworthy performance in all synthetic tests. And here's where it gets interesting.
The FX-9590 processor, having 8 hardware cores operating at a frequency of 4.70 GHz, loses to the opponent in all tests for crystal performance. Surprisingly, the AMD representative can't get ahead on both single-threaded tasks (one core running) and multitasking (all cores running). Attention, the question is: what are the advantages of the competitor FX-9590, which has more transistors, operates at high frequencies and demonstrates high performance with RAM?
Comparison with an Intel representative
Many potential buyers are interested in comparing the expensive product I7 2600 3.40 GHz with the affordable fellow Core It is clear that the flagship of the processor line will show the best performance. Such tests are more interesting for users who want to save on purchases, because the difference in price is about 30%, respectively, and performance should differ within this indicator.
In all testing of gaming applications (at FullHD resolution 1920x1080 dpi), both processors demonstrate the same performance. This suggests that the performance of the rest of the system components (memory, video card, hard drive, motherboard) is not enough to unlock the potential of the powerful I7 2600 processor. And if we talk about saving money, then, of course, it is better to give priority to an inexpensive Core I5 crystal.
Only stars above
Quite different results await a potential buyer when testing processors in video encoding and 3D modeling. For example, with the I7 2600 die, CyberLink MediaEspresso, Nero Video, and Sony Vegas create one hour of 720i video in 22 minutes. 2500 This task requires almost one hour. By the way, the legendary representative of AMD overcame the task in 66 minutes, which is a worthy indicator for a crystal with eight cores.
When working with 3D modeling, a lot also depends on the video adapter. The built-in graphics core of the powerful I7 2600 processor, as testing has shown, is not enough. ZBrush and 3DS Max push the processor to its limits when using the integrated graphics card. But once you install a video card for non-linear video editing NVIDIA Quadro, and the load on the processor is reduced.
About the cooling system
Logically, for the I7 2600 processor, the price of a decent cooler should be in last place for a potential buyer. An expensive crystal requires appropriate cooling, and the choice of the owner should not fall on representatives of the budget class. The price of decent cooling systems starts at 4,000 rubles, and, as practice shows, ends with the financial capabilities of the buyer.
Brands such as Zalman, Noctua, Thermaltake and Scythe have proven themselves well. It is these manufacturers that are preferred by all test laboratories in the world. These brands are presented on the market in the form of systems with passive, water and air cooling. For a processor with a heat dissipation of 95 watts, a passive cooler is hardly suitable. Therefore, it is not recommended to rely on such systems. But the air and water cooling of the I7 2600 will do.
Finally
It will not be possible to draw an unambiguous conclusion from the review of the I7 2600 processor. The problem is that for every device that exists on the market, there is a certain task that is a priority. For the crystal under consideration, the selection criterion is fast data processing (mathematics, video, graphics, sound). After all, the manufacturer knowingly presented it in the corporate segment.
On the other hand, the processor demonstrates high performance in games, but the junior representative of the Intel line can compete with it for the championship in tests. It turns out that the processor is not suitable for entertainment (if we talk from an economic point of view).
There are questions about working with 3D modeling, which requires a powerful graphics accelerator. Naturally, many readers will have the idea of buying a powerful video adapter and an inexpensive processor. And this option is quite reasonable. Whatever one may say, it will not be possible to come to a single decision until the potential buyer makes full list tasks that he wants to perform with the I7 2600 processor.
But all testing suggests that buying an expensive processor for entertainment is unreasonable.
For our readers, Intel's products, in this case we mean processors, are not a novelty. Of course, you could already get acquainted with the features and innovations of the Sandy Bridge architecture, as well as with solutions based on this architecture: Core i3-2100 , Core i3-2100T , Core i3-2120 , Core i5-2300 , Core i5-2400 , Core i5-2500K . That's how we slowly got to the "top" model of the line of processors based on Sandy Bridge - Intel Core i7-2600K. After studying the technical characteristics of the Intel Core i7-2600K processor, the second-generation Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 base series can be considered studied. The Intel Core i7-2600 model has several modifications, which are determined by the presence or absence of a letter at the end of the model number. Briefly about the modifications, we can say the following: Intel Core i7-2600 - base model with a locked multiplier (clock frequency 3.4 GHz, TDP - 95 W); Intel Core i7-2600K - a model with an unlocked multiplier, which will allow the owner to overclock the processor without much effort (clock frequency 3.4 GHz, TDP - 95 W); Intel Core i7-2600S is an energy-efficient processor option (2.8 GHz, TDP - 65 W). Additionally, in the processors of this model range there are slight differences in the supported instructions and some other parameters (you can learn more about them from the comparison table on the manufacturer's website). In our case, it is the model that has the maximum computational potential that is being tested.
Appearance and packaging
As you probably noticed, we got a "boxed" processor for testing. The external design of the package is fully consistent with the traditions of the Intel Core i3/i5/i7 line. Please note that the TDP of the second generation Intel Core i7 processor is 95W. Actually, every potential buyer sees this when they get acquainted with the product.
The packaging has a plastic window through which you can see the markings on the processor.
On the back side of the package, the developers provide information about the package bundle of the boxed version of the processor and report a 3-year warranty. It is also emphasized that the processor is compatible with Socket LGA1155, and to use the capabilities of the integrated graphics core, you must use a chipset that supports this option. On the left side of the package, the key advantages of the Intel Core i7-2600K processor are noted: an unlocked multiplier, the presence of 4 cores and processing of 8 data streams and, of course, support for the most remarkable Intel technologies (Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, Intel Hyper-Threading Technology, Intel Smart Cache, Intel HD Graphics 3000).
On the right side wall there is a white sticker indicating: processor model (i7-2600K); processor clock speed (3.40 GHz); cache memory (8 MB); processor socket (LGA 1155); TDP of the processor (95 W), serial number and product code.
We can say with confidence that the packaging is as informative as possible, which is quite natural, since each buyer should know what he is giving his own money for. As for the language support, there's nothing you can do about it, for the perception of the information given on the box, you need to know at least basic English.
The processor comes with a cooling system, a sticker on the system unit and instructions for installing the processor, which provides some clarifications on warranty obligations.
Let's take a closer look at the complete cooling system. In our case, this is a cooler with the marking E97378-001, familiar to us from the reviews of the Core i5-2400 and Core i5-2500K processors. Its manufacturer is DELTA. Fan power parameters are given on the central sticker (voltage 12 V, current 0.6 A).
The cooling system consists of a small cylindrical heatsink with aluminum fins radiating from a central copper heat sink. This radiator is cooled by a fan located on top and having blades with a sufficiently large angle of attack. A 4-pin connector is used to power the fan, which allows dynamic change in rotational speed using an economical PWM method. Factory thermal grease is applied to the surface of the central heat sink. In general, we can say that a cooling system of an appropriate level with a fairly quiet operation mode is included with a processor that is by no means a budget one. Such a cooler will be absolutely sufficient in case of operation at nominal parameters.
On the processor cover, the processor model (Intel Core i7-2600K), clock speed (3.4 GHz) and place of production (Malaysia) are indicated.
On the back side of the processor, we see the contacts of the LGA 1155 processor socket native to processors based on the Sandy Bridge architecture. Interestingly, the location of the matching elements is exactly the same as that of the Core i5 series processors.
Specification
|
Marking |
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Processor socket |
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Clock frequency, GHz |
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Maximum frequency in Turbo Boost, GHz |
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Factor |
34 (unlocked) |
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Bus frequency, MHz |
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L1 cache size (InstructionData), KB |
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L2 cache size, KB |
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L3 cache size, KB |
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Number of cores/threads |
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Instruction Support |
MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, EM64T, VT-x, AES, AVX |
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Dissipated power, W |
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Critical temperature, °C |
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Process technology |
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Technology support |
Intel Hyper-Threading Technology |
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Built-in memory controller |
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Maximum memory, GB |
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Memory types |
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Number of memory channels |
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Maximum throughput, GB/s |
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ECC Support |
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Integrated graphics core |
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Computing pipelines, pcs |
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Operating frequency, MHz |
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Maximum Turbo Boost frequency, MHz |
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The amount of memory used, GB |
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Supported APIs |
DirectX 10.1 (Shader Model 4.1) OpenGL 3.0 |
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Interface |
Intel FDI (2.7 GT/s) |
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Proprietary technologies |
Intel Quick Sync Video |
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HDCP support |
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Video decoding acceleration |
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Of course, the CPU-Z utility confirms these specifications. Thanks to it, we can clearly fix that the processor is made using 32 nm technology, the core voltage is 1.160 V, and the clock frequency at the time of reading was 3410.8 MHz.
The cache memory of the first level of the Intel Core i7-2600K processor is 64 KB per core, of which 32 KB is for data caching and the same amount for instructions (8 association lines are used). Additionally, in the second block, space is allocated for the cache of decoded micro-ops. The second level cache has a capacity of 256 KB per core (8 association lines are also used). The L3 cache is shared by the entire processor and its size is 8 MB (16 association lines).
The dual-channel DDR3 memory controller of the Intel Core i7-2600K processor supports DDR3-1066 and DDR3-1333 memory. In the case of using a processor in motherboards based on the Intel P67 Express chipset, you can easily install and work with DDR3 modules at a frequency of up to 2400 MHz.
Testing
When testing, the Bench for testing Processors No. 1 was used
| Motherboards (AMD) | ASUS M3A32-MVP DELUXE (AMD 790FX, sAM2+, DDR2, ATX)GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P (AMD 790X, sAM3, DDR3, ATX) |
| Motherboards (AMD) | ASUS F1A75-V PRO (AMD A75, sFM1, DDR3, ATX)ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX (AMD 990FX, sAM3+, DDR3, ATX) |
| Motherboards (Intel) | GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P (Intel P45, LGA 775, DDR2, ATX)GIGABYTE GA-EX58-DS4 (Intel X58, LGA 1366, DDR3, ATX) |
| Motherboards (Intel) | ASUS Maximus III Formula (Intel P55, LGA 1156, DDR3, ATX)MSI H57M-ED65 (Intel H57, LGA 1156, DDR3, mATX) |
| Motherboards (Intel) | ASUS P8Z68-V PRO (Intel Z68, sLGA1155, DDR3, ATX)ASUS P9X79 PRO (Intel X79, sLGA2011, DDR3, ATX) |
| Coolers | Noctua NH-U12P + LGA1366 KitScythe Kama Angle rev.B (LGA 1156/1366)ZALMAN CNPS12X (LGA 2011) |
| RAM | 2x DDR2-1200 1024MB Kingston HyperX KHX9600D2K2/2G2/3x DDR3-2000 1024MB Kingston HyperX KHX16000D3T1K3/3GX |
| Video cards | EVGA e-GeForce 8600 GTS 256MB GDDR3 PCI-EASUS EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G GeForce 9800 GX2 1GB GDDR3 PCI-E 2.0 |
| HDD | Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS, 500 GB, SATA-300, NCQ |
| Power Supply | Seasonic SS-650JT, 650 W, Active PFC, 80 PLUS, 120 mm fan |
Choose what you want to compare Intel Core i7-2600K with
Based on the test results, you can see that the Intel Core i7-2600K processor competes quite confidently with the six-core Intel Core i7-980X, which has a 3-channel memory controller, but the processing power of 8 virtual cores is still often not enough. As for the Intel Core i5-2500K processor, having a lower clock speed, as well as 2 MB less L3 cache and not using Intel Hyper-Threading technology, it is naturally inferior to the Intel Core i7-2600K, especially in heavy computing tasks. It's quite hard to find competitors among AMD's 6-core processors - they still lack the strength to "provide worthy resistance". The activation of Intel Turbo Boost technology provides dynamic acceleration up to 3.8 GHz, which provides almost 7% more performance in some tasks without any additional costs and optimizations. However, in the case of assembling a gaming system, the Intel Core i7-2600K processor (as well as the neo-clocker version of the Intel Core i7-2600) may not be the best choice, because. you will not be able to use its full potential - most likely, an Intel Core i5-2500 processor will be enough for you.
Overclocking
Well, the performance of the processor at nominal parameters is determined, but do not forget that the processor has an unlocked multiplier, so you need to find out what else the "stone" is capable of and why this processor costs $ 25-30 more than the Intel Core i7 option -2600. By changing the value of the multiplier in the BIOS, we stop at x49.
It is not difficult to understand that the processor clock speed was 4.9 GHz, while the core voltage was 1.44 V. Please note that with such a system overclocking, it is necessary to purchase a powerful cooling system in advance. The table below shows the performance indicators in the nominal mode and after overclocking the processor.
|
Test package |
Result |
Productivity increase, % |
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|
Rated frequency |
overclocked processor |
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|
rendering, |
||||
|
shading, |
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|
Fritz Chess Benchmark v.4.2, knodes/s |
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|
World in Conflict v.1.0.0.9, |
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|
DirectX 9, |
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|
DirectX10, |
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The average increase in performance of the Intel Core i7-2600K processor after accelerating it to 4.9 GHz is 21.82%. At the same time, for gaming applications, a 10% increase in performance is not as significant as in computing tasks, where the increase in performance is simply colossal: 42% for mathematical operations; 51% - when rendering images. Naturally, the Intel Core i7-2600K model will be in demand among enthusiasts in the field of overclocking, which, as we see, is not unreasonable. On this processor, records have already been successfully set for overcoming the "psychological barrier" of 6 GHz (far from many processor models can boast of such a potential).
Energy consumption
The overclocking potential of the Intel Core i7-2600K processor is quite good, but let's look at the power consumption of the "titanium".
|
Processor name |
Simple, W |
LinX, W |
EVEREST 5.0, W |
|
AMD Athlon II X2 220 |
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|
AMD Athlon II X3 455 |
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|
AMD Phenom II X3 720 |
|||
|
AMD Phenom II X4 970 |
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|
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T |
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|
Intel Core i3-2100T |
|||
|
Intel Core i3-2100 |
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|
Intel Core i3-2120 |
|||
|
Intel Core I5-2300 |
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|
Intel Core i5-2400 |
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|
Intel Core i5-2500K |
|||
|
Intel Core i7-2600K |
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|
Intel Core i7-2600K @4900 1.44V |
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|
Intel Pentium G850 |
Of course, such computing power does not pass without a trace for the “appetite” of the processor. The power consumption of the system at nominal characteristics is close to the junior processors of the second-generation Intel Core i3 / i5 model range, however, after overclocking and under load it reaches the level of 6-core processors from AMD, although, of course, it is somewhat lower (the optimized Sandy Bridge architecture makes itself felt know). Well, for serious tasks, you need a serious assistant, who has the appropriate power consumption.
conclusions
The time has come to sum up our research. The Intel Core i7-2600K processor shows really excellent performance. A system based on this processor will be a great assistant in solving really serious computing problems. The overclocking potential of this model will please any overclocker. However, a gaming system based on such a "titanium" will not be the most optimal investment, because. for gaming tasks, in the vast majority of cases, the Intel Core i5-2500 will be enough.
The power consumption of the processor at nominal parameters is identical to that of 2 and 4-core second generation Intel Core i3/i5 processors. When overclocking the processor, you are guaranteed to get a great increase in computing power, but as side effect there will be higher power consumption, so when overclocking the Intel Core i7-2600K, you should pay attention to choosing a high-quality motherboard with a serious processor power system and a high-performance cooling system. The only negative point is the cost of this engineering solution ($330-340), but this is more a matter of capabilities and needs. Do not forget about the built-in graphics core Intel HD Graphics 3000, the capabilities of which will be enough to successfully compete with entry-level video cards.
Product release date.
Delay expected
Pending End of Production is an estimate of when a product will begin the end of production process. The Discontinuance Notice (PDN) posted at the start of the process will include all the details of the main phases of discontinuance. Some divisions may report phase-out dates prior to the publication of the PDN. Please contact your Intel representative for information on end-of-life and extension options.
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.
Estimated power
Thermal Design Power (TDP) indicates the average performance in watts when the processor's 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.
Max. memory bandwidth
Max. memory bandwidth refers to the maximum rate at which data can be read from memory or stored in memory by the processor (in GB/s).
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 a graphics data processing circuit integrated into the processor that generates 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.
Base frequency of the graphics system
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.
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® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® Flexible Display is an innovative interface that allows you to display independent images on two channels using an integrated graphics system.
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.
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.
Max. number of PCI Express lanes
The PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signal pairs for receiving and transmitting data, and is also the basic element 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.
T CASE
The critical temperature is the maximum temperature allowed in the processor's integrated heat spreader (IHS).
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology‡
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the frequency of the processor to the required level, using the difference between the nominal and maximum values of temperature and power consumption, which allows you to increase power efficiency or "overclock" the processor if necessary.
Compliant with Intel® vPro™ platform ‡
The Intel vPro® platform is a set of hardware and technologies used to build end-to-end business computing systems with high performance, built-in security, advanced management features, and platform stability.
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 augments virtualization support on 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 optimizations for page forwarding table management.
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) senses 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 limits.
Intel® Fast Memory Access Technology
Intel® Fast Memory Access Technology is an advanced Video Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) backbone architecture that improves system performance by optimizing the use of available bandwidth and reducing memory access latency.
Intel® Flex Memory Access Technology
Intel® Flex Memory Access makes it easy to upgrade by supporting a variety of memory module sizes in dual-channel mode.
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 the PC 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.
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.
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.
