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Intel Core i7-4770K CPU Review - Intel Haswell For Desktop (Part 3)

9/8/2013 9:15:40 AM

New platform

Introduced to be the convergence of the fourth-generation Core CPUs, the new desktop platform Lynx Point owns more important innovations. A rule has been set for Intel to release a new generation of chipset together with new CPU microarchitecture. Some chipsets, for example the Z68 and Z77, are backwards compatible with the previous CPU generations while the other are not, but in general, Intel is on its way to upgrade the platform and the whole infrastructure together with each new fundamental microarchitecture (the “took” cycle), and the we can see it here.

Haswell Desktop Processor 1H’13

Haswell Desktop Processor 1H’13

Haswell CPU desktops which are designed in LGA1150 require a mainboard that have a compatible CPU socket. This mainboard might be built based on Intel’s new 8th generation chipset.

Lynx Point Chipset Overview

Lynx Point Chipset Overview

This traditional chipset generation includes some changes that target different market segments, but the Z87 is the ultimate version in terms of features and functions. It provides a full wide range of controls and interfaces which can divide the PCIe3.0 lanes for multi-GPU configurations and do not prevent you from overclocking the CPU. We will use Z87 to have a closer look at what the new platform can do.

The main differences

The main differences

The Z87 is just slightly different from the Z77 from the very first look as both even use the same bus DMI 2.0 with PCI Express protocol to connect the CPU. In practice, Intel just enhanced chipset’s connectivity ability, so the Z87 supports six USB 3.0 ports instead of four, and all of its six SATA ports are 6 gigabit/s.

Intel 8 Series Chipset

Intel 8 Series Chipset

By this way, bear in mind that the Thunderbolt is no longer mentioned in Z87 profiles, but this does not mean that the Thunderbolt is not supported by the LGA1150. We will definitely realize that Thunderbolt allows LGA1150 mainboard in a very near future. However, Intel seems to lose its power in this technology as there are not much recognition for this company in the last two years.

At first glance, replacing the sockets with a new LGA1150 might be a little like an artificial measure. However, this is not really like that. Just like a problem in practice, there are some important differences in the LGA1150 which excuse for this changes, although they are not very seemingly obvious.

Intel has changed the way the monitor connected with the CPU integrated graphics core. The CPU itself is now in charge of the digital interfaces (like DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI), the chipset just supports similar VGA connectors. This solution helps reducing the loading on FDI graphics connections between the CPU and the chipset and letting the Lynx Point platform support up to 3 digital screens with the resolution of 4K simultaneously.

The display parameters

The display parameters

Well, this is still not the main focus of the whole affair with the new CPU socket and the new mainboard. The most important thing is that the platform design has been modified in order to increase the overall level of CPU integration once again. The Core series CPUs have uniformed all of the chipset’s North Bridge accessories for quite a long time, and the Haswells gets down to absorbing the voltage regulation, one of the mainboard’s components.

The previous generation’s CPUs need six different voltage levels providing by the mainboards for their different subunits: the x86-core, the cache memory, the system agent and graphics core. The Haswell now takes that responsibility, with just two voltages from the mainboards: the basic input voltage is 1.8 volt and the memory voltage. Other voltage conversions and voltage regulation inside the CPU are now conducted without any interference from the mainboards.

The next generation’s microarchitecture

The next generation’s microarchitecture

This combination makes the CPU much more flexible in providing dynamic voltages and saving power and also simplifies the designation of LGA1150 mainboards. It is a beneficial scenario. Mainboard manufacturers are now able to make their products simpler. The CPU is now more reliable, stable and accurate in terms of regulating the voltages without varying in specific implementing. Intel also promises an integrated regulator to be very precise, controlling voltage fluctuation in the range of some mV error. The users can access into the voltage controller’s parameter of the integrated CPU just as before.

Leading role: Intel Core i7-4770K processor

A Core i7-4770K processor would be used in our practical exploration of the Haswell series and LGA1150 platform. This is the most senior model in this product series, which means that it can replace the senior Core i7-3770K (Ivy Bridge) after one year in the most senior office applications from Intel.

4th Gen Intel Core i7

4th Gen Intel Core i7

The interesting things here are that the quad-core CPUs are mentioned to have many similarities although they belong to different generation: Turbo Boost, Hper-Threading and cache (64KB L1 for each core, 256KB L2 for each core and sharing the L3 cache memory of 8MB). That’s why we are curious to explore the differences between the Core i7 4770K and the Core i7 3770K in all performance aspects that are likely to be caused by the innovations of the microarchitecture.

The CPU-Z

The CPU-Z

The peak clock rate that Core i7-4770K can work at thanks to the Turbo Boost is 3.9 GHz. The CPU reaches the clock rate of 3.9 GHz if only one or two of its cores are used by itself. When three cores are used, the clock rate is just 3.8 GHz and when the load is full, the clock rate falls to 3.7 GHz. In idle mode, the Core i7-4770K reduces its clock rate to 800 MHz, which is two times lower compared to the idle mode of the previous generation’s products.

As promised, the clock rate of the L3 cache memory varies independently of the x86 cores but still matches in practice. Asynchronous status of the uncore part of the CPU is just recorded when it is in the power saving or in Turbo mode.

The voltage of our x86 cores of the Core i7 4770K is 1.06V, which is typical for the 22nm CPUs.

Intel has given its fourth generation processor core a new colorful packaging.

CPU packaging

CPU packaging

The CPU containing box has two versions: with or without the heatsink. In our opinion, the second version would be better as the old LGA1155/1156 coolers are not completely compatible with the LGA1150.

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