Intel’s Core 2 series saw the light for the first time in July 2006. Processor series have been loved since the first models had both multiple cores and better production techniques, and have been loved by many because of its high performance and good overclocking features.
3, November 2008 launched the new Intel Core i7 series. The new processors could boast of, among other things HT technology and three-channel DDR3 memory, but was reserved for those who put performance ahead of price. Intel Core 2 survived thus continues alongside the new series, which the manufacturer offers in the segment.
Today’s Core 2-series successor is ready to take the world by storm. We have been looking at Intel Core i5 750, the weakest of the three models Intel launches today.
Specifications
| Intel Core i5 750 | Intel Core i7 860 | Intel Core i7 870 | Intel Core i7 920 | |
| Shelf | LGA1156 | LGA1156 | LGA1156 | LGA1366 |
| Technology | 45 nm | 45 nm | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Default frequency | 2.66 GHz | 2.80 GHz | 2.93 GHz | 2.66 GHz |
| Cores / threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Intel Turbo Boost | Up to 3.20 GHz | Up to 3.46 GHz | Up to 3.60 GHz | Up to 2.93 GHz |
| Cache (L1/L2/L3) | 4x 64 kB / 4 x 256 KB / 8 MB | 4x 64 kB / 4 x 256 KB / 8 MB | 4x 64 kB / 4 x 256 KB / 8 MB | 4x 64 kB / 4 x 256 KB / 8 MB |
| TDP | 95W | 95W | 95W | 130W |
The new processors that launched today are the two new processors in the Core i7 series. These models can, in addition to higher frequency, separated with HT Technology, which provides higher performance in applications that take advantage of the many-core.
Big news with the new processors is a much improved Turbo Boost technology. In short, this is a feature of the processor clocks. Using all the cores keeps Core i5 750 a frequency of 2.8 GHz, and about one does not use more than one core clock processor automatically up to a total of 3.2 GHz. In comparison, Core i7 920 has up to 2.93 GHz with the use of a core.
All of the new processors on LGA1156-shelf have a TDP of 95 watts, the 35 watts less than the i7 models for LGA1366.
Core i7 processors on LGA1366-shelf support 3-channel DDR3 memory, but the new processors on LGA1156-shelf only had support for 2-channel DDR3. In addition to the integrated memory controller on the processor, we also find an integrated PCIe controller on the new LGA1156 processors. Thus, there is no need for any north bridge on board with the P55 chipset.
Processor PCIe controller supports both AMD and Nvidia multi-GPU solutions, but only supports up to two video cards. Using a video card you get x16 bandwidth, while one with two video cards get x8 bandwidth for both.
Test Setup
| Motherboards | Asus P7P55D Deluxe (LGA1156) Asus Rampage II Extreme (LGA1366) Asus P6T Deluxe (LGA1366) Asus M4A79T Deluxe (AM3) MSI DKA790GX Platinum (AM2 +) MSI P35 Platinum (775) Gigabyte EP45 Extreme (LGA775) |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 750 Intel Core i7 975 Extreme Edition Intel Core i7 920 II 955 Phenom X4 Black Edition Phenom X4 II 810 Phenom 9850 Black Edition Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Intel Core 2 Quad E8400 Intel Core 2 Quad QX9770 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 |
| RAM | 6 GB Corsair Dominator 1600 (1066MHz 5-5-5-15 @ 1.65 V) 2 GB Crucial Ballistix (1066 MHz 5-5-5-15 @ 2.2 v) |
| Power supply | 850W |
| Graphics Cards | Gainward Geforce 8800 GTX |
| Hard drive | 500 GB Samsung T166 |
| Operating System | Windows Vista 32bit |
| Applications | Future Mark 3DMark06 Build 1.1.0 Future Mark 3DMark Vantage Future Mark PCMark Vantage Science Mark PiFast DVD Shrink 3.2 Crysis (patch 1.2) World in Conflict (Patch 1.008) |
For various reasons, and the tests are run at slightly different setup, but the differences are not large to affect processor performance in any particular.
Power consumption
On all the setup, we measured power consumption. This is a measurement that shows how much effect the complete machine goes from the outlet in the wall – the screen is kept outside. Thus, this is not an exact value for each processor, but a value you can compare with the other layouts.
Intel Core i5 750 comes very well when it comes to power. When the processor is not charged, pull the entire system only 113 Watts, least of all of the processors that are tested. When a charge of all core pulls the entire system around 200 Watts, this is slightly higher than the latest Core 2 or four cores, but very good compared with the Nehalem processors in 1366-the shelf.
Temperatures
Standard procedure in the processor tests is to retrieve values from the processor’s built-in meters, through programs Everest Ultimate and Core Temp. All previous test processors, with the exception of the i7 920, which was cooled with the standard cooler is cooled by a Zalman 9700 NT. In the test of Phenom II 955 Black Edition and Intel Core i7 975 Extreme Edition, we have used a black Thermalright Ultra120 Extreme with a quiet fan with 1500 rpm. This has not identical performance cooler from Zalman, and thus the results must be taken with a grain of salt.
When the supply of cooling holes for LGA1156 was so-so before the launch, the Core i5 750 tested on the standard cooler that comes in the box to the processor. This is a rather strange cooler, and this appears clearly when we compare it with the powerful air coolers.
Even with relatively low power consumption are not results of the standard cooler especially good. When the processor is not charged can cooler relatively easy and gives a temperature of 32 degrees. When the processor is charged with the stress program OCCT was struggling, however, the small cooler to remove all the heat, and ends at the temperature 72-74 degrees, depending on whether one has Turbo Boost enabled.
Performance – Memory
Intel Core i5 750 Extreme Edition will start strong in the test program Science Mark. The processor has approximately equal to L2 bandwidth that Core i7 920, and when an enable Turbo Boost increases the bandwidth with additional 6 GB / s, and approaching the Core i7 975 Extreme Edition.
Although the Core i5 750 only has two memory channels can do it well, and is located just behind the i7 920 in memory bandwidth. Phenom II with 2-channel DDR3 has approximately 2 GB / s memory bandwidth, lower than the current test items.
The processor also impresses when it comes to access times to memory. This puts it down again, side by side with the Core i7 920, and the Turbo Boost tightened further in response times.
Performance – Office applications and encoding
When the processor is tasked to work out 25 million decimal places to the number pi, Core i5 750 need exactly one second longer than the Core i7 920. This proves Turbo Boost made this task at a frequency of 3.2 GHz, the shorter the time, with about 9 seconds.
Encoding
In DVD Shrink 3.2, we have packaged the film 7 Swords from a normal file folder on the 7.45 GB on an ISO file on 60 percent of original size (about 4.3 GB). Intel i5 750 does this at around 13.5 minutes, and placing themselves between the Core 2 Q9450 and AMD Phenom X4 II 955. Turbo Boost provides a jump about 20 seconds, which means that it takes the inner corner of the Core i7 920
Play
In 3DMark 06 ports, Core i5 lie between Core 2 models Q9450 and Q9550. By use of Turbo Boost harbors the same over the latter.
In the Future Mark’s latest 3D test and 3DMark Vantage, the Core i5 beaten only by the top model QX9770 in the Core 2-series, but can see far behind the performance of the Core i7.
In Crysis the Core i5 750 struck by two cars in the Core 2-series, but can do better than the Core i7 920. On top of the graph, we find no unexpected Core i7 975 Extreme Edition.
In World in Conflict, Core i5 provides better than all of the Core 2 processors. Turbo Boost gave one reason or another lower performance in this test, a possible reason may be that the processor was so hot that it lowered the rate to prevent damage.
Overclocking
Because the only standard cooler that was available for testing, it was a little overclocking this time.
We started cautiously by only increasing the BCLK to 150, and let the Turbo Boost enabled. This gave a frequency of 3.16 GHz and up to 3.6 GHz using a core. The processor temperature rose quickly above 95 degrees under load, and the processor clocked down automatically to avoid too high temperature.
By lowering the voltage from 1.225 to 1.15 volts the processor was stable, and here kept the processor at around 90 degrees under load.
We hope to come back with more overclocking with better cooling on another occasion.
Conclusion
Intel Core i5 750 is emerging as a very good processor, which boasts low power consumption, smart features and excellent performance. The performance starts evenly over which the performance of Core 2 stops, and thanks to a solid Turbo Boost function it can also be found in several tests compared with Core i7.
Besides the integrated memory controller, we also find an integrated PCIe controller on the Core i5. This includes support for up to two video cards, and support for both Nvidia and AMD’s multi-GPU technology. If one wants Boost graphics solutions, the Core i7 and X58 chipset to be a better choice.
Despite the very low power consumption, the processor has relatively high temperatures. Cooler that comes in the box stuff is nice to get off the heat when the processor is not charged. When one uses all the cores are, however, continued hot, when the Turbo Boost was turned on the processor had a temperature of 74 degrees under load. There is thus little room for overclocking if one uses the standard cooler, and the current test items to the processor voltage is lowered from the default action before we got a stable clocked.
If one already has one of the latest Core 2 Quad models, there will be little for them to upgrade to Core i5. If one, however, is looking for a new computer, Core i5 and the P55 chipset is very interesting, as it delivers high performance at a price that is affordable for most.
