An excellent semiconductor base for assembling a mid-range PC, which can solve any problem not only now, but in the next 2-3 years, is the Intel Core i5-6400 processor. This CPU was introduced last year and continues to be relevant and provides a very high level of performance. Its capabilities will be further discussed in detail as part of this review material.
Niche of this silicon product
Intel processor products have a strict division into market segments. Entry-level products include Celeron chips and more productive Pentium products. The latter have higher clock speeds and an increased amount of cache memory of the 3rd level. The middle market segment is assigned to i3-based solutions. All these CPUs have exactly 2 computing modules in the same way as entry-level solutions. But in this case, there is support for HyperTrading technology, which allows you to get already 2 times more software information processing flows. For example, the Intel i3 4170 processor, like any other representative of this family, can process program code in 4 threads at once. The premium segment in this case is occupied by i5 solutions with 4 cores / 6 threads and i7 already with 4 cores and 8 threads. It is to the last group that the hero of this review belongs. These products provide an unprecedented level of productivity and allow you to solve any problem, not only now, but in the next 2-3 years for sure.
Various delivery options. Their strengths and purpose
There are two configuration options for this microprocessor product. One of them is the Intel Core i5-6400 OEM processor . This configuration is minimal and it is aimed at large collectors of personal computers. It includes:
In this case, there is no question of a protective box, a proprietary cooling system and thermal grease. The new owner of this CPU will have to purchase these components additionally. In this design, this chip provides the most interest for computer enthusiasts who plan to overclock their PC. This configuration will allow you to purchase an improved cooling system and to achieve due to this stable operation of the system unit after overclocking. The second configuration option for this product is called in the prices as follows: "Intel Core i5-6400 BOX processor." In addition to everything previously mentioned, it also includes a protective box for transporting the processor, a standard cooling system and, of course, thermal grease.
CPU socket. Its current relevance
This processor is focused on installation in the LGA1151 socket. This computing platform was developed specifically for the 6th generation of the CPU architecture Core and was presented together with its first representatives in 2016. At the moment, it is relevant and allows you to collect the most productive personal computers. Also, this processor socket allows you to install more recent chips of the 7th generation. According to Intel plans, it will be possible to install chips of the 8th generation that have not yet been released. So this computing platform will be relevant for at least another 2 years.
Technological aspects
The hero of this review is produced according to the most advanced technological process, the tolerance standards of which correspond to 14 nm. It is due to this that the products of this family can boast of very tiny sizes and impeccable energy efficiency today. In terms of the layout of semiconductor elements on a substrate, this technology is no different from the tolerance standards of 22 nm. As before, the transistors in this case are manufactured using the same TriGate 3D layout technology. Therefore, there are no cardinal differences from previous generations in this regard, and the Intel i3-4170 processor of the previous generation, for example, has a similar three-dimensional organization of its semiconductor elements.
Cache organization
Like all Intel's most productive semiconductor products, the hero of this review material boasts a three-level cache of impressive size. The total size of its first level is 128 Kb, which are physically divided into 4 equal parts of 32 Kb. Each of these parts is aimed at interacting with a strictly defined computing core. It should also be noted that these 32 Kb, in turn, are divided into 2 parts of 16 Kb. One of them can store only instructions of the processor core, and the second - data. The total size of the second level is 1 MB. Like the first level of fast energy storage, the second level is also divided into 4 parts of 256 KB, assigned to a certain computing resource. There is no strict separation of data storage or instructions in this case. The third level is common to all components of the CPU - its size is 6 MB.
RAM and its controller
The Intel Core i5-6400 processor is equipped with an integrated memory controller (that is, this component of the computing system is located on the silicon chip of the central processor). It can operate in dual channel mode and can address up to 64 GB of RAM. Also, technical specifications feature support for two main types of RAM - DDR3 & DDR4. But the most safe to use in combination with this chip is the latest type of RAM. If you use DDR3 as part of such a PC, then the RAM controller may be damaged. Further use of such a PC will be impossible.
Thermal performance of this product
The claimed thermal package for this chip is 65 watts. This is a typical value for the entire i5 processor family of this generation, and it cannot boast of anything unusual in this regard. The maximum allowable temperature for this solution is 71 0 C. In normal mode and when using the standard cooling system, the temperature of this semiconductor solution does not exceed 55 0 C. Well, if you still overclock this CPU, then it is best to refuse to use the standard cooling system and use its more advanced modification from a third-party manufacturer.
Product Frequency Parameters
This semiconductor product uses frequency control technology depending on the degree of heating of the semiconductor solution and the level of complexity of the program code that is called TurboBust. The minimum frequency in this case is 2.7 GHz, and the maximum is 3.3 GHz. Updating the processor architecture also allowed increasing the speed of the computer system by increasing the frequency of the clock generator. The question of how to overclock an Intel Core i3 or even i5 processor with a locked multiplier (that is, there is no letter “K” at the end of such processor products) will be considered in detail later.
Architecture
The code name for the architecture according to which the Intel Core i5-6400 processor is developed is Skylake. This is the 6th generation of the Kor family of chips. At the software level, there is no significant difference between the i3 and i5 CPUs. These central processing units look like four-block computing solutions. But at the hardware level, they are significantly different. Only 2 physical cores has any Intel Core i3 processor. CPUs of this family support NT technology, and it is precisely its support that allows converting at the software level two cores into 4 logical streams.
But i5 chips (including 6400) are full-fledged 4-core solutions. And both at the software and at the logical level. This is what provides a higher level of performance in the latter case. The i5 also has higher frequencies, an increased cache level and there is support for TurboBust technology. All this in total in the majority of existing software allows even competing on equal terms in terms of performance with more expensive products of the i7 family.
Integrated product graphics
As expected, the Intel Core i5-6400 processor is equipped with an integrated graphics card. It is located on one semiconductor chip along with the computing part. This is Intel Graphics 530 HD Graphics. It’s worth mentioning right away that its computing power is certainly not enough to fully reveal the potential of this CPU. For these purposes, a PC must be equipped with a discrete graphics card. Well, for the organization of an entry-level server based on this chip, its presence is more than enough. Its frequency range is limited to 350 MHz - 950 MHz, and the maximum number of connected output screens is 3.
Overclocking Capabilities and Performance Gain Percentage
Now we will figure out how to overclock the Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 processor of the last two generations (that is, the 6th and 7th) with a locked multiplier (there is no letter “K” in their marking). To do this, you need to properly equip the PC:
For the motherboard there must be a special version of "BIOS", in which there is the possibility to increase the frequency of the clock generator.
The power supply in this case should have increased power.
Also, the RAM must operate at a frequency of 3200 MHz.
Both the system unit and the processor in this case are equipped with an improved, advanced cooling system.
The overclocking algorithm in this situation is as follows:
Download the alternative firmware on the thematic forum and install it in the "BIOS".
We reduce the frequencies of all PC components, and gradually increase the clock frequency. After each such increase, we check the stability of the computer.
When simply increasing the frequency is not enough for the stable operation of the computing system, we begin to gradually increase the voltage on the CPU along with the frequency. The maximum allowable values in this case for voltage and frequency are 1.4-1.425 V and 4.5-4.7 GHz, respectively (40-45% with respect to the initial frequency).
Semiconductor Solution Price
The productive Intel Core i5-6400 processor cannot be available. His price is really high - 13,000-15,000 rubles. For the same money, you can purchase the flagship processor solution from AMD - FX-9370. Only here the difference in performance will be significant, and the second CPU in most modern games will not provide the proper level of performance. Therefore, the purchase of the middle peasant from Intel seems more justified in such a situation than the flagship from AMD. Moreover, most modern software is optimized specifically for Intel CPUs. They now, in fact, have no equal.
Reviews
Like the hero of this review, the Intel Core i3-4170 processor has 4 logical threads for processing program code. But, unlike him, in the case of the i5-6400 on the physical level there are 4 real modules. He also has increased cache, there is support for TurboBust technology. This allows you to ultimately get higher performance in a PC based on such a processor, and this is what the owners of such system units indicate. The performance level in this case is excessive and will even allow you to later launch those toys that have not yet come out (but at the same time, a discrete and very productive video card must be installed in the computer).
Also, this chip boasts a high degree of energy efficiency. But he has one drawback: high cost. But AMD is more to blame for this than Intel, which cannot yet offer a decent alternative in the mid-range CPU segment.
Summary
An excellent combination of performance, energy efficiency and affordable price compared to other chips of the i5 family makes the Intel Core i5-6400 processor one of the best offers in this market segment. If you need a productive CPU that will last more than one year and will allow you to solve the most complex problems for a long time, then there is essentially no alternative to the i5-6400.