An excellent mid-range processor for the LGA1155 platform is the Core i3-2100. The characteristics of this semiconductor solution, its capabilities, strengths and weaknesses will be discussed in detail in the article.
Capabilities of the central processing unit
The LGA 1155 platform for Intel Core i3-2100 processors was introduced relatively long ago - in 2011. Since then, the manufacturer has repeatedly updated its offers. But even now, five years after the start of sales, these personal computers in most cases can solve almost all the necessary tasks. Certain problems in such computing systems can arise only with the most demanding application software. These include the latest versions of graphic packages, various video encoders, as well as the most demanding three-dimensional toys. But the presence of 4 software computing threads allows you to run any software on this chip. The only caveat is that for the first two cases you need an increased runtime (graphics processing and video encoding) or non-maximum settings when launching the most demanding gaming applications. The CPU itself takes an intermediate place between 2-module computing chips (Pentium and Celeron) and full-fledged 4-core solutions (Cor Ai5). That is, it is a mid-range processor.
CPU Options
Previously, there were two possible configuration options for this chip. One of them was called “Boxing” (boxed solution), it included a standard cooling system and thermal grease. In the second case (the word “Trail” was present in the name of the CPU) there was no box, no cooler, no thermal paste. The latter configuration option had a lower cost, but at the same time had to additionally purchase a cooling system and thermal grease. In the end, the cost of such a performance was higher than the first. There was no particular benefit from the improved cooling system in this case, and it was more profitable to purchase the Boxing option. The rest of the chip delivery kit was identical and included the following:
CPU socket
Intel Core i3-2100 was oriented to use in socket LGA1155. This processor socket was introduced back in 2011. It was relevant until 2013, when it was replaced by the LGA1150 with the 4th generation of Core chips. In the same connector, you can install more recent semiconductor crystals of the 3rd generation Core architecture.
The key innovation of this socket was the combination of an integrated graphic accelerator and a central processing unit on a single chip. In the previous generation of CPUs, these components of the computing system were inside the same case, but on different silicon crystals. Such a solution immediately allowed to get a productivity increase of 10-15 percent in comparison with previous developments of this manufacturer.
Production technology and its advantages
At the time of its announcement, the advanced manufacturing process could boast of a Core i3 2100. Features he is pointed to 32-HM semiconductor chip technology. This is another significant innovation of the LGA1155 platform, which began its “life” in 2011. It allowed against the background of predecessors to claim a significant reduction in energy consumption. Now, with the latest generation CPUs, which already boast 14-HM standards, this chip looks very, very modest.
Cache system and their number
The cache system consisted of three levels in the Core i3-2100. The characteristics of modern chips of this manufacturer in this regard are no different from their predecessors.
The first level of the fastest memory in the computing system, operating at the frequency of the central processing unit, is divided into 2 equal parts of 32 kB for each module. Half of them are used to store instructions, and the second part contains data. The total cache for each core is 64 KB in total (data plus instructions). The total number of fast volatile memory of 2 modules of 64 kb is equal to 128 kb.
The second level of the cache no longer has such a specialized division into instructions and data; 256 KB for each individual computing unit can be stored in its general address space. Since there are 2 such blocks in this CPU, then if you multiply 256 kb by 2 blocks, you get 512 kb.
A key feature of this semiconductor chip is the presence of a third-level cache. Chips of the competing AMD company with an integrated graphics accelerator cannot boast of such an attribute, and as a result, they are often inferior in performance to this CPU 5 years ago in most existing applications. The total amount of this memory is 3 MB, and it is common for each core of the central processing unit.
Type of random access memory
Like all semiconductor solutions of the LGA1155 socket, this semiconductor chip could only work with random access memory of the DDR3 standard. Moreover, the modules could be either DDR3-1066, or DDR3-1333. Theoretically, faster laths (for example, DDR3-1600) could be installed in the corresponding slot on the motherboard, but no one would guarantee their normal operation in such a situation. You also need to consider the fact that they in this case will automatically turn into DDR3-1333. The maximum size for such a processor solution is equal to a solid, even by today's standards, 32 GB, which can only be set if there are 4 corresponding slots on the motherboard.
Thermal mode
The i3-2100 processor had an operating temperature of 69.1 degrees Celsius. In the normal mode and when using the complete cooling system, the real temperature values in this case were equal to 35-45 degrees. Only when you launch the most serious applications for the hardware of a computer system can you theoretically get a temperature of 55 degrees. The thermal package of this chip was 65 watts. For comparison, the current receiver of this Core i3-6100 semiconductor solution has a 51 W thermal package. So it turns out that during the transition from 32-HM to 14-HM (they differ by more than half), the heat packet decreased by less than 1.5 times. But at the same time, it is necessary to note without fail the increased clock frequency of the silicon chip by 0.6 GHz.
Frequency formula
The nominal frequency was equal in Core i3-2100 - 3.1 GHz. Moreover, it was fixed and did not change depending on the degree of complexity of the problem being solved. That is, there was no such technology as Turbo Boost implemented in the older semiconductor chips of this manufacturer. Oddly enough, even the most recent chips of this model, Core i3-6100, have exactly the same significant drawback - they lack Turbo Boost technology support and the fixed frequency is 3.7 GHz (only 0.6 GHz more, than the model of 5 years ago).
Architecture
The code name for all 2nd-generation Core processors, including the i3-2100 CPU, is Sandy Bridge. Each computing module based on this architecture could process up to 4 instructions per cycle of its work. Physically, in the Core i3-2100 there were only 2 computing units (as in the most budget Pentiums and Celerons). But, unlike the most affordable chips, in this case there was support for a special technology - Hyper Trading, the essence of which is that at the software level, 2 streams are obtained on the basis of 1 physical computing core. As a result, at the software level, there will be 4 streams for processing information.
Integrated GPU
There is an integrated graphics accelerator in the Core i3 2100. Video card even at the time of its release, it had very modest specifications and allowed to solve only the most simple tasks. It is perfect for an office computer. Also, its presence is quite enough for the normal operation of a simple home PC. The clock frequency of this graphics accelerator could vary in the range from 850 MHz to 1.1 GHz. And the number of supported displays was 2. If you plan to run mid-level and high-level toys on your computer, then you need to equip it with an external video card that can provide normal image output quality.
Acceleration of a semiconductor crystal
The processor multiplier is locked in the Core i3-2100. Overclocking, as a result, can only be done by increasing the frequency of the system bus. But there is no particular sense in this. The maximum performance gain in this case can reach 2-3 percent. At the same time, the probability of a computer system breakdown in such an intensive mode of use increases significantly.
The price of this processor solution
In 2011, at the very beginning, the cost of this CPU model was 113 dollars. This was the basic version (without cooler, thermal paste and box) of the Core i3-2100. The price of a fully loaded version of this chip with the inscription “Boxing” was 10 dollars higher and amounted to 123 dollars. A year later, with the release of the next generation of processors based on the Core architecture, the cost has changed significantly for the Core i3-2100. The price of a semiconductor solution has risen. This happened after the spread of the news that the next generation of CPUs had problems with overheating. Instead of previously used and technologically refined for these purposes, previously used thermal paste under the metal platinum of the chip, the manufacturer decided to use another similar material in order to save. This significantly worsened the heat sink and overheated the processors. As a result, the cost of chips increased to 170-180 dollars. Now you can still find stocks of such a processor. At the same time, the cost of such CPUs is in the range of 60-70 dollars.
Reviews
In 2011, Core tm i3-2100 was an excellent processor solution for mid-range computer systems. He allowed to solve almost any problem without any problems. The owners of PCs based on it include the advantages: a high level of performance, high energy efficiency, the presence of 4 computing streams and the presence of an integrated graphics accelerator. The disadvantages of this semiconductor solution by users are as follows: relatively high cost and low performance integrated graphics. We must pay tribute to this device, productive CPUs can not be inexpensive. The graphics chip in this case is designed to solve the most simple tasks. For more serious software, you need a discrete accelerator with the appropriate level of performance.
Summary
The mid-level balanced semiconductor solution in 2011 was the Core i3-2100. Its characteristics even now, 5 years after the start of sales, are only slightly inferior to the latest-generation central processor devices. The presence of 4 computational threads allows, albeit with some restrictions, even any existing software to be launched now.