The perfect combination of performance and price is the Core i5 2400. It’s about the parameters and capabilities of this semiconductor solution that will be discussed further.
What can be done with its help and what market segment does this chip focus on?
Of course, the phrase “excessive level of performance” cannot be applied to the Intel Core i5 2400. The i7 CPU line can boast a similar level of processing power. But still, a sufficiently high level of this processor solution allows its owner to run any application, even the most demanding ones. A sufficiently high clock frequency, an impressive size of a three-level cache and 4 computing units clearly and unambiguously indicate that this is a high-performance solution, focused on solving a wide range of tasks.
Contents of delivery
Standard, as for Intel processor solutions, is supplied with this semiconductor chip, which consists of:
Actually, the Core i5 2400 itself, which is in a special plastic package, which completely eliminates the possibility of damage.
Native cooling system.
The sticky logo of the processor model for the front panel of the computer case.
Semiconductor Solution Guide.
Warranty card.
Thermal grease in special packaging.
CPU socket
Like all other Sandy Bridge solutions, this CPU is oriented towards socket 1155. Of the great variety of different chipsets for this platform, it is most optimal to use Z67 and Z77 based solutions for this processor. This will allow you to overclock the central processor and get an additional performance boost. Also, the level of functionality of these solutions is much better.
Chip manufacturing technology
Core i5 2400 was manufactured using the most advanced technology in 2011 - 32 nm. Of course, now the most advanced silicon crystals are made in accordance with the 14 nm process technology. This allows you to significantly reduce the size of the crystal and reduce heat dissipation. But, on the other hand, Intel, starting with Ivy Bridge, began to use lower-quality thermal grease under the metal cover of the processor. As a result, heat dissipation has worsened, and the Sandy Bridge processor generation, to which the hero of this review belongs, remains the best solutions in terms of heat dissipation for this manufacturer.
Cache and its amount
Like all the most productive processor solutions, this chip is equipped with a three-level cache. The first level is divided into 4 equal parts of 64 Kb. Each individual part of the cache interacts strictly with one computing module. Moreover, these 64 Kb are divided into two more equal parts of 32 Kb. The first of them stores data, and the second contains instructions from the CPU. The second level is likewise divided into 4 parts, but already at 256 Kb. As in the previous case, each individual part of the cache is tied to a specific processor core. Instructions and data in this case are stored in a common address space. The third level of the cache is general and can interact with any computing module. Its size is 6 MB.
What kind of RAM can I use with this central processor?
DDR3 - the Intel Core i5 2400 processor is focused on this type of RAM. The reviews in this regard allocate modules with frequencies of 1066 MHz and 1333 MHz. It is in this case that you can count on getting the maximum level of performance. Of course, you can use RAM with a higher frequency, but the motherboard will reduce this value to the maximum possible 1333 MHz. That is, you will have to pay for the memory bar more than usual, but there will be no gain from this.
Thermal mode
95 W - it is the presence of such a thermal package that the Intel Core i5 2400 can boast of. Reviews emit a low degree of its heating even at a solid load level. The maximum permissible operating temperature for this semiconductor solution is 72.6 0 . With the standard operation mode of the complete cooling system, it is enough for stable operation. The CPU temperature practically does not rise above 50 degrees. When overclocking, you need to use an improved cooler. In this case, the complete cooling system can not cope, and 70 degrees in this case is no longer the limit.
frequency range
3.1 GHz is the base clock for the Core i5 2400. Features indicate that 4 computing modules are working in this mode at once. When you turn off one of them, the frequency will increase to 3.2 GHz. If only 2 cores remain in operation, then we will already receive 3.3 GHz. Well, in single-threaded mode, this semiconductor chip can already issue 3.4 GHz. As a result of overclocking this chip, it is possible to achieve 3.8 GHz and a 20 percent increase in performance.
Semiconductor crystal filling
The Core i5 2400 processor is equipped with four high-performance computing modules. Each module in one cycle of its work can process 4 instructions at once. This allows you to get a pretty good level of performance, even by today's standards. But there is one important point: this CPU does not support Hyper-Trading technology. That is, it has 4 physical cores and 4 computing threads at the software level. Because of this, the i7 line (which also has 4 cores, but 8 computing threads) outperforms i5 10-15 percent in applications that are optimized for 5 or more threads. But there is still not so much such software, and this difference is not so much different. In most gaming applications (they are mostly optimized for 1 computational stream), this difference is not felt at all.
CPU Graphics
The second generation of Kor architecture was noteworthy in the sense that the manufacturer integrated graphic adapters into them. Of course, their capabilities are modest, but this will be quite enough to solve the simplest tasks. Intel Core i5 2400, in turn, could boast of the presence of a video accelerator “HD Graphics 2000”. With a minimum load, it worked at a frequency of 850 MHz, but in maximum load mode it could accelerate to 1100 MHz. For video playback, work in office applications, and even simple games, this was quite enough. Well, for more serious tasks, you need to install a discrete graphics card in your PC with a very serious level of performance.
Overclocking
Now let's figure out how to overclock the Intel Core i5 2400 processor. You cannot do this by simply increasing the multiplier. In this case, it is necessary to reduce the frequencies of all components of the computer system, except for the system bus. It is in the normal mode equal to 100 MHz. In the future, we increase its frequency to 105 MHz, and the voltage on the CPU should be 1.2 V. This will allow you to get a frequency of about 3.8 GHz. Practice shows that it is impossible to achieve more on this chip. Additional conditions for overclocking are:
High-quality motherboard (it is recommended to use solutions based on Z67 and Z77).
Power supply with a power of at least 900 watts.
Be sure to have specialized software installed on the PC that will control the parameters of the system and the stability of its operation.
Cost
Intel Core i5 2400 was estimated by the manufacturer at $ 179. A similar price put it on a par with the 8-core CPU from AMD. But at the same time, a high degree of optimization of the semiconductor crystal made it possible to obtain a significant increase in productivity in most applications. Therefore, most users drew attention to the solutions from Intel, including the Cor i5 2400.
Reviews
The only drawback is the Core i5 2400. Reviews allocate a locked multiplier. But this is a solution that is aimed a little at another segment of the market. Computer enthusiasts who want to overclock the CPU are advised to pay attention to solutions with the “K” index. Well, this processor is intended for those who need a good computer here and now. At the same time, he has no special desire to put experiments on him. Otherwise, this chip boasts such advantages:
Summary
Of course, this is not a premium Core i5 2400 solution. But still, the presence of this chip is quite enough to solve any problem. Of course, some toys on it will no longer go at maximum settings. But this is a middle-class CPU, which is focused on solving a wide range of tasks.