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Six hyper-threading cores combine with 15MB of cache and a 3.6GHz maximum clock speed for the 5820K, versus the quad-core 4790K with its 8MB cache and 4.4GHz maximum frequency. We would expect the six-core part to excel in multi-threaded workloads, but the 4790K's 0.8GHz speed advantage could keep it competitive in frequency-intensive and computationally balanced tasks.
The 5820K's battle with Intel's £760 flagship of not so long ago, the Ivy Bridge-E 4960X, will also be an interesting one. Can the proficiencies of Haswell's micro-architecture offset any performance shortages originating from the 0.4GHz frequency deficit?
As is typical for many modern motherboards, enabling XMP applies multi-core turbo (MCT) which forces a processor to continuously operate at its maximum turbo level on all cores. This 3.6GHz frequency will be displayed as the ‘stock’ setting for our i7 5820K data.
We have outlined in the past how this is perhaps not the most accurate representation of ‘stock’ performance for a processor, but all five of the 2400MHz+ DDR4 memory kits that I have tested use XMP 2.0 configurations to reach their rated speeds. By that logic, testing with MCT enabled is arguably more representative of real-world performance.
CPU-Z reports a stock (MCT) voltage level of 1.055-1.065 being delivered to the 5820K. That is a considerably lower level than the 1.20V most motherboards feed to our 5960X when MCT is taken into account. The low stock (MCT) operating voltage should translate into impressive power and temperature numbers.
Our real focus for today's comparison is between the similarly-priced Haswell-E 5820K and Devil's Canyon 4790K. Intel's current flagship – the £770 Haswell-E 5960X – also features to show what those two extra cores and 5MB of additional cache give a user. The Ivy Bridge-E 4960X is included for reference purposes.
All processors will be compared at stock (MCT) speeds and typical overclocked frequencies.
Test systems are kept as similar as possible (regarding graphics, power, and cooling), although we do choose to differentiate the two Haswell-E systems.
For the purpose of realism, we adjust the 5820K's partnering motherboard to the cost-effective Asus X99-A. Memory is also changed from a high-priced 3000MHz DDR4 kit to a set of affordable 2400MHz modules from ADATA.
Test Configuration:
| CPU |
Intel Core i7 5820K ‘Haswell-E'
(Retail) 6 cores, 12 threads |
|||
| Stock Speed |
3.6GHz (MCT)
|
3.5GHz (MCT)
|
4.0GHz (MCT)
|
4.4GHz (MCT)
|
| Motherboard |
Asus X99-A
BIOS v0502 (LGA 2011-3, X99) |
|||
| Memory |
16GB (4x4GB) ADATA XPG Z1
2400MHz 16-16-16-39 DDR4 @ 1.20V |
16GB (4x4GB) G.Skill RipjawsX
2133MHz 9-11-11-31 DDR3 @ 1.60V |
16GB (2x8GB) Corsair Vengeance Pro
2400MHz 10-12-12-31 DDR3 @ 1.65V |
|
| Overclock |
4.5GHz @ 1.275V
2400MHz CL15 DDR4 |
4.4GHz @ 1.30V
2666MHz CL16 DDR4 |
4.5GHz @ 1.425V
2000MHz CL11 DDR3 |
4.7GHz @ 1.30V
2400MHz CL10 DDR3 |
| Graphics Card |
Asus R9 280X Matrix Platinum 3GB
Catalyst 14.4 drivers |
|||
| System Drive |
Samsung 840
500GB SSD |
|||
| CPU Cooler | ||||
| Power Supply | ||||
| Operating System |
Windows 7 Professional with SP1 (64-bit)
|
|||
Tests:
- Super Pi – 32M test (CPU)
- Cinebench R15 – All-core & single-core CPU benchmark (CPU)
- HandBrake 0.9.9 – Convert 4.36GB 720P MKV to MP4 (CPU)
- SiSoft Sandra 2014 SP2 – Processor arithmetic, cryptography, memory bandwidth (CPU & Memory)
- 3DMark 1.3.708 – Fire Strike (System)
- PCMark 8 v2.0.288 – Home (System)
- WinRAR 5.10 – Built-in benchmark (System)
- Bioshock Infinite – 1920 x 1080, ultra quality (Gaming)
- Metro: Last Light – 1920 x 1080, high quality (Gaming)
- Tomb Raider – 1920 x 1080, ultimate quality (Gaming)
