quad core | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Wed, 29 Mar 2023 23:59:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png quad core | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 ASUS TUF Dash F15 Review w/ Tiger Lake H35 https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/asus-tuf-dash-f15-review-w-tiger-lake-h35/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/asus-tuf-dash-f15-review-w-tiger-lake-h35/#respond Tue, 20 Apr 2021 11:36:13 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=512214 We check out Intel's Tiger Lake H35 i7-11370H CPU inside this ASUS laptop

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Intel announced their mobile Tiger Lake-H CPUs at the virtual CES in January, with headlines talking about the Core i7-11375H with a Thermal Velocity Boost of 5.0GHz on a single core. Intel sent us a sample of the ASUS TUF Dash F15 laptop so we could experience this mighty CPU in action… however, as you will see in our video, our laptop came with a Core i7-11370H rather than the Core i7-11375H. We don't mind missing out on a fleeting 200MHz boost but it goes to show even Intel can get confused by their product stack.

Specification

  • CPU: Intel Core i7-11370H, 4 cores/8 threads, 3.3GHz base clock, All Core Boost 4.3GHz, Max Boost 4.8GHz, 35W TDP
  • Screen: 15.6-inch, 1,920×1,080 resolution, 240Hz refresh IPS
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6
  • Memory: 16GB DDR4-3600MHz dual channel
  • SSD: 1TB SK.Hynix PC601A M.2 NVMe
  • Storage: 2x M.2 slots
  • Audio: 2x speakers
  • Ethernet: Realtek Gigabit
  • Wi-Fi: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
  • Battery: 76Wh/4800mAh, 200W adapter
  • Dimensions: 360mm x 252mm x 19.9mm
  • Weight: 2.08kg plus 660g for power supply and mains cable

I/O ports

  • 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (Support USB4.0, Display port 1.4a, PD3.0)
  • 3 x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-A)
  • 1x HDMI 2.0
  • 3.5mm Headphone jack

With the bottom cover removed we can see the ASUS TUF Dash F15 is laid out in a conventional manner with an extensive cooling system on the CPU and GPU that takes up half the space inside. Then we have the M.2 SSD storage and DDR4 memory in the middle with the 76Wh battery pulled to the front.

In our video we demonstrate that while CPU this has a nominal TDP of 35W, the behaviour of the ASUS TUF Dash F15 is controlled by ASUS Armory Crate which adjusts the PL1 Power Limit from 30W in Silent Mode to 64W in Performance Mode. In Turbo Mode the 64W figure is maintained and fan speed is ramped up to boost the cooling.

In each mode the PL2 figure is set to 64W, which is more power than this quad core CPU can use. This means the initial Turbo is between 4.3GHz and 4.8GHz, depending on how many cores are in action and then in Silent Mode the CPU slows to 3.6GHz. In Performance or Turbo mode the high clock speed is maintained and is only restricted by the temperature which rapidly climbs to 90 degrees C.

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AMD Ryzen 3 3300X & 3100 CPU Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-3300x-cpu-3-3100-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-3300x-cpu-3-3100-review/#respond Thu, 07 May 2020 13:00:29 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=465646 How good are AMD's new quad-core Ryzen 3 CPUs?

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The sub-£150 market segment has been a clear void in AMD's Zen 2 product stack. That changes today with the launch of four-core, eight-thread Zen 2-based Ryzen 3 chips. Coming in at £95 for the Ryzen 3 3100 and £115 for the 3300X, AMD is taking aim at Intel's current Core i3 and lower-end Core i5 offerings whilst also sending a warning shot across the bow of Intel's Comet Lake-S launch vehicle.

The Ryzen 3 3100 and 3300X are Zen 2 -based four core, eight thread processors built on TSMC's 7nm process technology. Entering the market at £95 in the UK, the Ryzen 3 3100 clocks in at 3.6GHz base and up to 3.9GHz boost frequency. The £115 Ryzen 3 3300X ups its base speed to 3.8GHz and offers a strong maximum boost frequency of 4.3GHz.

There is more to the differences between the parts than simply frequency and naming, though; Ryzen 3 3300X is a single-CCX design whereas the 3100 uses two CCXs. Given the pricing, AMD is clearly gunning for Intel's current 9th Gen Core i3 and the lower-end Core i5 options.

AMD deploys a 65W TDP on both of these wallet-friendly CPUs. This allows them to pull up to 88W of package power under normal operation. You can also turn down the TDP to 45W using Eco Mode on compatible motherboards. Bundled cooling comes in the form of AMD's most entry-level option; the short Wraith Stealth heatsink and 2000 RPM fan unit.

And if you fancy playing about with overclocking, the unlocked core ratio multiplier found on all other Ryzen 3000 desktop processors is retained. Of course, a bump up in the cooling hardware is certainly a reasonable recommendation if you're aiming to maintain clock speeds beyond around 4.1GHz or so.

One clear area of differentiation is the Ryzen 3 3300X and its single-CCX design. The $120 chip gets a full Zen 2 CCX in its single CCD. This Core Complex serves up the full 16MB stack of L3 cache and that is likely to be a benefit for games.

By comparison, the Ryzen 3 3100 uses two crippled dual-core CCXs that communicate within the single core chiplet. The key difference is that 8MB of L3 cache is shared across the CCXs thus translating into a latency penalty when more than 8MB of L3 cache is accessed.

It will be interesting to see if this unique Ryzen 3 3300X 7nm, Zen 2-based quad-core is able to muster up noteworthy gaming performance thanks to the elimination of inter-CCX latency penalties.

As is obvious, these are both AM4 chips. You get 16+4+4 lanes of PCIe Gen 4 capability with a compatible motherboard. Dual-channel DDR4 memory is supported and we continue to recommend 3600MHz modules if affordable, or 3200MHz with decent timings as a sensible alternative.

The AM4 platform makes these chips compatible with current X570 and B450 motherboards with a BIOS update, if required. The obvious partner is a budget B450 offering, of which the market provides plenty of options. Or, if you're happy to wait a few weeks, AMD's new B550 chipset will be launching and the motherboard partners will have a raft of new PCIe Gen 4-equipped options flooding the market.

Intel's competition to the Ryzen 3 3100 and 3300X does not really exist at the price point. The 4C4T Core i3-9100F is cheaper at £70 and the 6C6T Core i5-9400F is more expensive at £140. The options in between make little sense from a value perspective for buyers with a dedicated GPU.

The toughest competitor, therefore, is clearly AMD's own Ryzen 5 1600 AF. This 12nm-fabbed Zen+ processor features six cores and twelve threads and, despite its confusing naming, is basically a slightly slower version of the Ryzen 5 2600. Priced at around £99 in the UK when we bought our unit last week, the 1600 AF will be a tough contender. Thankfully for the new Ryzen 3 chips, however, the older Zen+ hexacore is getting increasingly difficult to find in stock or at its reasonable sub-£100 price.

Let's see how the new Ryzen 3 processors compare against the Ryzen 5 1600 AF, their higher-end Ryzen 5 3600X sibling, Intel's Core i3-9100F, and the Core i5-9400F. We also throw in comparison against the venerable and incredibly popular Core i7-7700K quad core for good measure, of course.

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AMD Ryzen 5 1500X (4C8T) CPU Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-1500x-4c8t-cpu-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-1500x-4c8t-cpu-review/#comments Tue, 11 Apr 2017 13:01:12 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=329153 Can the 4C8T Ryzen 5 1500X hand Intel's locked Core i5 a beating?

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Ryzen 5 1500X is AMD’s fastest quad-core based on the new Zen architecture. Simultaneous Multi-Threading (SMT) makes this a four-core, eight-thread part that runs at an out-of-the-box frequency of 3.5-3.7GHz, with single-threaded boosts to 3.9GHz under Extended Frequency Range (XFR) conditions.

Priced at $189 and shipping with the Wraith Spire cooler, AMD pits overclockable Ryzen 5 4C8T parts against multiplier-locked Core i5 processors from Intel. Logical competitors to the Ryzen 5 1500X are Intel’s Kaby Lake Core i5-7400 and Core i5-7500, depending on e-tailer pricing in the UK.

AMD deploys the 4C8T Ryzen 5 1500X CPU as a design utilising dual CPU Complex (CCX) units. This gives the quad-core part a 2+2 design, as opposed to the asymmetrical 3+1 or 4+0 deployments that may have been theoretically possible. The balanced 2+2 design could mean that AMD is able to use Ryzen CCXs that don’t make the grade with all four cores enabled (or three cores that would form Ryzen 5 six-core chips).

Other characteristics for the Ryzen 5 1500X are interesting as they distinguish it from the lower-cost quad-core 1400. The full slab of shared L3 cache is retained for the 1500X, with 8MB per CCX being available. That gives an effective 4MB of L3 cache per core (though not dedicated) that is double the available per-core capacity of Ryzen 7 and even higher than Intel’s HEDT processors. L2 cache capacity is still 512KB per core, making the total amount 2MB.

Operating frequencies are also interesting for Ryzen 1500X. The base speed is 3.5GHz, with a maximum Precision Boost speed of 3.7GHz under 2-core loading conditions. That means that all-core loads see the chip running at a solid 3.6GHz. Noteworthy, though, is the 200MHz XFR headroom – double that we have seen on any other Ryzen processors to date. This gives the 1500X an ability to clock up to 3.9GHz under single-thread loads. As with all Ryzen parts, an unlocked core ratio multiplier with 0.25x granularity allows for overclocking on supported motherboards.

AMD’s well-balanced Wraith Spire is included with the 65W TDP 1500X. This model is, however, different to the Wraith Spire supplied with Ryzen 7 1700 as it does not feature RGB lighting. For reference, Intel’s boxed Core i5 CPUs in this price range also ship with coolers.

CPU AMD Ryzen 5 1600X AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AMD Ryzen 5 1500X AMD Ryzen 5 1400 Intel Core i5-7600K Intel Core i5-7400 Intel Core i3-7350K
CPU Codename Zen Zen Zen Zen Kaby Lake Kaby Lake Kaby Lake
Core / Threads
6 / 12 6 / 12 4 / 8 4 / 8 4 / 4 4 / 4 2 / 4
CCX Config 3+3 3+3 2+2 2+2 n/a n/a n/a
Base Frequency 3.6GHz 3.2GHz 3.5GHz 3.2GHz 3.8GHz 3.0GHz 4.2GHz
Boost Frequency 4.0GHz 3.6GHz 3.7GHz 3.4GHz 4.2GHz 3.5GHz n/a
Maximum Frequency 4.1GHz (100MHz XFR) 3.7GHz (100MHz XFR) 3.9GHz (200MHz XFR) 3.45GHz (50MHz XFR) n/a n/a n/a
Unlocked Core Multiplier Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x1 granularity) No Yes (x1 granularity)
Total Cache 16MB L3 + 3MB L2 16MB L3 + 3MB L2 16MB L3 + 2MB L2 8MB L3 + 2MB L2 6MB L3 + 1MB L2 6MB L3 + 1MB L2 4MB L3 + 0.5MB L2
PCIe Lanes 16+4+4 16+4+4 16+4+4 16+4+4 16 16 16
CPU Socket AM4 AM4 AM4 AM4 LGA 1151 LGA 1151 LGA 1151
Manufacturing Process 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm
TDP 95W 65W 65W 65W 91W 65W 60W
CPU Cooler n/a Wraith Spire (no LED) Wraith Spire (no LED) Wraith Stealth (no LED) n/a Intel E97379-003 (Al slug) n/a
MSRP $249 $219 $189 $169 $242 $182 $168-179
UK Street Price £249.99 £219.99 £189.99 £169.99 Approx. £230 Approx. £170 Approx. £170

On the face of it, Ryzen 5 1500X looks to be worthy of its $20 premium over the 1400 thanks to higher frequencies, double the L3 cache, and a better included cooler.

Prime competition on the Intel side comes from multiplier-locked Core i5-7500 and Core i5-7400 processors, depending on selling prices in retailers. They are quad-core Kaby Lake parts without any form of additional multi-threading.

For more information regarding Ryzen and the AM4 platform, read our launch review for the Ryzen 7 1800X HERE. You can also read our Ryzen 7 1700 review HERE and the Ryzen 7 1700X review HERE.

For further analysis regarding the platform and chipset capabilities of Ryzen and AM4, you can read our Ryzen 5 1600X coverage.

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£150 Gaming CPU: AMD FX 8370 (w/ Wraith) vs Intel Core i5-6400 https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/150-gaming-cpu-amd-fx-8370-w-wraith-vs-intel-core-i5-6400/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/150-gaming-cpu-amd-fx-8370-w-wraith-vs-intel-core-i5-6400/#comments Sun, 14 Feb 2016 10:17:02 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=283867 There is little doubt that the two components most integral to a gaming system are its GPU and CPU. In an ideal world, everybody would be able to opt for the fastest of both and worry not about having to optimise game settings in search of smooth frame rates. But in reality, striking a balance …

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There is little doubt that the two components most integral to a gaming system are its GPU and CPU. In an ideal world, everybody would be able to opt for the fastest of both and worry not about having to optimise game settings in search of smooth frame rates. But in reality, striking a balance between GPU and CPU performance can be a tricky task, especially when the pair draw from the same cash pool.

It is no secret that Intel's latest Core i7 processors generally rule the roost when it comes to gaming performance on the CPU side. But they also demand a significant price premium over the lower-performance Intel and AMD chips that are commonly referred to as ‘good enough' for gaming requirements. It may be smarter to invest that £100+ section of budget into a faster graphics card rather than a flagship, Core i7-level CPU. And that's where today's ~£150 processors hit the limelight.

CPUs-650-2

Looking at the ~£150 CPU market reveals somewhat of a sweet-spot for gaming buyers. From AMD you get access to one of the higher-clocked FX-8xxx series 8-core ‘Vishera' CPUs. And at this price point, Intel gives desktop users the first taste of a true quad-core ‘Skylake' chip in the Core i5-6400.

Honing in on Intel's Core i5-6400 and AMD's FX 8370 CPU, which has been given a fresh lease of life thanks to an upgraded bundled CPU cooler known as ‘Wraith‘, it is clear to see the different competition approaches taken by each manufacturer at this point in the platforms' life-cycles.

AMD opts for a large number of cores operating at an equally high frequency, albeit with sharing of certain under-the-hood resources, to overcome the shackles attached by an aging architecture and transistor process node. Conversely, Intel is counting on greater Instructions Per Cycle (IPC) brought about by its newer CPU architecture to offset the i5-6400's low operating frequency on the chip's four non-Hyper-Threading cores.

But as the saying goes, “there is more than one way to skin a cat“. The same logic holds true for pushing pixels in modern gaming titles. Let's head over to the next few pages for a more in-depth CPU and platform comparison.

Processor Specifications:

CPU
AMD FX 8370 ‘Vishera'
Intel Core i5-6400 ‘Skylake'
Base Speed
4.0GHz
2.7GHz
Max Turbo Speed
4.3GHz
3.3GHz
Overclocking Support Multiplier and Bus Speed adjustment Potential BCLK adjustment
(using unofficial BIOS)
CPU Cores & Threads
8 Cores (8 Threads)
4 Cores (4 Threads)
Cache 8MB L3 + 4x2MB L2 6MB L3 + 4x256KB L2
Process (nm) 32 14
Memory Support
DDR3-1866MHz
DDR4-2133MHz / DDR3L-1600MHz
Integrated GPU Depends on motherboard chipset Intel HD 530 @ up to 950MHz
(disabled with Non-K OCing BIOS)
CPU Socket
AM3+
LGA1151
TDP (W)
125W
65W
Current Pricing
~£155
~£155
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AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/zardon/amd-phenom-ii-x4-980-black-edition-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/zardon/amd-phenom-ii-x4-980-black-edition-review/#comments Tue, 03 May 2011 04:00:42 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=43710 Today we are looking at the new high end quad core processor from AMD. The Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition is the new performance oriented, 4 core multiplier unlocked processor set to replace the 975 Black Edition at the top of their quad core lineup. The big question is … with competitively priced six …

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Today we are looking at the new high end quad core processor from AMD. The Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition is the new performance oriented, 4 core multiplier unlocked processor set to replace the 975 Black Edition at the top of their quad core lineup. The big question is … with competitively priced six core AMD processors, is there any room now for AMD quad core editions?

Let's cut straight to the chase, AMD have struggled to keep up with Intel in recent months, as their Core i3, i5 and i7 processors continue to dominate the performance charts. Thankfully Bulldozer is just around the corner and offers much improved levels of performance for the AMD buying audience.

I make no bones about it, I am a big fan of the six core AMD designs, the 1100T is a great processor which can handle gaming and 3D rendering with ease, and the lower cost 1055T is still one of the best value for money solutions on the market. I have to admit, when I hear that AMD is releasing a new quad core ‘clock bumped' processor based on current technology, I can't help but take pause for thought.

Why? Well my reasoning seems logical to me. If you have a six core processor design such as the 1055T retailing for £130 do we really need a 975 Black Edition with less cores, retailing at £20 more? Sure, the ‘unlocked' 975 might overclock to 4.2ghz+ easy enough, but the ‘locked' 1055T can get very close to this with the right cooler. My views are simple, six cores is better than four (especially for less money). The clock boost needed for a quad core to be truly competitive just isn't often practical.

The Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition is basically the same as the Phenom X4 975 Black Edition, but its 100mhz faster. Exciting? No, not at all, but let's have a look.

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Nvidia Kal-El quad core Tegra: more processing power, less drain https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/slyvia/nvidia-kal-el-quad-core-tegra-more-power-less-drain/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/slyvia/nvidia-kal-el-quad-core-tegra-more-power-less-drain/#comments Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:27:33 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=34392 Nvidia have announced their ‘Kal-El' quad core processor for tablets and smartphones. Nvidia's senior vice president of mobile business unit Phil Carmack said “Just as the world has rallied around the concept of dual core, the world is about to see that quad core raises the bar, delivers a lot more performance, and fits into …

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Nvidia have announced their ‘Kal-El' quad core processor for tablets and smartphones.

Nvidia's senior vice president of mobile business unit Phil Carmack said “Just as the world has rallied around the concept of dual core, the world is about to see that quad core raises the bar, delivers a lot more performance, and fits into all mobile platforms.”

The Nvidia roadmap looks impressive, with chips called “Stark”, “Logan” and “Wayne” which will offer 100 times the processing power of the current Tegra 2 based phones by 2014.

Small and deadly - Nvidia's Kal El Processor: Clearly someone in the company likes 'Superman'

Kal-el will have five times the graphics performance of Tegra 2 and can drive screens up to 2560×1600 resolution. Clearly this will be used as an output platform to a 30 inch super high resolution computer monitor.

Carmack added “You'll have full photo editing, video editing, writing of documents, browsing the Web, all sorts of stuff” at speed on a large monitor. This ultra-high resolution really does reduce the strain you feel on your eyes.”

Power consumption is also a talking point as Carmack said “Basically everything you can do on Tegra 2 is lower power on [Kal-El,]”. Very impressive if its accurate.

Nvidia also pointed out that Kal-El gives better benchmark figures than an Intel Core 2 Duo T7200, when running the CoreMark processor benchmark.

KitGuru says: Nvidia going to clean up in the years to come? It certainly looks like impressive technology.

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