Review: intel i7 4770k

Intel has just released the fourth generation of high-end processors for desktop computers. We are talking about the Haswell family of socket 1150, consisting of the i7 4770k and i5 4670k. To satisfy our enthusiastic readers, we have analyzed their flagship product, the Intel Core i7 4770k, in our comprehensive laboratory.

Product ceded by:

INTEL HASWELL AND CHIPSET Z87 FEATURES

The fourth generation of processors or Intel Haswell will be mounted on the LGA 1150 platform. In which we can find the different ranges of processors manufactured in 22 nm and with Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 technology : Intel i7 with 4 cores and 8 threads of execution (Hyper Threading) for professional teams, Intel i5 for 4-core gamers and low / mid-range processors Intel Core i3, Pentium and Celeron. Although these last three will be listed in the coming months.

This time Intel classifies its range of desktop processors into four categories:

Without letter / Normal Version: The processor offers us its base frequency plus a frequency with Turbo and all the Intel features enabled. Example: i7-4770. K: Processor with multiplier unlocked. Aimed at professional users or enthusiastic Gamers. This series allows us to perform strong 4600 to 5000 mhz overclocks by touching 5 or 6 parameters in the BIOS. Note: VT-D virtualization option disabled. Example: i7-4770k. T and S: The most important feature is its power reduction. Converting them into low-power processors, without losing the qualities of the normal version. Example: i7-4770T / i7-4770S. A: This is the new version of Intel in BGA format. BGA? Yes, it is the version that comes the processors soldered on motherboard. As PRO integrates a more powerful integrated graphics card to the rest of the series. Example: i7-4770R.

The processor we have used in our review has been the Intel i7-4770k . We leave you two tables, the first we have made with the most important models that have come out recently and the second are all versions of the 4770 and their technical differences.

A brief summary of the most important characteristics of this new range of processors.

8 Threading Hyper Threading Technology, this allows us to run two processes at the same time. I7 4770 series only + letter.> 8mb Intel Smart Cache. This is the shared cache memory of the processor (makes for faster read access) Turbo Boost 2.0. The processor base frequency is 3500 mhz, with the turbo we automatically go up to 3900 mhz. Native compatibility with DDR3 1600 RAM and XMP profiles. Absolute compatibility with the new range of Intel 8 series motherboards: Z87, H87, Q87 and B87.

We are realizing that each generation of chipset is lighter. This time, external video connections have been extracted. Further relegating the current NorthBridge.

What improvements did we find with Z87? Flexible I / O ports, 14 USB 2.0 ports controlled by XHCI, we switched to six USB 3.0, six SATA 6 Gbp / s connections and SFDP and Quad Read technologies.

* Frequently asked questions:

- My heatsink is compatible with socket 1155 and 1556. Is it compatible with socket 1150?

Yes. We have tested different motherboards and they all have the same holes as in socket 1155 and 1156.

- Is my power supply compatible with Intel Haswell?

There are no Haswell certified power supplies. Most of the manufacturers have already released the list of compatible sources: Antec, Corsair, Enermax, Nox, Aerocool / Tacens and Thermaltake. Giving 98% absolute compatibility.

Intel i7-4770K in front of the camera

The Intel i7 4770k has posed in front of our camera. Does it sound familiar? Package with the same size and blue tone as the Ivy Bridge / Sandy Bridge of socket 1155, only changes the "Tock" to force us to a new socket change.

The bundle includes:

Intel i7-4770k processor Intel heatsink with thermal pad Warranty booklet and sticker for our tower

The heatsink is the same one that is included in previous platforms, which we strongly recommend changing as soon as possible for a more efficient one.

Test Bench / Tests / Temperatures - Consumption.

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Intel i7-4770k.
Base plate:	Asus Sabertooth Z87.
Memory:	G.Skills Trident X 2400mhz.
Heatsink	Prolimatech Megahalems + Nidec 1850 RPM.
HDD	Samsumg 840 250GB.
Graphic card	Asus GTX770.
Power supply	Antec HCP 850.

To check the stability of the processor we have used a very efficient motherboard in consumption / cooling. We have practiced a strong overclock of 4600 mhz with Prime 95 Custom, reaching the limit of air cooling. The graphic that we have used is TOP RANGE: Asus GTX 770.

TESTS
3dMark Vantage:	Clock Stock: P34580 / Clock OC: 38863.
3dMark11	Clock Stock: P10347 PTS / Clock OC: P10579.
Heaven Unigine and Valley	1728 pts and 3585 pts.
CineBench 11.5 / Super PI	Clock Stock: 8.13 pts / Clock OC: 9.62 pts. / Super PI: 7, 809seconds (1MB)
Games: Resident Evil 6 Lost planet tomb Raider Crysis 3 Meter	12622 PTS. 132.5 FPS. 140.2 FPS 47.1 FPS 78.2 FPS

Here the results with 3DMARK, Linx in Stock and CineBench 11.5 at 4600 mhz:

We are seeing that the performance is quite good and getting overclocked is quite easy. Although the blackest point of the processor is the temperature. Reached excessive degrees (80º C) at full performance when we overclocked 4600 mhz at 1.37v without tuning. At rest it is kept at 30ºC. But if overclocking is not our priority we have 28ºC in idle and 54º in full with Prime95 in stock values.

Please note: All cooled with the Prolimatech Megahalems (one of the best air coolers) and a Nidec fan at 1850 RPM.

Conclusion.

It is still too early to draw a concrete conclusion about the processor and socket 1150. Because we have a lot to learn about it. If we can talk about the i7 4770k that we have analyzed: It has a base frequency of 3500mhz that goes up with the turbo to 3900 mhz, it has the multiplier unlocked, it contains 8MB of Level3 cache, built at 0.22nm, it incorporates the INtel HD4600 graphics card at 1250 mhz and 84 Watts of TDP.

The improvements are minimal, from 5% quite noticeable to 20% compared to Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge. The integrated graphics card is increasingly competitive with AMD APUs, they have increased their 18 PCI Express lines, also six native SATA 6Gbps connections, more USB 3.0 connectors and their energy savings are increasing.

In stock this is a really good processor. Reaching almost 100 Glops and a more than interesting 33, 000 points in CPU in 3DMARK VANTAGE. When we overclocked, in our case at 4600 mhz, we have exceeded 1.88 points at stock speeds (10.1pts). A truly magnificent result.

Its blackest point is found in the temperatures. In stock values it has a normal temperature: 27ºC at rest and 59ºC at full capacity. While with a strong overclock of 4600 mhz and 1.37v it goes up to 30ºC and 80ºC. This makes us think that to overcome this barrier, it requires us to install open liquid refrigeration.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ GOOD PERFORMANCE IN STOCK.	- PRICE.
+ ENERGY CONSUMPTION.	- TEMPERATURES, FORCES US TO MOUNT A WATERCOOLING SYSTEM WITH OVERCLOCK.
+ INTEL HD4000 INTEGRATED GRAPHICS CARD.
+ INCLUDES HEATSINK.
+ ALLOWS US OVERCLOCKING.
+ 3 YEAR WARRANTY.