Core i7-2600K processor, the price of a new one on amazon and ebay is 19,078 rubles, which is equal to $329. Marked by the manufacturer as: BX80623I72600K.

The number of cores is 4, it is produced according to the 32 nm process technology, Sandy Bridge architecture. Thanks to Hyper-Threading technology, the number of threads is 8, which is twice the number of physical cores and increases the performance of multi-threaded applications and games.

The base frequency of the cores of the Core i7-2600K is 3.4 GHz. The maximum frequency in Intel Turbo Boost mode reaches 3.8 GHz. Please note that the Intel Core i7-2600K cooler must cool processors with a TDP of at least 95W at stock frequencies. When overclocked, the requirements increase.

Motherboard for Intel Core i7-2600K must be with LGA1155 socket. The power system must be capable of supporting processors with a TDP of at least 95W.

Thanks to the integrated Intel® HD Graphics 3000, the computer can operate without a discrete graphics card because the monitor is connected to the video output on the motherboard.

Price in Russia

Want to buy Core i7-2600K cheap? Look at the list of stores that already sell the processor in your city.

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Intel Core i7-2600K test

The data comes from tests by users who tested their systems with and without overclocking. Thus, you see the average values ​​corresponding to the processor.

Speed ​​of numerical operations

Different tasks require different CPU strengths. A system with few fast cores is great for gaming, but will be inferior to a system with a lot of slow cores in a rendering scenario.

We believe that a processor with at least 4 cores/4 threads is suitable for a budget gaming PC. At the same time, individual games can load it at 100% and slow down, and performing any tasks in the background will lead to a drop in FPS.

Ideally, the buyer should aim for a minimum of 6/6 or 6/12, but keep in mind that systems with more than 16 threads are currently only applicable to professional tasks.

The data is obtained from tests by users who tested their systems both with overclocking (the maximum value in the table) and without (the minimum). A typical result is indicated in the middle, with a colored bar indicating the position among all tested systems.

Accessories

motherboards

  • Asus H97-PLUS
  • Lenovo 30AH004MUS
  • Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H
  • Acer Nitro AN515-52
  • Fujitsu PRIMERGY TX1310 M1
  • HP OMEN by HP Laptop 15-dc0xxx
  • HP OMEN X by HP Laptop 17-ap0xx

Video cards

  • No data

RAM

  • No data

SSD

  • No data

We have compiled a list of components that users most often choose when building a computer based on the Core i7-2600K. Also with these components, the best results in tests and stable operation are achieved.

The most popular config: motherboard for Intel Core i7-2600K - Asus H97-PLUS.

Characteristics

Main

Manufacturer Intel
Description Information about the processor, taken from the official website of the manufacturer. Intel® Core™ i7-2600K Processor (8M Cache, up to 3.80 GHz)
Architecture The code name for a microarchitecture generation. Sandy Bridge
Date of issue Month and year when the processor appeared on sale. 03-2012
Model Official name. i7-2600K
cores The number of physical cores. 4
streams Number of threads. The number of logical processor cores that the operating system sees. 8
Multithreading Technology Thanks to Hyper-threading technologies from Intel and SMT from AMD, one physical core is recognized in the operating system as two logical ones, which increases the performance of the processor in multi-threaded applications. Hyper-threading (note that some games may not work well with Hyper-threading, which is why it is worth disabling the technology in the BIOS of the motherboard).
base frequency Guaranteed frequency of all processor cores at maximum load. Performance in single-threaded and multi-threaded applications and games depends on it. It is important to remember that speed and frequency are not directly related. For example, a new processor at a lower frequency may be faster than an old one at a higher one. 3.4GHz
Turbo frequency The maximum frequency of one processor core in turbo mode. Manufacturers have made it possible for the processor to independently increase the frequency of one or more cores under heavy load, thereby increasing the speed of operation. It greatly affects the speed in games and applications that are demanding on the frequency of the CPU. 3.8GHz
L3 cache size The third level cache acts as a buffer between the computer's RAM and the processor's level 2 cache. Used by all cores, the speed of information processing depends on the volume. 8 MB
Instructions 64-bit
Instructions They allow to speed up calculations, processing and execution of certain operations. Also, some games require instruction support. SSE4.1/4.2, AVX
Process technology The technological process of production, measured in nanometers. The smaller the technical process, the more perfect the technology, the lower the heat dissipation and power consumption. 32 nm
Bus frequency The speed of data exchange with the system. 5 GT/s DMI
Max TDP Thermal Design Power - an indicator that determines the maximum heat dissipation. The cooler or water cooling system must be rated for an equal or greater value. Remember that with overclocking, TDP increases significantly. 95 W

video core

Integrated graphics core Allows you to use your computer without a discrete graphics card. The monitor is connected to the video output on the motherboard. If earlier integrated graphics made it possible to simply work at a computer, today it can replace budget video accelerators and makes it possible to play most games at low settings. Intel® HD Graphics 3000
GPU base frequency The frequency of operation in 2D mode and idle. 850MHz
GPU base frequency The frequency of operation in 3D mode under maximum load. 1350MHz
Supported monitors The maximum number of monitors that can be simultaneously connected to the integrated video core. 2

RAM

Maximum amount of RAM The amount of RAM that can be installed on a motherboard with this processor. 32GB
Supported type of RAM The type of RAM depends on its frequency and timings (speed), availability, price. DDR3 1066/1333
RAM channels Thanks to the multi-channel memory architecture, the data transfer speed is increased. On desktop platforms, two-channel, three-channel and four-channel modes are available. 2
Bandwidth of RAM 21GB/s
ECC memory Support for memory with error correction, which is used on servers. Usually more expensive than usual and requires more expensive server components. However, second-hand server processors, Chinese motherboards and ECC memory sticks, which are sold relatively cheaply in China, have become widespread. No. Or we have not yet managed to mark the support.

There are still about three months left. And this means that if you choose the basis for a new computer now, for example, as a gift for February 23 or March 8, then three alternatives should be taken into consideration: LGA1155 with Sandy Bridge processors, LGA2011 with Sandy Bridge-E processors, or Socket AM3 + with processors Bulldozer. Of course, the search for a suitable platform in many cases is immediately simplified to a couple of options, or even to one, based on the budget allotted for the purchase of equipment. But there are also cases when, on a financial basis, it is impossible to cut off inappropriate proposals. A typical illustration is the acquisition of a processor with a cost of about $300. In this price category, CPUs are presented for all three platforms listed above, so the expression "choosing problem" in this case takes on a literal meaning.

It's really hard to get oriented. Each of the configurations has individual undeniable advantages, and it is almost impossible to evaluate their attractiveness without additional tests. For example, a $300 processor for the LGA2011 platform, the Core i7-3820, can offer a quad-channel memory controller with unrivaled bandwidth and support for the PCI Express 3.0 bus. A close-priced representative of the Bulldozer family, a processor for Socket AM3+ with the model number AMD FX-8150, has eight processing cores - this is not even found in the most expensive competitor CPUs. And the Core i7-2600K for the LGA1155 platform, which is in the same price category, boasts a simple and effective overclocking.

However, we are not accustomed to solving questions about the superiority of certain computer solutions based on their characteristics and manufacturers' statements. Moreover, processors with a price of about $ 300 are not cheap consumer goods. Such CPUs are chosen "for years" and by no means based on the premise "it doesn't matter what, as long as it works." Therefore, without thinking twice, we pushed the Intel Core i7-3820, Intel Core i7-2600K and AMD FX-8150 together in practical testing.

⇡Intel Core i7-3820

More recently, the LGA2011 platform was presented as a practically inaccessible solution for "ordinary people". Prices for processors in the corresponding version started at $ 600, and motherboards took an example from them. Nevertheless, after a couple of months after the announcement, it turned out that Intel and its comrades still have a desire to make LGA2011 a more mass platform. Gradually, not very expensive motherboards appeared on the market, which can be equipped with the recently launched Core i7-3820 processor, which pleasantly stands out against the background of its brothers with a democratic recommended price of $ 285.

True, the Core i7-3820 is no longer the same Sandy Bridge-E that we were able to meet on the example of the Core i7-3960X and Core i7-3930. The youngest model in the line of LGA2011 processors lost a couple of cores and turned out to be a quad-core, approximately the same as the older Core i7 in the LGA1155 version. However, at the same time, the Core i7-3820 has an L3 cache increased to 10 MB, support for four-channel DDR3 SDRAM, 40 PCI Express lanes, and full compatibility with the PCI Express 3.0 standard, which became relevant after the release of the Radeon HD 7970.

In other words, the Core i7-3820 is precisely the stripped-down Core i7-3960X, and not transferred to the new Core i7-2600K habitat. Moreover, the "reduction" in this case is performed not at the logical, but at the physical level. The semiconductor die of the quad-core processors in the LGA2011 version is different from the crystal used in the eight-core and six-core models. It initially provides only four cores and 10 MB of L3 cache, which makes it one and a half times smaller in size than the older Core i7-3960X die. Despite this, belonging to the Sandy Bridge-E family has its downsides for a quad-core processor as well. First of all, it affects heat dissipation, the calculated level of which for the Core i7-3820 is set at 130 W, which is 35 W more than the flagship LGA1155 processors.

If you pay attention to the formal characteristics, you can see that the Core i7-3820 deserves the title of the fastest Intel quad-core for desktop systems. The nominal clock frequency of this processor is 3.6 GHz, and in turbo mode it can be accelerated up to 3.9 GHz. All existing CPUs for both LGA1155 and LGA2011 are slower.

⇡Intel Core i7-2600K

The LGA1155 platform has recently turned a year old, and it is very pleasant to realize that the flagship processors announced at the beginning of last year in its composition continue to remain so. The long-lived Core i7-2600K can rightly be called an excellent option today. Only the Core i7-2700K can offer the best performance from LGA1155 processors, but it differs by only 100 MHz in clock frequency, which can hardly be called a noticeable advantage. But the Core i7-2600K is a little cheaper - its price is very close to the top of the $ 300 mark.

So, the Core i7-2600K is the best you can get out of a year-old Sandy Bridge processor design. Four cores, 8 MB L3 cache, and a clock speed of 3.4 GHz is not a bad set for a modern system. However, this is still not a top platform for LGA2011 enthusiasts, so there are only two memory channels, and there is no support for PCI Express 3.0. Adherents of SLI and CrossFireX configurations will also have to make compromises, 16x+16x graphics bus operation modes are impossible here, the PCI Express controller built into the processor has only sixteen lines at its disposal.

However, the LGA1155 processor Core i7-2600K has its own trump cards. For example, it has an integrated graphics core, which is generally of no interest to advanced users, but it has Quick Sync technology that implements high-performance video encoding in H.264 format. In addition, LGA1155 processors are significantly more economical than their LGA2011 relatives. And, in addition to everything, the Core i7-2600K boasts an unlocked multiplier: overclock - I don’t want to.

In other words, although the LGA2011 platform is head and shoulders above LGA1155 in the Intel hierarchy, it is difficult to say the same about the Core i7-3820 and Core i7-2600K pair. And if you look at the prices of processors, you can draw a completely opposite conclusion. In fact, these CPUs exist in parallel spaces and it is only appropriate to try to somehow classify them through the prism of specific applications.

⇡AMD FX-8150

The Socket AM3+ platform is perhaps the most controversial recent event on the computer market. There were very high hopes for Bulldozer processors, but what we got was not at all what we expected. However, this does not stop the apologists, especially since the new AMD processors cannot be called unequivocally a failure. Their weak point is performance in poorly parallelized tasks, such as games. But with a multi-threaded load, Bulldozer, having a larger number of computing cores than competing products (though not quite full-fledged), can produce quite decent results.

In the price range we are interested in in this article, the eldest from the Bulldozer family, the FX-8150 processor, falls with some stretch. This is an octa-core CPU with 8 MB of L3 cache and clocked at 3.6 GHz, but can automatically overclock to 4.2 GHz thanks to Turbo Core technology. However, the impressive formal specifications in this case poorly describe the real performance of this processor. It should be borne in mind that Bulldozer cores are less efficient than Intel's, built on the second generation Core microarchitecture, and besides, they are combined in pairs into modules that share part of the resources - a decoder, a second-level cache and a floating point computing unit.

As a result, the advantages of the AMD FX-8150 compared to the Core i7-3820 and Core i7-2600K are not so obvious and are rather subjective. However, two arguments cannot be denied. Firstly, a system built on the basis of the FX-8150 will be cheaper, and secondly, with a specially selected, well-parallelized computing load, AMD's proposal may turn out to be slightly more productive, although, of course, in most cases, eight Bulldozer semi-cores are quite good for Intel processors. can oppose their four with support for Hyper-Threading technology.

In addition, adherents of the Socket AM3+ platform can use arguments like support for SLI and CrossfireX in full speed mode or simple overclocking by increasing the multiplier, but in fact, all this in this case is not an advantage, but a consolation. As well as the recent "magic patch" for Windows 7, which allows you to increase the performance of Bulldozer-based systems.

⇡ Processor Specifications

AMD FX-8150 Intel Core i7-2600K Intel Core i7-3820
microarchitecture Bulldozer Sandy Bridge Sandy Bridge-E
Cores/Threads 8/8 4/8 4/8
Frequency, GHz 3,6 3,4 3,6
Frequency in turbo mode, GHz Up to 4.2 Up to 3.8 Up to 3.9
L2 cache, KB 4x2048 4x256 4x256
L3 cache, MB 8 8 10
Number of memory channels 2 2 4
Graphics core No Eat No
Processor socket socket AM3+ LGA1155 LGA2011
Process technology, nm 32 32 32
TDP, W 125 95 130
Official price, $ 245 317 285

⇡ Description of test systems

Having set ourselves the goal of comparing three classes of desktop systems that roughly fall into the same price category, we doomed ourselves to the need to test three different platforms in which we tried to use the same components whenever possible. In the end, this is what happened.

Platform Socket AM3+:

  • Processor AMD FX-8150;
  • ASUS Crosshair V Formula motherboard based on AMD 990FX chipset (BIOS version 1102);
  • Memory 4 GB DDR3-1600 9-9-9-27 (two KHX1600C8D3K2 modules).

Platform LGA1155:

  • Processor Core i7-2600K;
  • ASUS P8P67 Deluxe motherboard based on the Intel P67 Express chipset (BIOS version 2103);
  • Memory 4 GB DDR3-1600 9-9-9-27 (two Kingston KHX1600C8D3K2 modules).

Platform LGA2011:

  • Core i7-3960X and Core i7-3820 processors;
  • ASUS P9X79 PRO motherboard based on the Intel X79 Express chipset (BIOS version 0906);
  • Memory 8 GB DDR3-1600 9-9-9-27 (four Kingston KHX1600C8D3K2 modules).

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 graphics card (with driver 285.62) and Patriot Wildfire 120 GB SSD remained constant across all these platforms. Testing was carried out in the operating system Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate x64.

In addition to the test results of the four listed processors, we added the Core i7-3960X to the charts and results as a guide. It's the fastest Sandy Bridge-E design CPU with six processing cores to date, but it's priced at $999. The presence of this product among the test participants will allow us to judge whether the thousand-dollar and three-hundred-dollar processors are really separated from each other by an unbridgeable abyss.

Software used:

  • Aida64 Extreme Edition 2.00.1782;
  • Futuremark PCMark 7 1.0.4;
  • Futuremark 3DMark Vantage 1.1.0;
  • Futuremark 3DMark 11 1.0.3;
  • WinRAR 4.1 x64;
  • 7-zip 9.20x64;
  • Fritz Chess Benchmark 4.3;
  • MAXON Cinebench Release 11.5 x64;
  • TechARP x264 HD Benchmark 4.0;
  • TrueCrypt 7.1;
  • SVPmark 3.0.2;
  • POV Ray 3.7 RC3 x64.

And games:

  • Crysis 2 1.9;
  • Far Cry 2 1.0.3;
  • Metro 2033: The Last Refuge 1.2;
  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat 1.6.02.

⇡ Overclocking

Buyers who pay attention to processors with a cost of about $ 300 are, for the most part, not the most ordinary users. For the most part, they can be classified as enthusiasts who are serious about getting the most out of their computers, primarily through overclocking. Processor manufacturers fully understand this, and it is quite natural that two of the three processors participating in today's testing, the Core i7-2600K and FX-8150, are special overclocker products. They offer a fairly simple overclocking procedure based on changing the processor multiplier. In fact, the success of overclocking in this case depends primarily on the performance of the processor cooling system and, secondly, on the capabilities of the BIOS of the motherboard.

It makes no sense to describe the process of overclocking the Core i7-2600K and FX-8150 step by step - everything is clear here. We increase the voltage, increase the multiplier, check the stability of the system and the temperature regime of the processor, repeat if necessary - that's the whole recipe. In our case, we decided to achieve the maximum frequency using the ThermalRight Silver Arrow CPU cooler, which is one of the most efficient air cooling systems.

The Core i7-2600K processor was overclocked to 4.8 GHz, in order to achieve stability in this state, its supply voltage was increased to 1.44 V.

Recall, judging by our previous experience, LGA1155 processors have the best overclocking potential. The Core i7-2600K did not disappoint this time either.

The AMD FX-8150 processor was able to operate at a maximum frequency of 4.6 GHz at 1.4 V.

Of course, the frequency turned out to be somewhat lower than that of the Core i7-2600K, but this is the general trend - Bulldozer processors are slightly inferior to Intel's Sandy Bridge in terms of frequency potential.

As for the third test participant, the Core i7-3820, we should dwell on its overclocking in more detail. As can be seen from the model number, in which the letter "K" is missing, this processor is not among the offers directly aimed at overclocking. Therefore, its rectilinear overclocking by a multiplier is impossible.

Rather, it is possible, but within limited limits. Intel still allowed the owners of the Core i7-3820 to change the multiplier, but its maximum value is 43x. The processor does not support higher multipliers. Thus, using the same overclocking recipe as in the case of the Core i7-2600K and FX-8150, the Core i7-3820 frequency can be increased to 4.3 GHz.

Will it be too little? Overclocking can come to the rescue by increasing the bus frequency. It was in LGA1155 systems that the frequency of the reference clock generator could be increased by only a few megahertz relative to the nominal 100 MHz. In the LGA2011 platform, positive changes have been made in this regard. In addition to 100 MHz, it also allows the use of a second reference frequency, 125 MHz. This guarantees the complete stability of all other components of the system. It is thanks to this feature that overclocking the Core i7-3820 over 4.3 GHz becomes real. For example, by choosing a BCLK frequency of 125 MHz, we were able to squeeze a final frequency of 4.63 GHz out of the Core i7-3820 test instance, and it only took a 37x multiplier to achieve it.

When the processor supply voltage was raised to 1.4 V, the stability of the system did not cause any complaints.

Unfortunately, the Core i7-3820, based on the Sandy Bridge-E design, was not as overclocking friendly as the Core i7-2600K. However, this behavior of this processor is quite natural. It has a higher heat dissipation initially, has a more complex internal structure, and it is based on a semiconductor crystal larger in size and in the number of transistors.

⇡ AMD FX-8150 and magic patch

Since the release of the Bulldozer family, AMD fans have been waiting for an operating system update that was supposed to magically increase the performance of the FX series processors. This expectation was based mainly on the fact that AMD itself promised to improve the performance of its new products in tests with the release of the Windows 8 operating system, the scheduler of which will be familiar with the features of their innovative microarchitecture.

Given the fundamental possibility of increasing performance through software optimization, users have also projected it to Windows 7, and not in vain. As it turned out later, Microsoft, together with AMD, did develop patches for an existing version of the operating system that would allow FX processors to work "more correctly" in Windows 7.

The mechanics of how these patches work is very simple. The cores in FX processors are combined in pairs into modules with common nodes, so the best performance can be achieved by loading disparate cores first, and leaving the connection to the calculations of the second cores in each module for later. We were convinced that such an approach gives a positive result even when we first met the FX-8150, where your obedient servant, having taken over the manual distribution of threads among the cores, received a performance increase reaching 8-9 percent at best.

Fortunately, all such speculative reasoning has also received a solid practical basis. A couple of weeks ago, patches that improve the performance of AMD FX processors in Windows 7 actually appeared in the Windows Update service. There are two of them at once:

  • KB2645594 is a scheduler update that explains to the operating system engine the disparity of Bulldozer compute cores and prioritizes their workload.
  • KB2646060 - An update to the core parking algorithm that prevents the operating system from attempting to park a core when an adjacent core is under processing load.

Does the performance of the Socket AM3+ platform increase miraculously from the installation of these updates? Yes, it increases, but it doesn't smell like a sensation here, there is only a quite expected small increase in performance. It can reach 10 percent in those tasks that do not load all the available Bulldozer cores, but in resource-intensive applications, performance after applying the patches practically does not change.

The following table provides a detailed analysis of the performance benefits provided by the installation of patches KB2645594 and KB2646060 in a system based on the AMD FX-8150 processor, using specific tests as an example.

FX-8150 without patches FX-8150 with patches Speed ​​boost
PCMark 7 points 4025 4181 3,9%
PCMark 7 Computation scores 3857 4441 15,1%
3DMark Vantage, CPU, points 56065 55108 -1,7%
3DMark 11, Physics, scores 6493 6494 0,0%
Fritz Chess Benchmark, points 11821 11854 0,3%
TrueCrypt 7.1, AES, GB/s 03,3 03,3 0,0%
7-zip 9.20, Overall, MIPS 20864 20924 0,3%
WinRAR 4.1, KB/s 4301 4301 0,0%
x264 HD Benchmark, 1st pass, FPS 121,78 123,74 1,6%
x264 HD Benchmark, 2nd pass, FPS 37,32 37,41 0,2%
SVPmark 3.0.2, FG-scores 2507 2470 -1,5%
Cinebench R11.5 points 06,1 06,2 0,2%
POV-Ray 3.7, pix./s 1237 1237 0,0%
Crysis 2, 1280x800 DX11 UHQ, FPS 66,3 70,9 6,9%
Far Cry 2, 1280x800 UHQ, FPS 87,4 93,36 6,8%
Metro 2033, 1280x800 DX11 UHQ, FPS 57 57,4 0,7%
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, 1280x800 DX11 UHQ, FPS 94,8 100,3 5,8%

In general, the observed performance change is within a few percent. AMD itself speaks about this, warning that you should not place too high hopes on the released patches. However, there is a whole class of applications in which patches can have a more serious positive effect. These are games, in most of which the increase in performance reaches 5-7 percent. Which, I must say, is a rather pleasant addition, because processors with the Bulldozer microarchitecture do not look the best in tasks of this type.

Thus, the prospects for a further increase in the speed of systems with AMD FX processors through optimization of the operating system can be put to rest. After the release of the described updates, Windows 7 works in the most optimal way possible, and the scheduler of the future Windows 8 operating system will work according to exactly the same principles. This means that it will not be possible to squeeze more out of Bulldozer in the long term.

The best performance of the trinity of processors for which this test was started is the new Core i7-3820. Thanks to the efficient Sandy Bridge microarchitecture, high clock speeds, support for Hyper-Threading technology, a larger L3 cache and a quad-channel memory controller, it always manages to demonstrate higher performance than processors for the Socket AM3 + and LGA1155 platforms. However, this is true until it comes to overclocking. The best overclocking potential among $300 competitors lies in the Core i7-2600K, and after increasing its frequency to 4.8 GHz, it almost always finds itself in the lead, even ahead of its overclocked rivals. However, the resulting level of performance does not allow either the Core i7-2600K, or even more so the Core i7-3820 and FX-8150, to compete with the 1000-dollar Core i7-3960X. Intel's flagship six-core processor, even at face value, in most cases remains out of reach for cheaper quad-core and eight-core processors.

⇡ Game test results

Taking into account that the gaming performance of computers of the upper price range depends primarily on the power of the graphics subsystem, and also that in the very near future we will meet with new generations of video accelerators, we tested only at a resolution of 1280x800 with high quality settings. This approach allows you to evaluate exactly the processor gaming performance, which is not limited by the capabilities of the current generation of graphics cards.

As we can see, no patches helped the AMD FX-8150 processor. His results in games are the worst, and significantly. Does not save the situation and acceleration. So the Socket AM3+ platform is obviously a bad choice for gaming systems. In a pair of Intel quad-cores, Core i7-3820 and Core i7-2600K, parity is observed, they provide approximately the same number of frames per second. In overclocking, however, the LGA1155 platform behaves a little better for obvious reasons, but we are not talking about a fundamental advantage.

Another interesting conclusion that can be drawn by looking at the above diagrams is the absolute uselessness with a game load of six computing cores. The Core i7-3960X processor looks rather faded against the background of its price, which once again makes us remind you of its suboptimal performance in gaming applications.

⇡ Conclusions

By titling this article “Three Heroes”, we hoped to make a story about the epic confrontation between three fundamentally different in hardware, but similar in consumer characteristics, high-performance platforms. In fact, it turned out like in a completely different fairy tale: "The older one was smart, the middle one was this way and that, the youngest was a fool at all."

The bearer of the Bulldozer microarchitecture, AMD FX-8150, we again have to call a disappointment. In the company of 300-dollar Intel processors, it looks foreign, seriously losing to them in terms of performance, especially in gaming applications. Even the release of patches for Windows 7 does not save the situation, which, of course, slightly increased the performance of the FX-8150, but did not fundamentally change the situation. That is, this processor, despite its interesting and promising eight-core design, can find a home only in the systems of the most ardent adherents of AMD products, who will certainly be able to find an argument for their purchase without our help.

The junior processor for Intel's LGA2011 platform, the Core i7-3820, made a rather ambiguous impression. In fact, it allows owners of LGA2011 systems to get about the same thing that has been offered in the LGA1155 format for a year now. The Core i7-3820 has two advantages: firstly, this processor supports forty PCI Express 3.0 lanes, and secondly, it has a four-channel memory controller. But on the other hand, the Core i7-3820 loses to its LGA1155 counterparts in overclocking and requires large financial costs when building a complete system.

That is why our sympathies remain entirely with the Core i7-2600K, which continues to seem like a very rational purchase for $ 300 even today. The LGA1155 platform is one of the commonly used products. That is why it implies a lower cost of its components, however, as we saw from the test results, it works no worse than LGA2011. Moreover, in a number of important aspects, for example, in efficiency or overclocking, it surpasses the older Intel solution.

When it comes to choosing a productive processor, many potential buyers are guided only by the number of cores in it, forgetting about clock speeds and embedded technologies. This approach to selection led to the appearance on the market of multi-core crystals with a suspiciously low price. However, for many resource-intensive applications, 6-8 cores are useless.

In this article, the reader will get acquainted with the representative of the elite class - the I7 2600 processor, for which there are no restrictions. Any games and programs can work with it without problems. Characteristics, tests and reviews about the product will allow the buyer to get to know the legendary representative of the computer market closer.

Market positioning

The fact that the Intel Core I7 2600 crystal is designed for work, not games, is indicated by its cost (25,000 rubles). For comparison: the same is the cost of a regular portable laptop. The manufacturer placed the processor in a corporate niche, positioning it as a tool for working with complex calculations and resource-intensive applications. Graphics processing, video encoding, 3D modeling, complex mathematical calculations are the tasks for which this crystal is designed.

However, the company does not hide the fact that the Intel Core i7 2600 CPU can also be used in games. Quite a lot of reviews conducted by independent laboratories confirm the high performance of the crystal with resource-intensive productive games. But all testing leads to the conclusion that buying an expensive processor for entertainment is unreasonable. But first things first.

Specifications

A successful modification of the Sandy Bridge chip has long been discussed by many owners - the manufacturer has managed to achieve a compromise between high performance and heat dissipation, which affects all powerful processors. The working Core I7 2600 is 3.40 GHz. In mode, it easily increases to 3.80 GHz. And if we take into account the features of some motherboards to overclock processors on their own, then the user can contemplate 4.30 gigahertz under heavy loads, however, for this you will have to worry about decent cooling for the crystal.

Cache memory levels provide high performance to the processor. Only server solutions can boast of an L1 volume of 512 kilobytes. The second level cache is also large - 1 megabyte, and the third level - 8 MB. With such data, any mathematical calculations are within the power of this processor.

Worthy Opportunities

The I7 2600 processor is equipped with a Hyper-Threading system. This means that the user receives an additional 4 virtual cores to the 4 already available hardware ones. Owners will also be pleased with the presence of integrated graphics, however, it is not at all intended for games - HD Graphics 2000 can replace the cheapest video adapter from the budget class. But for resource-intensive applications, this is a rather interesting resource, because the graphics adapter takes the video memory from the RAM.

The processor platform also supports a virtual environment: Intel VT-x and Intel VT-d, respectively, the crystal can be safely used for workstations and servers. There is also Intel TXT technology in the I7 2600 processor - the penetration of malicious codes into the calculation is impossible at the hardware level.

Do not forget about the support for video encoding. Intel Quick Sync Video technology is implemented at the hardware level in the processor in question. True, the manufacturer is silent that the motherboard chipset must support this functionality. But, as practice shows, users of the legendary processor buy appropriately priced motherboards with support for this technology.

Weak link

The overall impression of the Intel Core I7 2600 chip is spoiled by working with RAM. Support for DDR3 is good, but there are problems with frequencies. The processor at the hardware level can synchronously operate at a frequency not higher than 1333 MHz. Fans of AMD's rival are a favorite topic of discussion, though they haven't found a suitable die that can match the performance of the I7 2600.

There are also questions about heat dissipation. A processor that is cold by definition (TDP 95 watts) does not exceed the declared performance in normal mode. But in acceleration, it heats up very much, making all owners pretty nervous. There are several solutions here: limit overclocking or install a powerful cooling system. The second option is more popular, because everyone wants to have the most powerful processor at hand.

Mobile market

The manufacturer Intel presented its product with integrated graphics for mobile devices. Manufacturers did not limit its performance and provided the market with powerful laptops for complex tasks and games. There are a lot of reviews of such mobile devices in the media. If we sum up the results of tests of all laptops, the reader will come to the conclusion that for the powerful Core I7 2600 processor there is still no decent mobile video card that can unlock the full potential of the crystal.

Again, the stumbling block for the processor in question is heat dissipation. If in a personal computer the problem is solved by installing a powerful cooling system, then things are more complicated with a mobile representative. A lot of negative user reviews on laptop overheating. You need to constantly clean your mobile device from dust and monitor the flow of cold air to the processor.

Higher, faster, stronger

And yet, many potential buyers are interested in comparing the legendary representative of Intel with a direct competitor. It is quite realistic to test the I7 2600 vs FX-9590, because the AMD representative, judging by its price and owner reviews, is the fastest representative on the processor market. Yes, when working with RAM at high frequencies, Intel shows unworthy performance in all synthetic tests. And here's where it gets interesting.

The FX-9590 processor, having 8 hardware cores operating at a frequency of 4.70 GHz, loses to the opponent in all tests for crystal performance. Surprisingly, the AMD representative can't get ahead on both single-threaded tasks (one core running) and multitasking (all cores running). Attention, the question is: what are the advantages of the competitor FX-9590, which has more transistors, operates at high frequencies and demonstrates high performance with RAM?

Comparison with an Intel representative

Many potential buyers are interested in comparing the expensive product I7 2600 3.40 GHz with the affordable fellow Core It is clear that the flagship of the processor line will show the best performance. Such tests are more interesting for users who want to save on purchases, because the difference in price is about 30%, respectively, and performance should differ within this indicator.

In all testing of gaming applications (at FullHD resolution 1920x1080 dpi), both processors demonstrate the same performance. This suggests that the performance of the rest of the system components (memory, video card, hard drive, motherboard) is not enough to unlock the potential of the powerful I7 2600 processor. And if we talk about saving money, then, of course, it is better to give priority to an inexpensive Core I5 ​​crystal.

Only stars above

Quite different results await a potential buyer when testing processors in video encoding and 3D modeling. For example, with the I7 2600 die, CyberLink MediaEspresso, Nero Video, and Sony Vegas create one hour of 720i video in 22 minutes. 2500 This task requires almost one hour. By the way, the legendary representative of AMD overcame the task in 66 minutes, which is a worthy indicator for a crystal with eight cores.

When working with 3D modeling, a lot also depends on the video adapter. The built-in graphics core of the powerful I7 2600 processor, as testing has shown, is not enough. ZBrush and 3DS Max push the processor to its limits when using the integrated graphics card. But once you install a video card for non-linear video editing NVIDIA Quadro, and the load on the processor is reduced.

About the cooling system

Logically, for the I7 2600 processor, the price of a decent cooler should be in last place for a potential buyer. An expensive crystal requires appropriate cooling, and the choice of the owner should not fall on representatives of the budget class. The price of decent cooling systems starts at 4,000 rubles, and, as practice shows, ends with the financial capabilities of the buyer.

Brands such as Zalman, Noctua, Thermaltake and Scythe have proven themselves well. It is these manufacturers that are preferred by all test laboratories in the world. These brands are presented on the market in the form of systems with passive, water and air cooling. For a processor with a heat dissipation of 95 watts, a passive cooler is hardly suitable. Therefore, it is not recommended to rely on such systems. But the air and water cooling of the I7 2600 will do.

Finally

It will not be possible to draw an unambiguous conclusion from the review of the I7 2600 processor. The problem is that for every device that exists on the market, there is a certain task that is a priority. For the crystal under consideration, the selection criterion is fast data processing (mathematics, video, graphics, sound). After all, the manufacturer knowingly presented it in the corporate segment.

On the other hand, the processor demonstrates high performance in games, but the junior representative of the Intel line can compete with it for the championship in tests. It turns out that the processor is not suitable for entertainment (if we talk from an economic point of view).

There are questions about working with 3D modeling, which requires a powerful graphics accelerator. Naturally, many readers will have the idea of ​​buying a powerful video adapter and an inexpensive processor. And this option is quite reasonable. Whatever one may say, it will not be possible to come to a single decision until the potential buyer has compiled a complete list of tasks that he wants to perform with the I7 2600 processor.

But all testing suggests that buying an expensive processor for entertainment is unreasonable.

Product release date.

Lithography

Lithography indicates the semiconductor technology used to produce integrated chipsets and the report is shown in nanometer (nm) indicating the size of the features embedded in the semiconductor.

Terms of Use

The conditions of use are the environmental and operating conditions resulting from the context in which the system is used.
See the PRQ report for specific SKU terms and conditions.
For current terms of use, see Intel UC (CNDA site)*.

Number of Cores

The number of cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing modules in a single computing component (chip).

Number of threads

A thread or thread of execution is a software term for a basic ordered sequence of instructions that can be passed to or processed by a single CPU core.

CPU base clock

The base frequency of the processor is the speed of opening / closing of the processor transistors. The base frequency of the processor is the operating point where the design power (TDP) is set. Frequency is measured in gigahertz (GHz) or billions of computing cycles per second.

Maximum clock speed with Turbo Boost technology

The maximum turbo clock speed is the maximum single-core processor clock speed that can be achieved with the Intel® Turbo Boost and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost technologies it supports. Frequency is measured in gigahertz (GHz) or billions of computing cycles per second.

Cache

The processor cache is an area of ​​high-speed memory located in the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to an architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

System bus frequency

A bus is a subsystem that transfers data between computer components or between computers. An example is the system bus (FSB), through which data is exchanged between the processor and the memory controller unit; DMI interface, which is a point-to-point connection between the onboard Intel memory controller and the Intel I/O controller box on the motherboard; and a Quick Path Interconnect (QPI) interface connecting the processor and the integrated memory controller.

Estimated power

Thermal Design Power (TDP) indicates the average performance in watts when the processor's power is dissipated (when running at base frequency with all cores engaged) under a complex workload as defined by Intel. Review the requirements for thermoregulation systems in the datasheet.

Embedded options available

Available Options for Embedded Systems indicate products that offer extended purchasing options for smart systems and embedded solutions. Product specifications and terms of use are provided in the Production Release Qualification (PRQ) report. Contact your Intel representative for details.

Max. amount of memory (depends on the type of memory)

Max. memory means the maximum amount of memory supported by the processor.

Memory types

Intel® processors support four different types of memory: single-channel, dual-channel, triple-channel, and Flex.

Max. number of memory channels

Application bandwidth depends on the number of memory channels.

Max. memory bandwidth

Max. memory bandwidth refers to the maximum rate at which data can be read from memory or stored in memory by the processor (in GB/s).

ECC Memory Support‡

ECC memory support indicates the processor's support for ECC memory. ECC memory is a type of memory that supports the detection and repair of common types of internal memory corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both the processor and the chipset to be supported.

Processor-Integrated Graphics ‡

The processor graphics system is the graphics data processing circuit integrated into the processor, which forms the operation of the video system, computing processes, multimedia and information display. Intel® HD Graphics, Iris™ Graphics, Iris Plus Graphics, and Iris Pro Graphics deliver advanced media conversion, high frame rates, and 4K Ultra HD (UHD) video. See the Intel® Graphics Technology page for more information.

Base frequency of the graphics system

The base frequency of the graphics system is the nominal/guaranteed graphics rendering clock (MHz).

Max. graphics system dynamic frequency

Max. graphics dynamic frequency is the maximum conventional rendering frequency (MHz) supported by Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency.

Intel® Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video Technology provides fast video conversion for portable media players, network sharing, and video editing and creation.

InTru 3D technology

Intel InTru 3D technology delivers 1080p Blu-ray* stereoscopic 3D content with HDMI* 1.4 and high quality audio.

Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)

Intel® Flexible Display is an innovative interface that allows you to display independent images on two channels using an integrated graphics system.

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a set of video encoding and processing technologies built into the processor's integrated graphics system. These technologies make video playback more stable and graphics more clear, vivid and realistic. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology delivers brighter colors and more realistic skin through video quality improvements.

PCI Express Edition

The PCI Express edition is the version supported by the processor. PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial expansion bus standard for computers to connect hardware devices to it. Different versions of PCI Express support different data transfer rates.

Max. number of PCI Express lanes

The PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signal pairs for receiving and transmitting data, and is also the basic element of the PCIe bus. The number of PCI Express lanes is the total number of lanes supported by the processor.

Supported Connectors

A connector is a component that provides mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and the motherboard.

T CASE

The critical temperature is the maximum temperature allowed in the processor's integrated heat spreader (IHS).

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology‡

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the frequency of the processor to the desired level, using the difference between the nominal and maximum values ​​\u200b\u200bof temperature and power consumption, which allows you to increase power efficiency or "overclock" the processor if necessary.

Compliant with Intel® vPro™ platform ‡

The Intel vPro® platform is a set of hardware and technologies used to build end-to-end business computing systems with high performance, built-in security, advanced management features, and platform stability.

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology‡

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) provides two processing threads for each physical core. Multithreaded applications can perform more tasks in parallel, which greatly speeds up the work.

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) ‡

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-x) allows a single hardware platform to function as multiple "virtual" platforms. The technology improves manageability by reducing downtime and maintaining productivity by dedicating separate partitions for computing operations.

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) ‡

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O enhances virtualization support in IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® (VT-i) processors with I/O virtualization features. Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O helps users improve system security, reliability, and I/O device performance in virtualized environments.

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT) ‡

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables, also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT) technology, accelerates memory-intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables on Intel® Virtualization Technology-enabled platforms reduces memory and power overhead and improves battery life through hardware-based optimizations for page forwarding table management.

Intel® 64 architecture ‡

Intel® 64 architecture, combined with appropriate software, supports 64-bit applications on servers, workstations, desktops, and laptops.¹ Intel® 64 architecture delivers performance improvements that enable computing systems to use more than 4 GB of virtual and physical memory .

Command set

The instruction set contains the basic commands and instructions that the microprocessor understands and can execute. The value shown indicates which Intel instruction set the processor is compatible with.

Command Set Extensions

Instruction set extensions are additional instructions that can be used to improve performance when performing operations on multiple data objects. These include SSE (Support for SIMD Extensions) and AVX (Vector Extensions).

Idle States

The idle state (or C-state) mode is used to conserve power when the processor is idle. C0 means the operating state, that is, the CPU is currently doing useful work. C1 is the first idle state, C2 is the second idle state, and so on. The higher the numerical indicator of the C-state, the more energy-saving actions the program performs.

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology delivers high performance while meeting the energy-saving requirements of mobile systems. Standard Intel SpeedStep® technology allows you to switch the voltage level and frequency depending on the load on the processor. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is built on the same architecture and uses design strategies such as separation of voltage and frequency changes, and clock distribution and recovery.

Thermal control technologies

Thermal management technologies protect the processor package and system from thermal failure through multiple thermal management features. An on-chip Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS) detects the core temperature, and thermal management functions reduce the power consumption of the processor package when necessary, thereby lowering the temperature to ensure operation within normal operating specifications.

Intel® Fast Memory Access Technology

Intel® Fast Memory Access Technology is an advanced Video Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) backbone architecture that improves system performance by optimizing the use of available bandwidth and reducing memory access latency.

Intel® Flex Memory Access Technology

Intel® Flex Memory Access makes it easy to upgrade by supporting a variety of memory module sizes in dual-channel mode.

Intel® Privacy Protection Technology‡

Intel® Privacy Protection Technology is a built-in security technology based on the use of tokens. This technology provides simple and secure access control to online commercial and business data, protecting against security threats and fraud. Intel® Privacy Protection Technology uses PC hardware authentication mechanisms in websites, banking systems, and online services to authenticate a PC's uniqueness, protect against unauthorized access, and prevent malware attacks. Intel® Privacy Protection Technology can be used as a key component of two-factor authentication solutions designed to protect information on websites and control access to business applications.

New Intel® AES Commands

Intel® AES-NI Commands (Intel® AES New Instructions) are a set of commands that allow you to quickly and securely encrypt and decrypt data. AES-NI commands can be used for a wide range of cryptographic tasks, such as applications that provide bulk encryption, decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Intel® Trusted Execution Technology‡

Intel® Trusted Execution Technology enhances secure command execution through hardware enhancements to Intel® processors and chipsets. This technology provides digital office platforms with security features such as measured application launch and secure command execution. This is achieved by creating an environment where applications run in isolation from other applications on the system.

Function Execute override bit ‡

The Execute Cancel Bit is a hardware security feature that helps reduce vulnerability to viruses and malicious code, as well as prevent malware from executing and spreading on a server or network.

A premium processor with maximum performance and phenomenal technical specifications - this is all entirely true of the Core i7-2600. It is the capabilities of this semiconductor solution, as well as the results of its testing in synthetic and gaming tests, that will be considered. In addition to this, reviews of real owners of this product will be given.

Niche of this semiconductor solution

Intel processor products are currently distributed as follows:

    Entry-level chips are represented by two lines of solutions at once: Celeron and, of course, Pentium. The minimum cache size, reduced clock speeds, and the presence of only two computing blocks for processing program code and data provided a minimum level of performance, which is sufficient only for the implementation of the simplest and least demanding tasks.

    The middle segment of processor solutions is occupied by Core i3 chips. They have a larger cache, increased CPU clock speeds, and already 4 logical code processing units.

As you can easily guess from the markings, the i7-2600 belongs to the last group of devices. It boasts uncompromising speed and the ability to solve any problem.

Possible configuration options for the CPU. Their features

The i7-2600 CPU in question had only two possible configuration options. A review of the price lists indicated that one of them was called Trail. It included the following:

    CPU in a protective plastic case.

    Installation and use guide.

    Company warranty card.

    Sticker with the logo of the family of central processors.

The second possible configuration option was designated as VOH. In addition to everything previously listed, it includes a cooler with thermal paste and a branded cardboard box. The first configuration option is more suitable for large companies that specialize in assembling PC system units. But the second of them will be the best choice for small PC builders and computer enthusiasts.

Processor socket and motherboards

An i7-2600 must be installed in the socket under the designation LGA1156. This hardware platform was relevant in 2012-2013. Now it has been replaced by more recent developments by Intel. The hero of this review should be installed in motherboards based on 6X and 7X series chipsets. Moreover, it is more preferable to install it in the products of the latest series precisely because of their greater functionality.

Architectural nuances of the considered chip

The solution in question belongs to the 2nd generation Core chips. Their code name according to the manufacturer's nomenclature is Sandy Bridge. Immediately 4 physical blocks for processing program code were implemented in the Intel Core i7-2600. At the same time, the NT technology makes it possible to obtain already 8 logical software processing streams at the software level. Also, the indisputable advantage of this model of the central processor is that it supports both 32-bit and 64-bit calculations.

Frequencies

Now about how much the Intel Core i7-2600 MHz has in terms of clock speed. The reference value of this parameter for this semiconductor solution is set at around 3400 MHz. In this case, all 4 code processing units take part in the code processing process. If the CPU frequency increases to 3600 MHz, then two computing modules and half of the computing power of the processor device will automatically turn off in the chip. If the chip frequency is increased to 3800 MHz, only one core will remain in operation. This dynamic frequency control is provided by TurboBust technology. The algorithm of its work is as follows:

    When running 4 cores, the CPU frequency is minimal and equal to 3.4 GHz.

    If the processed code is optimized for 2 physical cores, then the frequency value rises to 3.6 GHz.

    When working in one thread, the value of this parameter increases to 3.8 GHz.

    In the event of a thermal violation of this semiconductor solution, the CPU frequency will drop to 3.6 GHz. If this does not correct the situation, then the value of this parameter will drop even more - to 3.4 GHz.

Silicon crystal production technology. Energy efficiency. Power consumption specifications

According to the technological tolerance standards of 32 nm, the i7-2600 was produced. The characteristics of this chip indicate that its dimensions are 37.5 by 37.5 mm. At the time of the start of sales, the considered central processor could boast of a sufficiently high energy efficiency against the background of similar solutions of previous generations. It consumed 95 watts. And even now this meaning is still relevant. The i7-2600 also did well with thermal conditions. Its temperature, as a rule, was in the range from 40 to 55 degrees. In normal mode, it did not rise above 55 degrees even when working in combination with a conventional complete cooling system. The maximum allowable temperature for this processor is 72.6 degrees. That is, from the standpoint of temperature, the solution under consideration has a really significant margin of safety.

cache system. Random Access Memory Subsystem

The i7-2600 premium CPU boasted a well-organized and well-thought-out cache subsystem. Its characteristics indicated that the total size of the first level was 256 KB, which were divided into 4 segments of 64 KB each. Each of these parts could interact only with a certain physical block of program code processing. The second cache level was organized identically, but each of its parts had a size of 512 KB, and the total volume was 2 MB. The organization of memory at the 3rd level was much simpler. Its size was 8 MB, and they were common to all blocks. The RAM controller was part of the CPU die. It would be oriented to work in conjunction with DDR3, and this chip could address 32 GB as much as possible.

Integrated graphics card

A key architectural innovation of this generation of central processing units is that an integrated graphics accelerator was included in its semiconductor crystal. Its model is HD Graphics and it was developed by Intel. Its minimum clock frequency is limited to 350 MHz, and its highest value is 1100 MHz. The maximum number of monitors connected to it at the same time is 2. For solving the simplest tasks, this graphical solution is quite enough. But for the implementation of more serious applications, the presence of a discrete, more productive video card is required. And it is this arrangement that allows you to unleash the full potential of the solution in question.

Overclocking

The absence of the “K” index in the chip marking indicates that the frequency multiplier is locked in the i7-2600. Overclocking, as a result, can only be done in this case by increasing the clock frequency. It is impossible to get a significant increase in performance due to such overclocking, but you can definitely get some 5-7 percent. But at the same time, special requirements are put forward for the motherboard (it must be based on the Z68 or Z77 system logic sets), the power supply (it must have increased power, which would provide a margin of safety for the system unit even after overclocking) and the CPU cooling system. The algorithm for increasing performance in this case is as follows:

    We go to BIOS.

    We reduce the frequencies of all components (RAM, for example) and leave only the frequency of the system bus unchanged.

    Then you need to increase the frequency of the system bus by 1 MHz.

    After each such manipulation, we save the changes, reboot the computing system and check it for stress resistance.

    When the PC stops working stably, we return to the previous values, and this is the limit of overclocking the PC in this case.

Synthetic tests

In synthetic test packages, the Intel Core i7-2600 shows excellent results. In the PCMark 05 package, this chip scores 11,899 points. Only the older model of this family with an index of 2700 and a test result of 12,297 points is ahead of it. All other chips of the previous or the same generation lose to him. For comparison: i5-2500K in this case gives out 11,649, i7-980 - 11,095 and Phenom 1100T - 10,551 points. The difference with later flagship chips will be 5% for the 3rd generation, 10% for the 4th and 5th generations, and 15-20% for the most recent representatives of this architecture of the 6th and 7th generations. A similar alignment of forces is in the CrystalMark test package. Its current version is 0.9. The hero of this review in this case is gaining 72,378 points. At the same time, the older model i7 - 2700K produces 74,132. The junior i5-2500K chip - 70,963, i7-980 - 61,986, and Phenom 1100T - 52,057. Synthetic tests are, of course, good. But the real speed of a computer system can only be estimated in game tests, and this is what the next section will discuss.

Testing in gaming applications

In all gaming applications without exception, the i7-2600 processor produces excellent results. For example, in Tom Clancy's, the hero of this review article produces an FPS of 120. The flagship model i7-2700K boasts a similar FPS in this gaming application. The i5-2500K has a slightly lower value in this game - 117. But full-fledged 6-core chips give out: i7-980 - 129 FPS and Phenom 1100T - 144 FPS. There is a quite logical explanation for such results: this software is able to use more than 4 computing modules for processing program code.

Completely different results in Far Cry version 2. The hero of this article and the flagship of this generation of CPUs are capable of averaging 146 FPS. This value is slightly lower for the i5-2500K - 144. But 6-core CPUs in this case give not so good results. i7-980 - 140, and Phenom 1100T - 95 in general. In this case, the software is already "sharpened" for 4 physical cores, and the better their architecture, the higher the FPS value. Again, the values ​​given earlier are valid for the 1280x1024 mode. If you increase the resolution to 1920x1080, then the indicated values ​​​​are reduced by 20% on average. But at the same time, the gameplay will still be very, very comfortable. In any modern gaming application, the hero of this article produces a comfortable number of frames per second, and his performance margin is still enough for quite a long time. But this is nothing special for the reason that it has excellent technical specifications and is practically in no way inferior to modern flagships.

The cost of a semiconductor solution today

A very, very expensive chip for its time was the i7-2600. The price for it on the official website of the manufacturer was set at around $ 266. But such a cost of this product was relevant for 2012 or 2013. Now this CPU in particular, as well as the platform as a whole, are outdated both morally and physically. Stocks of it sold out a long time ago. Therefore, you can purchase this modification of the semiconductor only in a used condition. The i7-2600 is priced at 13,000-15,000 rubles on various trading floors on the Global Web. The price may be lower, but this is most likely an exception to the rule, or the processor is damaged after overclocking and does not function quite stably.