Intel Core i5-6400 Processor: Overview, Specifications and Feedback

An excellent semiconductor basis for assembling a mid-level PC, which can solve any task not only now, but also in the next 2-3 years is the Intel Core i5-6400 processor. This CPU was introduced last year and still continues to be relevant and provides a very high level of performance. Its possibilities will be further examined in detail in the framework of this survey material.

Niche of this silicon product

Intel's processor products have a hard division into market segments. Entry-level products include Celeron chips and higher-end Pentium products. The latter have higher clock speeds and an increased cache size of the 3rd level. The middle segment of the market is assigned to solutions based on i3. All these CPUs have exactly the same as the entry level solutions, only 2 compute modules. But in this case there is support for technology HyperTrading, which allows you to get twice as many software flows of information processing. For example, the Intel i3 4170 processor , like any other representative of this family, can process the program code in 4 threads at once. The premium segment in this case is occupied by i5 solutions with 4 cores / 6 threads and i7 already with 4 cores and 8 threads. It is to the last group that the hero of this review belongs. These products provide an unprecedented level of performance and allow you to solve any task not only now, but in the next 2-3 years, for sure.

Different delivery options. Their strengths and purpose

There are two options for bundling this microprocessor product. One of them is an Intel Core i5-6400 OEM processor . Such a complete set is minimal and is aimed at large assemblers of personal computers. It includes:

• The processor itself.

• A proprietary ticket with a guarantee and a multilingual guide to the use of this microprocessor product.

• Sticker for the system unit with the name of the family of processors.

About the protective box, proprietary cooling system and thermal paste in this case, there can be no question. These components will have to be purchased by the new owner of this CPU. In this performance, this chip provides the greatest interest for computer enthusiasts who plan to overclock their PC. Such a package will allow to purchase an improved cooling system and achieve due to this stable operation of the system unit after overclocking. The second variant of bundling this product is called in the price list as follows: "Intel Core i5-6400 BOX processor". In addition to everything previously mentioned, it also includes a protective box for transporting the processor, a regular cooling system and, of course, a thermal paste.

Processor connector. Its current relevance

This processor is oriented to the installation in the socket LGA1151. This computing platform was developed specifically for the 6th generation CPU Core architecture and is presented with its first representatives in 2016. At the moment it is up-to-date and allows you to collect the most productive personal computers. Also, this processor socket allows you to install and more recent chips of the 7th generation. According to Intel's plans, it will be possible to install chips that have not yet been released since the 8th generation. So this computing platform will be relevant for at least 2 more years.

Technological aspects

The hero of this review is made according to the most advanced technological process, the tolerance level of which corresponds to 14 nm. It is due to this that the products of this family can boast of very small dimensions and flawless energy efficiency for today. In terms of the layout of semiconductor elements on the substrate, this technology is no different from the tolerance level of 22 nm. As before, the transistors in this case are produced using the same technology of the three-dimensional layout of TriGate. Therefore, there are no cardinal differences from previous generations, and the previous-generation Intel i3-4170 processor, for example, has a similar three-dimensional arrangement of its semiconductor elements.

Cache memory organization

Like all Intel's most productive semiconductor products, the hero of this review material boasts a three-level cache of impressive size. The total size of its first level is 128 KB, which are divided physically into 4 equal parts of 32 KB. Each of these parts is aimed at interacting with a strictly defined computing core. It should also be noted that these 32 KB, in turn, are divided into 2 parts of 16 KB. One of them can store only the instructions of the processor core, and the second - the data. The total size of the second level is 1 MB. Like the first level of fast energy memory, the second level is also divided into 4 parts of 256 KB, assigned to a certain computing resource. There is no strict separation for data storage or instructions in this case. The third level is common for all components of the CPU - its size is 6 MB.

RAM and its controller

The Intel Core i5-6400 processor is equipped with an integrated memory controller (that is, this component of the computing system is on a silicon chip of the CPU). It can function in dual-channel mode and can address up to 64 GB of RAM. Also in the technical specifications there is support for two main types of RAM - DDR3 & DDR4. But the most safe to use in conjunction with this chip is the last type of RAM. If you use DDR3 as part of such a PC, the RAM controller may be damaged. Further use of such a PC will be impossible.

Thermal mode of this product

The claimed thermal package for this chip is 65 W. This is a typical value for the whole family of i5 processors of this generation, and it can not boast of something unusual in this respect. The maximum permissible temperature for this solution is 71 ⁰ C. In normal mode and using a regular cooling system, the temperature of this semiconductor solution does not exceed 55 ^° C. Well, if this CPU is still dispersed, then it is best to refuse using the regular cooling system and use More advanced modification of it from a third-party manufacturer.

Product frequency parameters

This semiconductor product uses frequency control technology, depending on the degree of heating of the semiconductor solution and the level of complexity of the executable code, called TurboBust. The minimum frequency value in this case is 2.7 GHz, and the maximum value is 3.3 GHz. Updating the processor architecture also allowed to increase the speed of the computer system by increasing the frequency of the clock generator. The question of how to overclock the processor Intel Core i3 or even i5 with a blocked multiplier (that is, in the designation of such processor products, there is no "K" at the end) will be discussed in detail later.

Architecture

The code name for the architecture, according to which the Intel Core i5-6400 processor is designed, is Skylake. This is the 6th generation of the Kor chips. At the software level, there is no significant difference between the CPUs i3 and i5. These CPUs look like four-block computing solutions. But at the hardware level they are significantly different. Only 2 physical cores have any Intel Core i3 processor. The CPUs of this family support HT technology, and it is its support that allows you to convert two cores into 4 logical streams at the software level.

But the chips i5 (including 6400) are full-fledged 4-core solutions. And both at the program and at the logical level. This is what provides a higher level of performance in the latter case. Also i5 has higher frequencies, increased cache level and there is support for TurboBust technology. All this in the majority of existing software allows even to compete on an equal footing in terms of performance with more expensive products of the i7 family.

The built-in graphics subsystem of the product

As expected, the Intel Core i5-6400 processor is equipped with a built-in video card. It is located on the same semiconductor chip together with the computational part. This HD Graphics from the "Intel" model 530. Immediately it is necessary to say that its computing power is certainly not enough to fully reveal the potential of this CPU. For these purposes, the PC must necessarily be equipped with a discrete video card. But for the organization of an entry-level server based on this chip, its availability is more than enough. Its frequency range is limited to 350 MHz - 950 MHz, and the maximum number of connected output screens is 3.

Overclocking and percentage increase in performance

Now we'll figure out how to overclock the Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 processor of the last two generations (i.e., 6th and 7th) with the blocked multiplier (there is no letter "K" in their labeling). To do this, you must properly complete the PC:

• For the motherboard there must be a special version of "BIOS", in which it is possible to increase the frequency of the clock generator.

• The power supply in this case should have increased power.

• Also, RAM must operate at a frequency of 3200 MHz.

• Both the system unit and the processor in this case are equipped with an improved, advanced cooling system.

The algorithm for overclocking in this situation is the following:

• Download the alternative firmware on the thematic forum and install it in "BIOS".

• We reduce the frequencies of all components of the PC, and the frequency of the clock generator is gradually increased. After each such increase, we check the stability of the computer.

• When a simple increase in the frequency is not enough for the stable operation of the computer system, we start gradually increasing the voltage on the CPU together with the frequency. The maximum permissible values for voltage and frequency are 1.4-1.425 V and 4.5-4.7 GHz (40-45% in relation to the initial frequency).

The price of a semiconductor solution

An affordable Intel Core i5-6400 processor can not be used. The price at it really high - 13 000-15 000 rubles. For the same money, you can buy the flagship processor solution from AMD - FX-9370. Only here the performance difference will be significant, and the second CPU in most modern games will not provide the proper level of performance. Therefore, more reasonable in this situation is the purchase of the average from Intel, than the flagship of AMD. Moreover, most of the modern software is optimized for the CPU from Intel. They now, in essence, have no equal.

Reviews

Like the hero of this review, the Intel Core i3-4170 processor has 4 logical streams of code processing. But, unlike it, in the case of i5-6400 on the physical level there are 4 real modules. Also, it has an increased cache, there is support for TurboBust technology. This allows you to eventually get a higher performance in a PC based on such a processor, and this is exactly what the owners of such system blocks indicate. The performance level in this case is redundant and will later allow even to run those toys that have not yet come out (but at the same time a discrete and very productive graphics card should be installed in the computer).

Also this chip boasts a high degree of energy efficiency. But he has one shortcoming: high cost. But AMD is more to blame than "Intel", which can not offer a worthy alternative in the mid-level CPU segment.

Results

The perfect combination of performance, energy efficiency and affordable price on the background of other i5 chips makes the Intel Core i5-6400 processor one of the best offers in this segment of the market. If you need a productive CPU that will last more than one year and allow you to solve the most difficult tasks for a long time, then the alternative i5-6400, in fact, at the current time does not exist.