Intel Core i5-650 Processor Overview: Features, Features and Feedback

An excellent processor for building a mid-level system unit in 2010 was the Intel Core i5-650. The characteristics of this chip now, of course, are not impressive, but at the time of its release, the computational capabilities of this product made it possible to solve almost any problem. Even now, though, he loses more fresh CPU of this manufacturer, but this difference is not so tangible.

Segment of the market for this processor solution

Intel's processor products to this day have all the same division into market segments, as in 2010. It has the following appearance:

• For office PCs, only the CPU of the Celeron line was designed. The most modest clock speeds, the minimum cache size and only 2 cores for performing computations are typical parameters of semiconductor products of this type. But at the same time, their cost is very modest, and in this part of the market of central processors, this feature is the first to come out.

• On a step above microprocessors Pentium have settled down. Cardinal differences from the semiconductor crystals Celeron they did not have. They had increased cache and frequencies. But the cost was higher. Therefore, such computing systems are most often used in the entry-level PC.

• The system blocks of the middle price range were based on chips i3 and i5. And in processors of the first generation on the basis of microarchitecture Core there was no clear distinction between them. Now the first family of CPUs includes 2 cores for code processing, but can work in 4 information processing streams, and the second one necessarily has 4 physical cores. It was to this segment of the market of microprocessor devices that the Intel Core i5-650 belonged. Its characteristics indicate the presence of two physical cores, which could process the program code when activating the technology of HT code already in 4 streams and in this respect it is closer to the i3 family. But here the availability of the technology of dynamic frequency increase and the increased cache with operating frequencies made this microprocessor closer to the i5 family.

• The most productive personal computers from this chip manufacturer were based on chips of the i7 family. They had 4 computational units, which with the help of the previously mentioned HT technology could already process the code in 8 streams. Plus, in this case, all possible technologies were supported, the cache and clock frequencies were increased. As a result, the level of performance of such PCs was the greatest possible within such a computing platform.

Possible options for configuring the CPU

Like most semiconductor products from Intel, the Intel Core i5 processor had two possible versions of the bundle . Clarkdale i5-650, the description of which on the official website of the manufacturer is once again confirms, was supplied in TRAY and BOX variants. The first of them was aimed at large assemblers of personal computers. In this case, the delivery list was very modest - a chip, a manual for operation, a warranty card and a sticker - a logo for the front panel of the PC case. The second variant of the configuration differed in that, in addition to all the previously listed, it included a cooler and a proprietary thermal paste. It was aimed at small collectors of medium-level personal computers.

Socket

This CPU was designed to be installed in the LGA1156 processor socket. In 2010, it was the advanced socket for microprocessors. Since then, the computing platform from Intel has been updated many times, and LGA1156 is now completely obsolete. Consider it as the basis for building a new PC, albeit initial or budget level, should be considered in the extreme case. There are LGA1150 and LGA1151, and it is on their basis and need to collect new computers. Well, products aimed at use in a PC based on LGA1156, can only be used in case of repair of the computer system on its basis.

Technological process

The processor Intel Core i5-650 is quite interesting from the standpoint of the technological process. The characteristics of this semiconductor product indicate that it consists of two silicon crystals. One of them is made according to the norms of 32 nm, and this is actually the processor part, and the second corresponds to 45 nm, and this is already an integrated graphics subsystem. In the future, the company "Intel" refused such an implementation. Now all the CPUs together with the graphics controllers are made on a single semiconductor chip.

Cache memory organization

The review of the processor Intel Core i5-650 indicates that it is equipped with a cache memory, which includes 3 levels. At the hardware level, it looks like this:

• The uppermost third level has a size of 4 MB. It is common for both computational units of this chip.

• The total size of the second level is 512 KB. Physically, it is divided into 2 parts, the volume of each of them is 256 kB. Each of these parts can directly exchange only with a specific computing unit.

• At the first level there is 128 KB of cache memory. They are also divided into 2 parts of 64 KB and can store information only one specific kernel. Each of these parts is divided into 2 parts of 32 KB. One of them can store only the instructions of the software, and the second - the data.

RAM and its microprocessor controller

An important innovation of this computing platform was that the memory controller along with the north bridge of the motherboard was transferred to a semiconductor chip of the CPU. This allowed to significantly increase the speed of Intel Core i5-650. The characteristics of this chip indicate that the best in conjunction with it will function modules of the DDR3 standard with frequencies of 1066 MHz and 1333 MHz. The maximum amount of addressable RAM in this case is 16 GB.

Operating frequency values

The minimum clock frequency for the Intel Core i5-650 is 3.2 GHz. Characteristics, as noted earlier, this CPU indicates the support for TurboBust technology. The essence of it is reduced to the fact that during the functioning of the processor device its frequency changes. This takes into account a number of factors:

• The degree of heating of the silicon crystal.

• Number of involved kernels in the processing of program code.

• Level of complexity of the task.

The maximum value of the frequency in this case can reach 3.47 GHz.

Integrated graphics card

A serious innovation of the first generation of chips based on the microprocessor architecture of Core was that the integrated graphics accelerator "migrated" from the motherboard into a single case with a CPU. In this model of the chip was used model HD Graphics from Intel. Its operating frequency was only 733 MHz. Also this graphic product had a minimum level of performance, which was just enough to solve office tasks. In all other cases, the computational system needed to be completed with a discrete graphics card.

Reviews of the owners of this semiconductor crystal. Its cost

Intermediate between the chips families i3 and i5 was Intel Core i5-650. Characteristics, price and a list of supported technologies are just confirm. On the one hand, there are only 2 modules for this code in the processor, but there is support for proprietary HT technology, which allows real 2 cores to be converted into 4 "virtual" ones at the software level. On the other hand, the larger cache size, the increased frequency formula and the support for TurboBust technology are obvious attributes of the i5 CPU. Specifically, these features of this semiconductor solution are indicated by reviews from the global web. The recommended cost of this microprocessor is 177 dollars. In reality, the owner of such a product could be for 240-250 dollars.

Results

A truly excellent mid-level processor in 2010 was the hero of this review. He provided a level of speed that allowed him to solve any problems for a long time. It is for this reason that the Intel Core i5-650 was a worthy foundation for both the graphics station and the gaming PC. The characteristics of this semiconductor solution continue to be still relevant for solving already modern problems. In this case, even the most demanding toys on it will be launched, but not at the maximum settings. The review of Intel Core i5-650 and Core i3 550 indicates that it is almost identical to the CPU at the level of specifications and hardware. The only difference is that in i5-650 supported the technology of dynamic frequency change, and this allowed to get a higher level of performance. At the same time, the recommended price for these chips was identical - $ 177.