Skylake is a processor from Intel. Description, characteristics, types and reviews

In August 2015, the sixth generation of Intel's computer chips, Skylake, was introduced. The processor, belonging to this generation, received a significantly redesigned architecture that allowed to increase the performance by 10-15% in comparison with the previous generation CPU, code-named Haswell. It is about their technical parameters, capabilities and types that will be further discussed.

Prehistory of appearance

Currently, every 2 years, Intel updates the processor connectors. So, in 2013, the LGA1150 was released together with the Haswell CPU. This is the 4th generation CPU based on the Core architecture. Then, a year later, Haswell's chips were replaced by Broadwell. This is the 5th generation of the Core CPU. Their key difference is the updated technological process, which is 14 nm. But the processor part has not changed. Then in place of the 4-th and 5-th families of chips based on Intel's Core architecture in 2015 came the 6th, which was code-named Skylake. The processor of any model of this generation is produced by a similar technological process - 14 nm (like Broadwell or the 5th generation of the Core architecture). But at the same time, the architecture of the computational part was reworked, and this allowed us to obtain a certain speed increase of 10-15%. Also, the power subsystem of the semiconductor crystal was recycled. Now the CPU voltage regulators are placed on the motherboard. Such an engineering approach allowed to preserve the power subsystem practically unchanged, but at the same time it improved the overclocking potential of the CPU.

Socket and sets of system logic

It is the socket LGA1151 designed to install any desktop chip family Skylake. The new generation processor in this case is intended for installation in a new connector and is incompatible with the previous generation CPU. Also, to support a new generation of CPUs, a new generation of system logic chipsets was released. The most modest among them from the position of a functional set is the H110, users note. But at the same time the cost of it is appropriate. It is perfect for budget, entry-level systems. The most functional and most expensive in this case is a set of logic - it's Z170. Its key difference from all other chipsets is the possibility of overclocking the CPU with an unlocked multiplier (it is precisely for setting such CPUs it is oriented), an integrated graphics accelerator and even RAM. This is an excellent solution for creating the most productive PCs. The remaining variants of H170, B170, Q150 and Q170 are intermediate between the two previously mentioned sets of system logic, and their main purpose is to assemble a PC of an average price level and exactly the same speed.

Technical features

As noted earlier, the core of the Skylake processor was significantly redesigned, and due to this, an additional performance gain was obtained. But most of it has not undergone significant changes. This is the first level of the cache. Its total volume for one block is 64kb, which are divided into 2 parts of 32k for data and instructions. The second level no longer has this division, and its volume is 256 kb. The third level of the cache is common to all CPU computational resources, and its volume depends on the specific model: from 2 MB for Celeron processors and up to 8 MB for i7. The process technology, as was noted earlier, in comparison with its predecessors did not change - 14 nm. The North Bridge of the chipset, as in previous generations of processors, is part of its semiconductor chip. That is, the CPU, in addition to the computing part and graphics accelerator, also includes a PCI-Express controller and a dual-channel memory controller. The latter can work already with DDR4.

Entry-level solutions

Processors Intel Skylake initial level - a chip model series Celeron and Pentium. Physically and programmatically on these semiconductor crystals there are only 2 computational modules and the same number of processing flows. The most affordable cost is the first of them, but at the same time their performance is much lower. A higher level of performance of the Pentium chips is provided by increased clock speeds and increased cache of the 3 level. Also in the latter case, a more efficient graphics subsystem HD Graphics with index 530 is used, while Celeron is equipped with only a solution with the designation 510. An exception in this respect is the Pentium G4400 with a shortened version of the built-in video card 510. Apart from this, the Celeron G3900T A thermal package of only 35W and a reduced clock speed of 2.6GHz. In other respects, the more detailed specifications of the Celeron and Pentium 6 processors are given in the table.

Medium segment

In the middle segment, this generation of CPUs is represented by processors of the Core i3 line. In total, 6 chips belong to this niche at the moment. All of them include 2 physical computational units and 4 program streams. That is, in these processors there is support for proprietary technology from Intel, which calls HyperTrading.

It is this feature that allows you to double the number of information processing flows at the program level. But the TurboBoost technology is not supported in this case, and the frequency of the processor is fixed. Two representatives of this family with the indices 6100T and 6300T have reduced clock frequencies and a reduced heat package of 35W. These are energy-efficient solutions aimed at creating compact computer systems. One chip labeled 6098P is equipped with a less efficient graphics system HD Graphics with an index of 510. All processors series 60XX and 61XX have 3 MB cache in the 3rd level, and the 63ХХ series has 4 MB. The integrated video accelerator in all other cases has an index of 530. More detailed characteristics of all i3 processors of the sixth generation are indicated in the table below in the text.

The most productive quad-core solutions

The most massive semiconductor solution in this case is the Intel Core i5 processor. Skylake-architecture in this case is represented immediately by 9 models of chips. All of them have 4 computational cores. Two models with indexes 6685R and 6585R have an improved graphics subsystem of HD Graphics model 580, one, 6402P, less productive - 510. Three chips 6400T, 6500T and 6600T are energy efficient solutions with reduced frequencies and reduced thermal package. The other 6400, 6500 and 6600 processors are standard representatives of this line of devices. More detailed technical specifications of the CPU i5 of this generation are given in the table.

Eight-point chips with maximum speed

Any Intel Core Skylake processor, referring to the i7 line, has a full set of various technologies (HyperTrading and TurboBoost). It can process data in 8 streams and dynamically change its frequency.

In terms of performance, these processors lose only the most expensive solutions for computer enthusiasts who have unlocked the frequency multiplier, and due to this, you can get a significant increase in performance. At the moment, the composition of this line includes only 3 chips, and their specifications are shown in the table below. One of the models has an index of 6700T, and it is an energy-efficient CPU for assembling high-performance compact systems. The second one is 6785R. It is equipped with an improved model of a graphics accelerator with an index of 580. And the last, 6700, is a typical flagship with a blocked multiplier and maximum speed (excluding chips for enthusiasts).

Products for computer enthusiasts

As in previous generations of Core processors, only 2 chip models have an unlocked multiplier. The first of them is 6600K. This is a typical quad-core processor i5. Skylake-architecture has excellent overclocking potential. If there is a high-quality cooling system, its frequency can be increased without special problems from 3.9 GHz to 4.6-4.7 GHz simply by raising the multiplier. If you also change the voltage on the semiconductor chip of the processor, you can get even 5.0 - 5.1 GHz.

The second representative of this family is 6700K, which already belongs to the i7 line. He has parameters identical to all the other chips in this model line. The key difference noted by specialists is the unlocked multiplier. But the frequencies that can be obtained during overclocking are similar to 6600K. Their technical specifications are shown in Table 5.

Reviews. Results

Users argue that a worthy continuation of previous generations of chips is the Skylake CPU. The processor of this family, in their opinion, has improved both from the position of speed and from the standpoint of energy efficiency.

The life cycle of this platform is only just beginning, and on the assurances of Intel it will be still relevant for the next 3 years. So it's time to buy a new high-performance and energy-efficient personal computer.