Intel Core i7 860 processor: specifications and reviews

At the time of the start of sales, the corporation "Kor i7 860" in 2009 was a revolutionary development, which allowed to solve any level of complexity tasks. At the moment, the situation with the capabilities of this chip has not undergone significant changes, and even now, seven years after the start of sales, it still remains relevant.

The only thing that the owners of this semiconductor crystal need is to replace the regular cooling system and overclock this processor. This will allow him to easily catch up with the performance level of modern PCs based on similar solutions of Intel Corporation.

For whom is this development?

Undoubtedly, Intel i7 860 is one of the most productive processor solutions for its platform. Its parameters at the moment remain relevant and without any problems let you run any software. Again, some of the most demanding and freshest three-dimensional toys in the normal mode on it can function on not the maximum parameters. To solve this problem, you need to replace the cooler with a liquid cooling system and overclock the chip to 3.6-4 GHz. Therefore, it can be noted that this CPU was positioned by the manufacturer as an ideal solution for those who do not like to watch system software requirements for PC hardware resources.

What do we get when buying?

The configuration of this CPU is typical, it includes the following:

• The processor itself.
• Standard cooling system with the same (ie standard) thermal paste.
• Warranty card.
• Quick start guide.
• Brand sticker for the front panel of the PC system unit.

Socket for this CPU

Like any other processor solution in 2009, Cor i7 860 was installed in the advanced socket at the time - 1156. Of course, there was a productive version - a 1366 processor socket. But personal computers based on it cost much more. Therefore, to get a good level of PC performance and spend a relatively small amount on its purchase could only be with a socket 1156.

By what standards is a silicon crystal made?

The technological process, according to which the "Kor i7 860" was manufactured, corresponded to 45 nm. In 2009, it was the advanced technology for creating silicon crystals. Now the modern chips of the last generation are already manufactured according to the standards of the 14-nm process technology. As a result, a much smaller single crystal of silicon is required for their production. This also significantly improves the energy efficiency of the semiconductor solution.

Cache and its number

Typical by today's standards is equipped with a three-level cache "Kor i7 860". Its characteristics are practically the same as today's flagship CPUs. The first level is divided into 4 parts, each of which is assigned to a strictly defined computing module. The latter, in turn, is divided into 2 parts. One of them was intended for storing instructions (its size was 32 KB), and the second one was for data (it is also equal to 32 KB). As a result, we get (32 x 4) + (32 x 4) = 256 KB - the total size of the first level cache in this chip.

The second level was also divided into 4 parts, assigned to a certain computational module, but it was no longer divided into parts for data and for instructions. Each of its components was 256 KB, and the total size was 1 MB. The third level of the cache was shared. Its size is 8 MB. The main cache chip is that it is a very fast memory that is integrated in the CPU and operates at its frequency. This allows us to obtain a significant increase in productivity.

RAM

The memory controller was integrated into the Intel Core i7 860. Specifications Pointed out that he supported a two-channel mode of operation. That is, if instead of 2 GB in one slot to install on the motherboard immediately 2 modules RAM 1 GB, you can get a significant increase. But the memory controller integrated into the CPU made it possible to obtain not only a higher level of performance (previously the motherboard used the north bridge, the access to which reduced the overall performance of the computer system), but also simplified the motherboard manufacture by integrating the north bridge of the chipset into CPU. Now, it's no surprise to anyone, and all the chips, regardless of their positioning, are made that way.

The maximum permissible temperature of a semiconductor crystal

Maximum temperature for Intel Core i7 860 Was equal to 72.9 degrees. In reality, with the normal functioning of the regular cooling system, its temperature ranged from 30 to 45 degrees. A small overclocking of the processor in combination with a standard air cooling system increased this range to 45-55 degrees. Well, if you use a specialized air or even a liquid cooling system for the chip, then there will definitely not be any problems with raising the temperature.

Like most CPUs, this semiconductor chip could boast an integrated locking system. The essence of it is that the BIOS sets the maximum permissible temperature from the point of view of the user. If during the operation this indicator reaches the previously specified value, the computer automatically turns off.

Operating frequencies of the chip

In the regular mode, the Core i7 860 processor operated at 2.8 GHz. This is with the active use of all four computational modules and a simple or medium-level task. In this case, the clock multiplier of the CPU was 21, and the clock speed of the system bus was 133 MHz.

Exactly the same frequency and characteristics for the processor when one of the compute modules is disabled. But when deactivating just two cores, it could immediately go up to 3.3 GHz (the system bus frequency is similar, but the multiplier in this case is 25). Even more was the load with one active computational module: 3.45GHz (the frequency of the system bus does not change, but the CPU multiplier increases to 26).

Architectural nuances

Like most high-performance chips, the Core i7 860 boasts the availability of four high-performance computing cores at a physical level. But it also has a proprietary technology from Intel - Hyper Trading. It allows you to obtain 8 computational flows from the 4 physical computing cores at the program level at the program level. This allows you to significantly improve system performance in multi-threaded applications.

If necessary (for example, when the semiconductor crystal overheats), this technology can be turned off in the BIOS.

Forced increase in performance

The Core i7 860 boasted a good overclocking potential. But in order to increase the overall performance of the computer system, it is necessary that it have an improved power supply and motherboard. The power of the first should be at a level of 800 or more watts. But the motherboard is mandatory to provide the flexibility to change the parameters of the PC. The algorithm for increasing the clock frequency is as follows:

• We reduce the values of all multipliers in the system, except for processor (RAM, for example).
• Increase the voltage on the CPU.
• Increase the frequency of the system bus.
• If necessary (if the system ceases to work stably) we disable the Turbobust technology (it allows to automatically increase the frequency) and Hyper Trading (leaving only 4 physical computing modules in operation).

As practice shows, even on a regular cooling system, you can get 4 GHz (CPU 20 multiplier and 200 MHz system bus frequency or CPU clock multiplier 21 and frequency is 190 MHz). The frequency of the semiconductor crystal is 72 degrees. To reduce the temperature of the CPU, it is recommended to use a specialized cooling system. Can be both air (with improved heat dissipation) and liquid.

Price

The processor i7 860 at the start of sales was estimated at 284 dollars. A more modest version of Intel Cor i5 750 cost $ 196, and a more advanced CPU with an index of 870 was sold for $ 562. On the one hand, $ 284 is quite a solid amount for a PC of this level, but this computer system was bought not for one year.

What the owners say about the chip

In addition to a fairly high price, there are no more drawbacks with the Intel Core i7 860. But after all, a good CPU, which undoubtedly is a given semiconductor solution, can not be bought for a penny. But the pros of his, as noted in the reviews, much more:

• A promising processor architecture, which even now continues to be relevant.
• Large 3-level cache size.
• High overclocking potential.
• Excellent energy efficiency.
• Flexible regulation of the clock frequency depending on the degree of complexity of the problem being solved.
• Automatic disconnection of the unused computing module and an increase in the frequency of the remaining CPU cores.

Results

"Cor i7 860" in 2009 was one of the best chips. He successfully combined both optimal performance and relatively low cost. A superfluous confirmation of this is that its technical parameters are even now actual, and most of the existing software on it will start without any problems, including the most demanding modern toys (albeit not at the maximum settings).