Wednesday, September 2nd 2015
Intel Expands its 6th Gen. Core Processor Lineup
Intel expanded its 6th generation Core "Skylake" processor lineup for the desktop, with seven new models. Built in the LGA1151 package, these chips work on motherboards running the company's 100-series chipset. Besides the overclocker-friendly Core i7-6700K and the i5-6600K already launched, the lineup now includes the i7-6700, i5-6600, i5-6500, i5-6400, i3-6320, i3-6300, and the i3-6100. Of these, the Core i7 and Core i5 models are quad-core, while the Core i3 ones are dual-core.
The Core i7-6700 and i5-6600 are not just different from the i7-6700K and i5-6600K in that they lack unlocked BClk multipliers, they also come with lower clock speeds out of the box. The i7-6700 is clocked at 3.40 GHz with 4.00 GHz max Turbo Boost (i7-6700K offers 4.00 GHz with 4.20 GHz Turbo), while the i5-6600 is clocked at 3.30 GHz, with 3.90 GHz Turbo Boost (i5-6600K offers 3.50 GHz with 3.90 GHz Turbo). The i7-6700 is priced at US $312, while the i5-6600 goes for $213 (single-unit box price).The rest of the quad-core desktop "Skylake" lineup includes the Core i5-6500, which is clocked at 3.20 GHz, with 3.60 GHz Turbo Boost, priced at $202; and the Core i5-6400, offering 2.70 GHz with 3.30 GHz Turbo Boost, priced at $187.
The dual-core lineup is led by the Core i3-6320, with 3.90 GHz clock speeds (no Turbo Boost on Core i3 series), priced at $157; followed by the i3-6300, clocked at 3.80 GHz, and priced at $147, and the i3-6100, clocked at 3.70 GHz, and priced at $117. The i3-6320 and i3-6300 offer 4 MB L3 cache, while the i3-6100 offers 3 MB. All three offer HyperThreading, giving the OS four logical CPUs to deal with.
The most interesting aspect of today's launch is the TDP rating. It appears as if Intel's 14 nm switch is finally paying dividends. All quad-core parts launched today have TDP rated at 65W, and dual-core parts have TDP rated at 47W.
The Core i7-6700 and i5-6600 are not just different from the i7-6700K and i5-6600K in that they lack unlocked BClk multipliers, they also come with lower clock speeds out of the box. The i7-6700 is clocked at 3.40 GHz with 4.00 GHz max Turbo Boost (i7-6700K offers 4.00 GHz with 4.20 GHz Turbo), while the i5-6600 is clocked at 3.30 GHz, with 3.90 GHz Turbo Boost (i5-6600K offers 3.50 GHz with 3.90 GHz Turbo). The i7-6700 is priced at US $312, while the i5-6600 goes for $213 (single-unit box price).The rest of the quad-core desktop "Skylake" lineup includes the Core i5-6500, which is clocked at 3.20 GHz, with 3.60 GHz Turbo Boost, priced at $202; and the Core i5-6400, offering 2.70 GHz with 3.30 GHz Turbo Boost, priced at $187.
The dual-core lineup is led by the Core i3-6320, with 3.90 GHz clock speeds (no Turbo Boost on Core i3 series), priced at $157; followed by the i3-6300, clocked at 3.80 GHz, and priced at $147, and the i3-6100, clocked at 3.70 GHz, and priced at $117. The i3-6320 and i3-6300 offer 4 MB L3 cache, while the i3-6100 offers 3 MB. All three offer HyperThreading, giving the OS four logical CPUs to deal with.
The most interesting aspect of today's launch is the TDP rating. It appears as if Intel's 14 nm switch is finally paying dividends. All quad-core parts launched today have TDP rated at 65W, and dual-core parts have TDP rated at 47W.