[Gilrond]

http://arstechnica.c...tion-core-cpus/

Note that Iris 5200 integrated graphics chip is not available in each model:



This sounds unfortunate, since I planned to get a better integrated chip while choosing my own motherboard... Should I wait until their next release, or this strange trend will continue?

[Guy N'wah]

Give them a few months. Iris and Iris Pro are coming in CPU packages meant for tablets and notebooks first (note the BGA package). They will be available in a wider selection as more models are announced.

2.5 times faster than the HD 4000, which is Intel's claim, is still pathetic compared to the numbers a dedicated GPU can crunch. The markets for the integrated GPUs remain the ones that cannot take a dedicated GPU (tablets, notebooks, all-in-ones) or are sold to customers who do not need one (corporate IT, bottom-of-the-barrel retail like Wal-Mart).

[Gilrond]

Sure, but it can make many middle tier games playable on those chips, where using high end dedicated video card would be an overkill. I'd prefer a scenario of using an integrated chip when possible, and using the high end GPU for games like The Witcher 2 and etc. Running the high end GPU when not necessary means wasting energy and killing its fan for nothing.

Old integrated Intel chips were pathetic, but these latest ones are getting way better.

[Guy N'wah]

Gilrond said:

Sure, but it can make many middle tier games playable on those chips, where using high end dedicated video card would be an overkill. I'd prefer a scenario of using an integrated chip when possible, and using the high end GPU for games like The Witcher 2 and etc. /> Running the high end GPU when not necessary means wasting energy and killing its fan for nothing.

Old integrated Intel chips were pathetic, but these latest ones are getting way better. ›››

Intel's differentiating the PC market, whether you or I like it or not. They are tracking some of their models to "PC client" devices like tablets, and others to "server/workstation" devices. Initially, only "PC client" devices are getting the Iris-equipped CPUs. The reason is that these are the ones that will benefit the most from better integrated graphics, putting them into the low range of workstation performance and winning a lot of desktop competitions.

In competition for motherboards with a PCI-e slot, as much as Intel has improved, they have not caught up to AMD and are not even keeping pace with nVidia. And the power situation doesn't make a strong case for the integrated GPU, because idle and 2-D power on the big dedicated GPUs is also very low. 2-D mode power on a GTX 680 is only about 18 watts, idle power is only 15, and AMD 78xx/79xx cards can power off completely.

[Gilrond]

That's interesting, but physical factors like dust accumulating in the fan are also somewhat important. I hoped there is a way to avoid using the dedicated GPU in order not to waste the fan, which is the most vulnerable part there. Even in 2D mode it's still affected, while in the integrated chip there is one central CPU fan which works in either case.

[Black Leopard]

Don't worry about your video card fan as its speed will be automatically controlled depending on core & ambient temp unless you change that by defining a manual speed profile.
Integrated chips are only good for small mobile devices.

[Gilrond]

Black Leopard said:

Integrated chips are only good for small mobile devices.

I'm not convinced about it. Especially since they continue improving performance. I think ideally you could use both in various scenarios. Nvidia already does that in laptops, where they switch between the Intel and Nvidia chips using Optimus.

[Guy N'wah]

Cleaning GPU fans is more work than cleaning CPU fans, but not that difficult. Worst case, you need to pull the cooler, and the hard part of that is finding a supplier for the thermal pads that fit between the memory chips and the cooler body. I have a dusty environment, and I've had to pull and clean several GPU coolers over the years.

Intel's CPU division may be Hubris Central, but they're smart enough to have quit pretending they're in competition with discrete GPU makers. They're after AMD's APU product line. Getting Iris or Iris Pro on Core i3-level chips would erase AMD's advantage.

[Geralt The Riv]

I just got my haswell rig going an hour ago...... 4670k i5 runs butter smooth....gonna do a few benchmarks then hit the hay....

[Gilrond]

-- double --

[Gilrond]

Geralt The Riv: Lucky you

Guy N'wah: That's what I'd prefer to avoid (GPU fan removing). It's a major hassle. Hopefully it can be cleanable without removing in normal cases.

[Guy N'wah]

Gilrond said:

Geralt The Riv: Lucky you />

Guy N'wah: That's what I'd prefer to avoid (GPU fan removing). It's a major hassle. Hopefully it can be cleanable without removing in normal cases. ›››

Removing the fan is just for really recalcitrant cases. Cases where you have dust impacted inside the vanes of an enclosed cooler, and there is no way to remove the cover except by removing the entire cooler.

[Agbeth]

After reading reviews about i7 4770k it looks like the only main improvement is power efficiency and upgrading from i7 3770k is not worth the money. At least thats what benchmarks show.

[Geralt The Riv]

yeah these chips are more about efficiency than anything. I went from a sandy2500k so it is a nice step up for me either way. i will say I am now able to hit 144fps on witcher 2 (no uber obviously) and the game just looks cleaner
(if you get what i am saying) that said i had y 2500k oc to 4.5ghz on air....not sure what I will try with this chip...

[Guy N'wah]

Agbeth said:

After reading reviews about i7 4770k it looks like the only main improvement is power efficiency and upgrading from i7 3770k is not worth the money. At least thats what benchmarks show. ›››

Yeah, it's pretty much for new builds: requires a new motherboard and, in many cases, a new power supply.

[Geralt The Riv]

Best part is i got it at a steal becuase microcenter messed up on there ad price.....I paid 349.99 plus tax for i5 4670k and an gigabyte z87x-ud4h board......should have been 389.99 ....gotta love internet misprints.....the store manager was trying to get me to pay the 389.99 I was like look man....I hoped in my car and drove here(45 min drive) to get this package deal you advertised....not my fault it is wrong on your site.( I showed him and the salesman who was great about it) on my phone and he finally gave in. You could tell he wasn't happy.....lol

Then again like told him and the sales guy told him I have spent close to 5 grand in 3 years there. I know that isnt a lot compared to say a company but personal money that's a substantial amount. I tipped the sale guy 10.00 bucks for pushing his boss!!!

[.Volsung.]

None of my business but that's a lot of money spent in computer parts in 3 years

Guy: a new power supply? Because it has special power requirements or because it has special connectors? Or is it that low voltage mode you were talking about a while ago?

[Gilrond]

Probably because of the low voltage modes.

[Guy N'wah]

Gilrond said:

Probably because of the low voltage modes. ›››

Yes, it's the low-power mode. ATX12V requires a minimum load of 0.5A on the 12V2 (CPU) rail. Haswell designs will draw just 0.05A in the CPU's low-power states. This will throw some power supplies out of regulation, causing instability or shutdowns.

PSU manufacturers are busy making their PSU designs Haswell-compliant.

Another "LOOK OUT!" concerns the C1 stepping of the Lynx Point chipset (B85 through Z87), used on all LGA 1150 motherboards. These ALL have a bug that causes the system to forget the attached USB 3.0 devices when coming out of sleep.

If you have USB 3.0 devices, wait for motherboards with the C2 stepping chipset.

[Geralt The Riv]

.Volsung. said:

None of my business but that's a lot of money spent in computer parts in 3 years />/>

Guy: a new power supply? Because it has special power requirements or because it has special connectors? Or is it that low voltage mode you were talking about a while ago? ›››

That is including building a rig for my lil bro.......besides it adds up quick.......I was figure on my own roughly $ 2800.00