THE OVERCLOCKER | PRESENTS
INTEL
10 Generation Core
THE OVERCLOCKER
PRESENTS
INTEL 10 TH GENERATION CORE
th
Several weeks ago, when the NDA on the 10th generation Core CPUs expired. I put out a video detailing some of my thoughts on the products, notably the range topping Core i9-10900K. At the time it was difficult to get a realistic telling of just how this CPU behaved. With a limited amount of time, not only was I learning about the platform but also finding consistent numbers that better represented the CPU rather than the specific motherboard.
M
otherboard behaviour and even performance changes with time. What one records as the reference or default performance of a CPU can change with a single BIOS update. Now, several weeks removed, the performance figures have settled without the wild variations I was getting. As always, this format has a fixed word count, and in that word count I must relate all the relevant information, but also the lived experience with the platform or CPU. This distinction between platform and CPU will be important, but not at this moment, not for this generation. What Intel has brought forth is more of the same, that is higher clock frequencies, and more tuning abilities. Yes, we have the flagship Core i910900K with an additional two cores, but the additional performance these two cores deliver is of little benefit to gaming. Since gaming is what Intel is targeting, this
additional performance comes via higher DRAM and CPU internal clock boosts. Pertaining to DRAM frequency, the increase to a 2933MT/s spec for the Core i9-10900K contributes to the performance advantage the CPU enjoys over its eight-core predecessor. One can’t help but wonder what the reason is behind this frequency when the IMCs show much more capacity. DDR4 3200 at the least would bring it up to parity with the competition’s offerings. Alas, there are possible technical reasons for this, but from the numbers, additional memory performance contributes to the advantage this CPU has in gaming. Since Intel is leveraging all it can until the next sizeable changes to the underlying microarchitecture, I would have thought this would be an avenue explored further. That said, we are here, and nothing prevents one from exploiting the better IMC and subsequent DRAM performance advancements.
I press this issue around DRAM because it is more important than it’s been with previous generations. For the Core i9-10900K, there just isn’t much headroom for clock frequency tuning. In my testing the comfortable limit, that is the limit for a system inside a case as opposed to a test-bench, was 5GHz. ‘Just’ 5GHz on all cores and only 100MHz higher than the default boost frequency on all motherboards. Anything higher than that, while stable on a test-bench, is not sustainable, considering I’m testing in the winter months. The summer temperatures, besides warmer case temperatures, would relegate that overclock to 5GHz, anyway. It’s considering this reality; the other tuning opportunities are more important than ever, which is mainly DRAM overclocking. With the 10th generation, Intel is promoting per core HT toggling along with VF curve tuning. These are novel ideas, and ones that I hope carry over
THE OVERCLOCKER PRESENTS
In my initial impressions video or part one of the review, I mentioned a per core control option available on the 10th Generation Core-X CPUs. The ability to turn off individual cores is an obvious omission given just how many tuning options
from those CPUs made it over to this socket. Setting per core ratios long with their matching voltages is another feature the V/F tuning represents, but to a lesser degree. If such controls are useful on for the X299 platform, they are even more relevant for this socket. Here’s hoping that the next generation of CPUs will add some of these finer options for even more unique and interesting CPU configurations. The particular Core i9-10900K tested had one especially poor core, which needed more voltage
to reach 5.1GHz than the others needed for 5.3GHz. The ability to turn off this offending core, set the individual turbo ratio, or set its unique voltage would allow the CPU to reach a higher overall frequency. These options are not too far-fetched either as the 10th Generation Core-X CPUs have this very ability. In contrast, this generation of CPUs and this is important for this platform, improves on DRAM frequency support and tuning. Motherboard manufacturers have some
INTEL 10 TH GENERATION CORE
into future generations. They have some genuine merit as we’ll only get more threaded applications onwards. Per core HT control relevance or opportunity for these CPUs (specifically for the Core i9-10900K) however has limits.
INTEL 10 TH GENERATION CORE PRESENTS THE OVERCLOCKER
recognition of this. Not since introducing DDR4 have we had such high DRAM frequency support on such a vast number of boards. Entry level offerings in the sub $200 price point offer DDR4 4266 capability, right up to DDR4 5000 on select SKUs. Such high-speed memory support isn’t new, it’s just always been the exclusive domain of two DIMM motherboards. Now, for the first time, a regular four DIMM board can reach higher performance than previously possible. Increased memory sub-system performance isn’t exclusive to Intel CPUs as this boost in memory bandwidth benefits the competition’s CPUs accordingly. Those gains, however, stop at DDR4 3800. For the Core i9-10900K and the other K SKU CPUs, performance increases for a fair while longer. Depending on the memory timings, one may record
gains well beyond DDR4 4000. So, what does all the above mean for performance and even overclocking? Well, for the first time, Intel’s highest single core frequency limit is not possible to attain with an all core boost. Yes, there will be those CPUs which can pull this off, but it is not the one I tested and I’ve also no reason to believe there are many other CPU which can. Actual World Performance Here, I make reference again to part 1 of this review. The performance gains of the Core i9-10900K owe to the minimum clock frequency of 4,9GHz. I refer to this clock rather than the peak TVB (Thermal Velocity Boost) 5,3GHz for an obvious reason. There are limited opportunities for exploiting it. Major games using the best engines largely depend on a single thread but are multi-threaded enough to keep the CPU at 4,9GHz. When there
are some light workloads, almost always outside of a gaming context, there are brief spikes to 5,1GHz or even 5.2GHz. Switching to another motherboard though showed spikes to 5,4GHz on some rare occasions. This is an example of what I mentioned earlier concerning the distinction between motherboard and CPU behaviours. This limited window of opportunity for TVB results in the 5GHz all core overclocked setting, delivering consistently better performance even despite using identical DRAM frequency and timings (Ring Ratio set to 46x however). It’ll come as no surprise that a 5GHz does not need any of the additional tuning features. Out of the box, the Core i9-10900K is the fastest gaming CPU money can buy. Was this true for the 9900KS, 9900K, 8086K and 8700K at each turn? Yes, it was. However, one has to realize that there are alternatives
THE OVERCLOCKER
It is considering this that I find the Core i5-10600K the more interesting and perhaps exciting CPU of the two. The addition of hyper-threading brings a meaningful lift to performance. As with the Core i9-10900K, this performance is coming via the increased clock frequency. Specifically, to the Core i5, Hyper-threading brings a muchneeded performance gain in productivity applications and games. This performance gain is best illustrated with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Normally a 5,2GHz six core, six thread CPU would outpace one at 5GHz with twelve active threads. With Odyssey, and a
growing number of titles, this isn’t so. Sacrificing the additional six threads for a 200MHz frequency increase no longer guarantees superior performance. This is precisely when per core HT toggling makes sense. Just four additional threads (For a logical 10) grants the 5,2GHz clock enough performance to take the performance lead. A frequency which would not be possible with HT enabled on all cores. Said in another way, imagine a scenario where we can safely say overclocking headroom is identical between the Core i7 8700K and the Core i5-10600K. The latter can maintain much of its multi-threaded performance, compensating for just two fewer logical cores, using an additional 100 to 200MHz. In the same situation, the 8700K would need to lose all six hyper-threaded
cores, for the same 200MHz clock gain. A compromise which is no longer worth consideration. Considering this, the Core i5-10600K is by far a better value proposition than the Core i9 parts. I say this, perfectly aware this ‘superior’ value proposition still requires a competent after-market cooler, Z-chipset board and decent DRAM. To get the best from the platform is costlier than one often realizes. All that withstanding and to the Core i5-10600K’s credit, it can use this single utility and propel itself to the front, able to claim the fastest gaming CPU around. When I reviewed the Core i9-10980XE, most notable was the flexibility it provided. Using clock frequency, toggling HT on/off and particular voltages per core allowed the balancing of
INTEL 10 TH GENERATION CORE
to the 8700K today which were not available when it launched. For Intel to keep this gaming performance lead, we had to have all those CPUs in-between.
PRESENTS
...Now, for the first time, a regular four DIMM board can reach higher performance than previously possible...
INTEL 10 TH GENERATION CORE PRESENTS THE OVERCLOCKER
...the 10th Generation Core CPUs still offer the best gaming experience around... single/ multithreaded performance, power consumption and the system’s thermal capacity, within the context of the intended workloads. Power consumption figures read during a CineBench R20 benchmark run or other well threaded and computationally taxing application are appropriate. At least more so than figures measured within a game. That same considerations apply to these desktop CPUs. Productivity suits and other intense highly threaded workloads are best serviced by the HEDT platform or better yet, the competition’s offerings. Measurement of power efficiency using the aforementioned workloads is therefore not ideal as it exposes the CPUs to workloads they would rarely come across. The numbers are
still worth recording, but only as a worst-case scenario rather than the lived experience when gaming. Past the initial purchase price, the power consumption of the system or CPU is what one lives with. During gaming, the highest power consumption spike recorded with the overclocked 10900K was 115 Watts. More often than not, the CPU reports package power consumption at 55 to 87 Watts. The Core i5-10600K draws even less power, peaking well below the stipulated 125W base clock TDP figure. So, it remains then, despite all the challenges Intel faces, the 10th generation Core CPUs still offer the best gaming experience around. This position is no longer reserved for most expensive SKU, but is accessible to the Core i5-10600K.
Extreme Overclocking and Conclusion With every new generation of CPUs, we have improved performance records. The Z490 platform is no different and at the time of writing the Core i9-10900K has rewritten several records. That may seem inevitable given that the only actual competition this CPU has (in class) is the now discontinued Core i9-7900X. The new Super Pi 32M record by Korean overclocker–SafeDisk however, proves just how capable the CPUs in expert hands. Besides the new Super Pi 32M record, we see a new DDR4 frequency record at a staggering 3,332.7MHz (DDR 6,665MT/s). Chances are as the CPUs and motherboards make their way to even more extreme overclockers and enthusiasts,
we will see more records fall. This platform is by far the most flexible we’ve had, and it is also among the simplest (this does not mean easy) to overclock.
has underpinned several generations of Core CPUs. As I write, Intel’s chief competition is readying a new platform and CPU generation. There’s a high likelihood that this may take the gaming performance and perhaps overclocking crown from Intel offerings. That isn’t a given though, and in the here and now, be it gaming or competitive overclocking, Intel’s 10th generation core CPUs are the fastest there is.
PRESENTS
Overall, it’s clear Intel cannot get to its new architecture soon enough. Manufacturing node differences aside, there are architectural deficiencies which clock frequency alone can’t overcome. From the limited overclocking headroom on the highest SKU, the clock frequency avenue stave off the competition indefinitely. We are in the twilight of the Skylake based CPUs and I suppose there is no better way to make way for a new architecture than these CPUs. That Intel has extended this architecture for so many years is testament to the
sound design philosophy which
THE OVERCLOCKER
One can’t know this for certain, but I can imagine Intel has hit several goals with this platform or CPU generation. Such flexibility and achievements set a higher standard not only for the competition but for Intel itself. From now on, this level of control is the expectation, and anything less will be a step backwards, be it justified or not. To this, the CPUs bring the best DDR4 memory controller to date (by frequency), a CPU package that’s conducive to overclocking, finer controls
overall. Taken purely from an overclocking perspective, it’s never been better than it is now.
INTEL 10 TH GENERATION CORE