Cpu base frequency relevance?

[Scopus]

Hey im wondering how is cpu base frequency relevant today? I mean with speedstep i notice my 8700k sits most of the time at 900mhz idle and whenever i run something it turbos up to 4ghz+. It hardly ever hits base clock speeds so how is that figure relevant?

And how is it than that the 8700 non-k differs from the 8700k besides a 100mhz boost difference since i can imagine it idling around the same and simply boosting to 100mhz less. what about the k version gives it such a higher tdp?

 

[ao_ika_red]

IMO, it's a performance guarantee from the mfg. It means, the chip is guaranteed to perform at certain clock for a sustained period.
Turbo is more like performance bonus and speedstep is merely a power saving feature.

K version is the overclockable version, hence the higher TDP.

 

[Scopus]

IMO, it's a performance guarantee from the mfg. It means, the chip is guaranteed to perform at certain clock for a sustained period.
Turbo is more like performance bonus and speedstep is merely a power saving feature.

K version is the overclockable version, hence the higher TDP.

IMO, it's a performance guarantee from the mfg. It means, the chip is guaranteed to perform at certain clock for a sustained period.
Turbo is more like performance bonus and speedstep is merely a power saving feature.

K version is the overclockable version, hence the higher TDP.

So k version is basically a better binned unlocked chip? Than not overclocked both chips push out around the same tdp? Dont understand how they can rate a chip tdp for overclocking when it is up to user how much one chooses to overclock or to overclock at all

Thanks

 

[TheELF]

IMO, it's a performance guarantee from the mfg. It means, the chip is guaranteed to perform at certain clock for a sustained period.

It's guaranteed to perform at base clock for ever.

Scopus,you are right about the clock boostings and there being basically no difference,but the base clock allows intel to state that much lower TDP because the base clock is where the chip should typically be operated.

 

[Scopus]

It's guaranteed to perform at base clock for ever.

Scopus,you are right about the clock boostings and there being basically no difference,but the base clock allows intel to state that much lower TDP because the base clock is where the chip should typically be operated.

In stock settings it is usually not operated at those base frequencies though. Im sure was very relevant in past but today not sure with speedstep and turboboost. So if i understand correctly, overclocking aside, from what u guys say than running stock comparing a k and non k chip with about same turbo like 8700, the k version should run cooler since it is a better binned chip right?
I always thought a higher tdp chip (k) version simply ran hotter

Thanks

 

[Yuriman]

I'm unsure if the K chips are better binned. You can't really push non-K CPUs to their limits to compare, and I'm not aware of anyone having done extensive power consumption testing comparing K and non-K chips at the same frequencies.

If anything, "K" CPUs might be binned for higher leakage (worse power consumption characteristics) because it allows higher frequencies. For instance, the FX-9590 generally draws a lot more power than an 8350 (identical die) at the same voltage and frequency.

 

[ao_ika_red]

In stock settings it is usually not operated at those base frequencies though. Im sure was very relevant in past but today not sure with speedstep and turboboost. So if i understand correctly, overclocking aside, from what u guys say than running stock comparing a k and non k chip with about same turbo like 8700, the k version should run cooler since it is a better binned chip right?
I always thought a higher tdp chip (k) version simply ran hotter

Thanks

You should try running a cpu heavy application and you'll notice it will revert to its base clock after boosting to its turbo freq for a while.

For me at least, the reason why non-k cpu has lower tdp because it's also used by oem and their tdp requirement is pretty tight so they can use cheaper cooler, cheaper board, and also cheaper psu.
And also K cpu has higher TDP to justify its higher price than non-k variant. If you have big cooler you'll see in stock condition k cpu will sustain its turbo longer because it has higher power limitation than its non-k relative.

 

[Bouowmx]

First thing I do on a desktop processor, if possible, is increase the power limit, by default set equal to TDP on non-K processors. On the Core i7-8700, 6 cores and 4.3 GHz will likely exceed 65 W. In that case, frequency will bounce between base (3.2 GHz) and Turbo (4.3 GHz).

The most direct meaning of Intel TDP is TDP is the power limit. It's an arbitrary rating: does the 8700 need to be 65 W? No.

 

[Scopus]

You should try running a cpu heavy application and you'll notice it will revert to its base clock after boosting to its turbo freq for a while.

For me at least, the reason why non-k cpu has lower tdp because it's also used by oem and their tdp requirement is pretty tight so they can use cheaper cooler, cheaper board, and also cheaper psu.
And also K cpu has higher TDP to justify its higher price than non-k variant. If you have big cooler you'll see in stock condition k cpu will sustain its turbo longer because it has higher power limitation than its non-k relative.

Thanks.So base clock does have some relevance and an advantage of k.
Regarding tdp, U say at stock the k version will sustain turbo longer due to the higher tdp limit. What if u set the tdp limit to 95w so its same as the k limit. Will it be able to sustain just as long or does it not handle heat as well?

Thanks

 

[Phynaz]

You should try running a cpu heavy application and you'll notice it will revert to its base clock after boosting to its turbo freq for a while.

This is not 100% correct. With proper cooling an Intel CPU will maintain turbo clocks indefinitely. Base clocks are worse case.

 

[LTC8K6]

This is not 100% correct. With proper cooling an Intel CPU will maintain turbo clocks indefinitely. Base clocks are worse case.

I don't think I have ever seen one drop to it's base clock.

 

[ninaholic37]

I think this is more relevant on laptops, especially low powered ones like Atom, especially when Turbo first came out for them. I think sometimes it will turbo only the CPU or iGPU based on which one needs it most, and only 1 core if it needs it more than all the cores combined. There are even some cases where it gets too hot at base frequency and too hot at lowest speedstep and will go even lower, ask VirtualLarry about his Meego Compute Sticks for instance.

 

[VirtualLarry]

There are even some cases where it gets too hot at base frequency and too hot at lowest speedstep and will go even lower, ask VirtualLarry about his Meego Compute Sticks for instance.

True Dat.


Btw, I still have a pair of those units, if anyone wants one to mess around with, paypal me postage, and I'll ship one to you (CONUS only). They are curious creatures, to be sure.