Intel Core i3-530 Processor: Features, Features and Feedback

Intel processors have conquered the world for a long time. Every year there are more and more of them on the market. More powerful models replace already obsolete ones. There are new microarchitectures, updated processor connectors and technological processes.

Today, the corporation is considered the largest in the worldon the performance of microprocessors. She has been doing this since 2008 and is filling three-quarters of the entire market. It's interesting that Dell is the main and devoted fan of this manufacturer's products, followed by Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo.

Back to the past

In 2010, the audience got acquainted with the noveltymicroprocessor technologies Intel Core i3-530. Characteristics of the chip was good, as for the average price segment. This model was one of many that entered the market that year. The corporation wanted to completely fill the entire market, often neglecting the quality of products.

The output of the crystal on the updated technical process was caused by its main principle Tick-Tock. This progressive strategy assumed once a year a change in the technological process and the microarchitecture.

Base

The release of Intel Core i3-530 Clarkdale was announced inpair with the older chip Core i5-650. Both crystals were based on the updated microarchitecture of Westmere, which received a thin process technology of 32 nm. Despite the rather noticeable difference of this parameter in comparison with the previous models, the "chip" became different. Products carried an integrated graphics Intel HD Graphics. The peculiarity of this innovation was that earlier such processors did not exist on the market, and the combined crystal in desktop systems became something revolutionary and quite a good alternative for medium-sized PCs.

Innovations

While reviewing the Intel Core i3-530 processor, it's worthsay a few words about architecture. Seven years ago, the corporation devoted a lot of time to recycling and new technologies. It reworked the basics of chip interaction with other components of the motherboard. The emergence of Nehalem as another important step in the development of technologies marked the use of an integrated memory controller. Previously, he was part of the system as part of the "northern bridge".

The memory controller did not receive a high-speedmemory, and worked with the standard DDR3. The frequency did not exceed 1.4 GHz. There was a dual-channel mode, and the total capacity could be 16 GB. In general, there is nothing new here.

After the company decides to start developinggeneration Westmere. In this case, the PCI-Express controller moves to the crystal case and becomes one. The public receives a processor that has placed under its cover all components of the former "north bridge", next to the CPU.

The last push made integrated graphics,"Moved" there, to complete the overall picture. Now, to use together, the buyer must choose a motherboard with a set of logic Q57, H57, or H55 Express.

Support

Intel Core processor specificationsi3-530 allowed complete synchronization with the motherboards that functioned on the P55. The only thing that users can face is with the BIOS update. And, as many people testify, at times, even if it was possible to synchronize the work of new crystals with motherboards, the logic did not support the work of integrated graphics, so the processors did not work at full power.

As mentioned earlier, the architecture of Clarkdaleworks with a 32-nm process technology. With the advent of this option, active promotion of Nehalem began on the shelves with available accessories. As a result, new models of the third and fifth generation uniquely interested overclockers with their low cost and the desire to experiment with the new architecture.

Packaging

See what an Intel Core i3-530 hasspecifications can be on the box where the specification is indicated. In general, packaging is absolutely standard for all models of the company. This is a blue box, which shows the model of the chip, its main features. There is a sticker on the side end, which informs about the characteristics of the new product. There is also a lot of information about the model in the back, but it is in English.

In addition, a small hole in the box can be seen from the back. Through it you can see the cooler, which was prepared for the chip. Inside the box we find the standard set that is familiar to everyone.

The processor is placed in a special plastic"Tray", right there - a large-sized cooling system, there is a warranty obligation and user manual. For fans of the company placed a sticker with the logo of the manufacturer.

In general, this configuration is familiar to the chipsmedium and low price segment. Not surprisingly, the presence of such a cooler, which is formed from a low-profile aluminum radiator and a fan with 7 blades. The latter can receive power through a cable with a connector from four pins.

In general, such a simple cooler as a whole shouldcover the needs of the user. It comes bundled for the reason that the chip has a low heat dissipation, and the manufacturer himself wants to save on the whole product.

"Heart" of the system

Intel Core i3-530 processor specificationsgot averages. This model is not for powerful systems, and certainly not for gaming PCs. Nevertheless, it looks quite profitable with all its implementations, especially if you go back in time to 2010. Now there are questions to the chip, and it is unlikely to be able to interest advanced users and those who decide to assemble a PC on their own.

The form factor dictates the basic characteristicsIntel Core i3-530 processor. Socket H or LGA1156 has now lost its relevance and is only on older systems. Nevertheless, a chip with a clock frequency of 2.93 GHz was released, and the cache memory acquired 4 MB. The interface side of the crystal received pads and capacitors.

Distinctive features of new products from the previous onegenerations are rooted in the fact that support for Intel Turbo Boost and Intel Trusted Execution technologies has disappeared. But the latter option has little effect on performance. It was much sadder to lose additional frequencies when loading a single core.

Specifications

Intel Core i3-530 features a bitdiffers from version 540. In general, testing has shown that one parameter of the multiplier changes, which leads to a lower frequency of 133 MHz. The chip itself, as mentioned earlier, works with the type of DDR3 memory, whose frequency reaches 1333 MHz. We must not forget about the presence of graphics embedded in the crystal.

Before us is a model with two cores thatgot the name Clarkdale. The supply voltage is 0.65-1.4 V. Power dissipation reaches 73 watts. The critical temperature at which the chip can still function correctly and stably reaches 72 degrees.

The graphics core is also represented by 12computing pipelines, the operating frequency was 733 MHz, which is clearly not enough for game projects, although, in truth, rarely integrated graphics can cope with gaming queries. Graphic component on average takes about 1.7 GB of memory. Supports the tenth version of DirectX, as well as OpenGL 2.1.

Testing

At one time, a chip went through many tests.Intel Core i3-530 2.93 GHz. At the same time, the characteristics were compared with a couple more crystals, among which were models from both the native workshop and the competing production. The rivals of the hero of our review were Intel Core i3-540, i5-650 and AMD Athlon II X4 630.

The processors went through standard testing,which are usually created specifically to unlock the potential of a model. As a result, this chip is inferior on all fronts, since serious competitors have been chosen. Although insignificant, but he fell behind in graphics tests, gaming and synthetic applications. If we take the weaker Intel Core 2 Duo E8300, in this case, the hero of our review could get ahead by 15%, which is not so much. This raises the question: is it not easier to pay extra to get a more productive crystal, or else not to overpay at all and purchase a budget model?

Overclocking

Checking with the Intel Core i3-530 (2.93 GHz)characteristics, we must not forget about overclocking potential. It was possible to raise the clock frequency to 2.4 GHz, while it was necessary to raise the voltage and provide the crystal with an improved cooling system. Despite its slim 32 nm case, the processor overheats under load, and this undoubtedly influences overclocking efficiency.

Experts say that 4.4 GHz is not the limit, inIn general, the system can be accelerated yet, but with the use of aggressive voltage, which is not always safe and is always a risk, especially for inexperienced overclockers.

This overclocking potential answers the question whether it was worth buying this model. With such overclocking, it looks very profitable. A performance gain of more than 50% is a good indicator.

Reviews

In general, users praised Intel Core i3-530. Characteristics did not always receive positive feedback, since not all decided to overclock the model. Those who nevertheless figured out overclocking received only positive impressions. So, the model itself showed that the corporation is ready to go on the most daring experiments, and they are quite successful, if not always the first time.

Now it will be difficult to find a buyer for thischip. But at one time, those who had a dual-core processor enough were boldly buying this product for themselves and could even try to create an average gaming platform. The cost also turned out to be acceptable. Moreover, many preferred the model 530 rather than the 540. The older one became somewhat more expensive, and the performance / price ratio deteriorated markedly.

As a result, the difference in price was about $ 20, and the capabilities of the younger model made it possible to catch up and overtake their “older brother”, which, of course, looked much more profitable and more profitable.