Intel launches new Skylake Processors (i5-6600K and i7-6700K) and Z170 Chipset

Intel has officially released yesterday two new processors based on the Skylake architecture (6th generation Core): the Core i7-6700K and i5-6600K.

1 – Overview

A quick reminder of Intel architectures of the last five years:
– Westmere: 32nm in 2010 (tick)
– Sandy Bridge: 32nm in 2011 (tock)
– Ivy Bridge: 22nm in 2012 (tick)
– Haswell: 22nm in 2013 (tock)
– Broadwell: 14nm in 2014 (tick)
– Skylake: 14nm in 2015 (tock)

The Skylake processors are built with a 14nm process and use a new socket: LG 1151.

The i7-6700K has 4 physical cores and 8 logical cores, 8MB of L4 cache, supports DDR4 memory (up to 2133MHz), has a TDP of 91W and is priced at USD $350. More a less same features for the little brother: the i5-6600K has 4 physical cores and 4 logical cores, 6MB of L4 cache, supports DDR4 memory (up to 2133MHz), has a TDP of 91W and is priced at USD $243.

Both processors include a new GPU, the HD Graphics 530 (9th generation). The HD 530 is globally 50% faster than the HD 4600. The HD 530 features 24 EUs (execution units) , runs at 1150MHz and supports Direct3D 12. HDMI 2.0 is not supported by default (only HMDI 1.4a is supported) so 4K @ 60Hz is only available on DisplayPort 1.2. But there is a DisplayPort to HDMI 2.0 converter that makes it possible to get 4K @ 60Hz on UHD TVs (this adapter should be available on the motherboard).

And to make the most out of these new processors, Intel has released a new chipset, the Intel Z170:

Z170 (which is the high-end chipset, the H110 being the entry level) chipset supports DDR4 memory, PCI Express 3.0 with 20 lanes at 8Gb/sec each, up to 10 USB 3.0 ports.

2 – Reviews

• arstechnica.com
• anandtech.com
• pcper.com
• hardware.fr