Tuesday, May 6th 2014

Intel Core i7-4790 Incrementally Faster than i7-4770K: Review

TweakTown went ahead and posted the first formal review of Intel Core i7-4790, the fastest Core "Haswell" Refresh quad-core processor. Tested on an unnamed Z97 Express motherboard, with discrete graphics, the chip was found to be only incrementally faster than the i7-4770K, and just what you'd expect from a 100 MHz clock speed bump. The i7-4790 is clocked at 3.60 GHz, with a maximum Turbo Boost speed of 4.00 GHz, compared to the 3.50 GHz and 3.90 GHz clocks of the i7-4770K. It lacks an unlocked base-clock multiplier, and so its overclocking potential is severely limited, and close to non-existent; and so the i7-4790 is really a chip for those who want the best gaming performance, and don't intend to overclock their CPUs. Enthusiasts may want to hold out for "Devil's Canyon." Find the full review at the source.
Source: TweakTown
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58 Comments on Intel Core i7-4790 Incrementally Faster than i7-4770K: Review

#26
TheDeeGee
Ill stick with my 4770K.

Chances of getting a chip that's much much worse is extremely high for me, seeing my 4770K does 4.5 GHz @ 1.175v.
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#27
Eroticus
The Von MatricesIf you look at the raw benchmarks they also test 6-core CPUs as well, although I am left to wonder why btarunr chose to use the memory bandwidth charts as the figure in the original post. Of all the benchmarks that is probably the one with the least correlation to real world performance.

Although looking at the charts does lead to the question as to why the processors with the 4-channel memory controllers have 50% less bandwidth than the ones with the 2-channel memory controllers.

Lies , Lies and Lies.

Without any overclock .. 19% = Turbo always on no down clock for energy save.

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#29
Vlada011
Only 20 months after Ivy we had third chipset. Z87 is finished for less than year or year and now Z97, on every year new chipset.
And difference is...no comment. No way I will every buy mainstream. Extreme and next processor for 4 year.
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#30
ensabrenoir
......everytime there is a new release cpu or gpu...... the comment section is identical and so I'm gonna repeat like some always does:

gee wizz guys its just a refresh.....no one expects major earth shattering improvements. To the people (like me) who is about to build another pc or upgrading from...you know the rest this is fine. The Canyon is...HOPEFULLY will be where all the fun is.

And with the world spiraling downward towards tablets and smarter than the user phones......I'm just happy to see any new full blooded CPU (not arms apu or abi whats it) RELEASE. ....we better enjoy it (end rant)
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#31
Jorge
Gullible sheeple will rush to pay more and get almost the same old shitze. The value/performance proposition for many enthusiasts is still the Vishera FX-8350.
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#32
Hilux SSRG
Tweaktown reviews are just horrible, there is more page layout dedicated to ads and link crap than actual review material. TPU's reviews are way better.

+100mhz bump to dave and the other admins.
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#33
cadaveca
My name is Dave
Hilux SSRGTweaktown reviews are just horrible, there is more page layout dedicated to ads and link crap than actual review material. TPU's reviews are way better.

+100mhz bump to dave and the other admins.
Well, I posted this some time ago:




And then I posted this:





Got any guess as to what I've been using for a system for the past few weeks? :p


I'm working on full review of the board and CPU. I wasn't to post the full board review until next Monday, but have been allowed to post everything as of yesterday. I will have a full CPU review as well, but using a new VGA, new OS, and new drivers means that I've got a TONNE of benchmarks to run. CPU review is going to take some time to complete, simply because it takes nearly two 10-hour days per system for me to do OS and app set-up and then run the tests.

That said...this is still the same old Haswell CPU, with a slight clock boost. Z97, on the other hand...is quite interesting, and not one site has really mentioned why yet. So I'll stop posting in the forums, and get back to finishing the reviews. ;)
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#34
GhostRyder
Yea, Z97 chipset is in reality another unneeded new chipset. I have been waiting to see the new Haswell-E series for awhile now and with the new chips in the devils canyon series this is not unexpected. They like to re-release the same chip with a 100mhz clock bump as a new chip all the time, just look at the 2700k and 2600k from sandy bridge.
cadavecaWell, I posted this some time ago:


Got any guess as to what I've been using for a system for the past few weeks? :p


I'm working on full review of the board and CPU. I wasn't to post the full board review until next Monday, but have been allowed to post everything as of yesterday. I will have a full CPU review as well, but using a new VGA, new OS, and new drivers means that I've got a TONNE of benchmarks to run. CPU review is going to take some time to complete, simply because it takes nearly two 10-hour days per system for me to do OS and app set-up and then run the tests.

That said...this is still the same old Haswell CPU, with a slight clock boost. Z97, on the other hand...is quite interesting, and not one site has really mentioned why yet. So I'll stop posting in the forums, and get back to finishing the reviews. ;)
I look forward to reading it, im interested to see what will happen with these chips and the new Z97 chipset.
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#35
TheMailMan78
Big Member
Still not seeing a reason to upgrade my 2600K.
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#36
cadaveca
My name is Dave
GhostRyderYea, Z97 chipset is in reality another unneeded new chipset. I have been waiting to see the new Haswell-E series for awhile now and with the new chips in the devils canyon series this is not unexpected. They like to re-release the same chip with a 100mhz clock bump as a new chip all the time, just look at the 2700k and 2600k from sandy bridge.


I look forward to reading it, im interested to see what will happen with these chips and the new Z97 chipset.
I've got ASRock, ASUS, Biostar, ECS, Gigabyte, and MSI reviews incoming, but I also have school, work, and life to deal with. I'm working as fast as I can, since I think for many other sites, this launch will be Haswell redux...with many saying it sucks, but not understanding why. ;)
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#37
Hilux SSRG
cadavecaI've got ASRock, ASUS, Biostar, ECS, Gigabyte, and MSI reviews incoming, but I also have school, work, and life to deal with. I'm working as fast as I can, since I think for many other sites, this launch will be Haswell redux...with many saying it sucks, but not understanding why. ;)
Are you then going to be reviewing in less than a month the devil's canyon release chips? That would be chip testing overload! :eek:
Posted on Reply
#38
GhostRyder
cadavecaI've got ASRock, ASUS, Biostar, ECS, Gigabyte, and MSI reviews incoming, but I also have school, work, and life to deal with. I'm working as fast as I can, since I think for many other sites, this launch will be Haswell redux...with many saying it sucks, but not understanding why. ;)
Indeed, I was curious on how the new board series will stack up. I totally understand that and feel ya there, finding time is rather difficult these days, but hang in there! :)

Im curious more than anything the overclocking on Devils Canyon just because Ivy and Haswell feel so abysmal not in terms of overclocking, but the temps of the clocking to those levels. Its funny when the radiator on my friends i5 is not too hot but the chip is running in the low 70's :p.
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#39
cadaveca
My name is Dave
Hilux SSRGAre you then going to be reviewing in less than a month the devil's canyon release chips? That would be chip testing overload! :eek:
Dude...I still have a bunch of Z87 boards I haven't reviewed.


And yes, I have plans for Devil's Canyon review and OC guide. And I still have to post IVB-E clocking guide...

But, it is all good. I have lots of work to keep me busy, and I love that. I also have no deadlines or expectations from board makers at this time. ASRock sent me board to look at only, but I'll give a good review of it.

My testing platform is 100% new...somehow I killed nearly all of the Z87 test platform. New drives, new PSU, new ram, new case...new cooling...and new OS.
GhostRyderIndeed, I was curious on how the new board series will stack up. I totally understand that and feel ya there, finding time is rather difficult these days, but hang in there! :)
Im curious more than anything the overclocking on Devils Canyon just because Ivy and Haswell feel so abysmal not in terms of overclocking, but the temps of the clocking to those levels. Its funny when the radiator on my friends i5 is not too hot but the chip is running in the low 70's :p.
I understand. Yet, SKT1155 and SKT1150 aren't Intel's real enthusiast platform. The fact we have Devil's Canyon coming at all says that Intel has heard feedback like your, and has taken steps to bring real enthusiast chips to the mainstream platform. I am not expecting more than a few MHz extra with Devil's Canyon. That's not really why we have Z97... nor is it beucase of these new Haswell-based CPUs. i7-4790 = i7-2700, and that is all.
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#40
EarthDog
Welcome back Dave... it will be nice to see some new stuff from you, that is for sure. :)
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#41
cadaveca
My name is Dave
EarthDogWelcome back Dave... it will be nice to see some new stuff from you, that is for sure. :)
Yeah, I have been posting reviews every once in a while, but my time has been really constrained. I've posted a few reviews in the past few months, but not enough, that's for sure! Losing two PSUs and two SSDs really set me back a bit, but I got some help with that and replacement parts have been in my hands for a few weeks now.
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#42
ensabrenoir
.....did i read somewhere or am I wrong in thinking z97 will support Haswell's sucesssor?
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#43
cadaveca
My name is Dave
ensabrenoir.....did i read somewhere or am I wrong in thinking z97 will support Haswell's sucesssor?
You are correct, sir. This bridging platforms is a new thing for Intel, and is one of the major reasons that we have a Z97 in the first place. What that compatibility means... I'll maybe talk about a bit more in my review. ;)
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#44
EarthDog
It means that the Haswell refresh is only good in Z97, while Haswell is good in Z87 and Z97 (among its other, lower end counter parts).
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#45
cadaveca
My name is Dave
EarthDogIt means that the Haswell refresh is only good in Z97, while Haswell is good in Z87 and Z97 (among its other, lower end counter parts).
There's more to it than just that.
Posted on Reply
#46
ensabrenoir
EarthDogIt means that the Haswell refresh is only good in Z97, while Haswell is good in Z87 and Z97 (among its other, lower end counter parts).
and that anyone buying a Z97 board for Haswell's refresh or the canyon wont have to upgrade their board on brodwell.... or potentially broad's refresh(if it has one) either......bonus:toast:
Posted on Reply
#47
EarthDog
cadavecaThere's more to it than just that.
Indeed, was just clarifying what I thought the original context was. ;)
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#48
Hilux SSRG
ensabrenoirand that anyone buying a Z97 board for Haswell's refresh or the canyon wont have to upgrade their board on brodwell.... or potentially broad's refresh(if it has one) either......bonus:toast:
Well that would be an interesting twist to Intel's new chip, needs new mobo ideology.
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#49
TheHunter
EarthDogIt means that the Haswell refresh is only good in Z97, while Haswell is good in Z87 and Z97 (among its other, lower end counter parts).
Haswell refresh works on z87 too, imei bios firmware update and its ready.

Apparently even Broadwell, same procedure.
Intel REP said it in one video back in September 2013; " One you can plug the chips directly into existing systems and 2nd we will have brand new systems (z97) with broad range of fanless desings,.."


But yeah its missing boot guard, sataxpress, tunderbolt, and few tiny bits like better fan control, a little higher ram support up to 3300mhz and some new tools..


At least that's what I saw in one Asus z97deluxe mini review.
www.pcper.com/reviews/Motherboards/ASUS-Z97-Deluxe-Motherboard-Review/BIOS-Features-continued
Also finally found out IME, its 9.1.xxx by z97, mine updated to 9.0.30.xx for haswell refresh (Asus update tool), I can manually update to 9.1.xx but I see they're still testing versions. :)
Posted on Reply
#50
GhostRyder
cadavecaI understand. Yet, SKT1155 and SKT1150 aren't Intel's real enthusiast platform. The fact we have Devil's Canyon coming at all says that Intel has heard feedback like your, and has taken steps to bring real enthusiast chips to the mainstream platform. I am not expecting more than a few MHz extra with Devil's Canyon. That's not really why we have Z97... nor is it beucase of these new Haswell-based CPUs. i7-4790 = i7-2700, and that is all.
Agreed, I am hoping to see some 5.0ghz area again but im not holding my breath. I was just hoping that temps would be more manageable again like on Sandy Bridge which in my book was the last time I saw some real enthusiast level stuff on something other than the E series platform (Mostly because of that God awful TIM).

Ill be waiting on Haswell-E and hopefully getting whatever is the mid range chip (Fingers crossed there's an 8 core in the 500 range).
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