CPU Core-to-Boost clock differential.

[Eighjan]

What significance is there for a CPU that has a (maximum) boost clock increase that is very high, compared to either:

One that has the same core speed that boosts lower, or

One that has a higher core speed with the same max. boost speed?

 

By way of example:

10700F     2.9GHz  4.8GHz

10400F     2.9GHz  4.3GHz

10600KF   4.1GHz  4.8GHz

 

What other things am I missing that would/could be a factor in the above comparisons?

 

TIA...

[unclewebb]

2 hours ago, Eighjan said:

What significance

Intel specializes in enabling and disabling features to give consumers a wide variety of choices at different price points. 

 

If you are going Intel and your apps need 6 cores or less, go for the 10600KF. The K means it can be overclocked and with decent cooling, many of them can run all cores at 5.0 GHz. The 10700F has 2 more cores which many apps will never use or need and will max out at 4.6 GHz. It is not overclockable. When running any app that needs 6 cores or less, an overclocked 10600KF should be faster.

 

In many benchmarks, the 10400F will be slower, but when running apps or games that are not CPU dependent, you might not notice a significant difference. 

 

Intel no longer publicly documents the multiplier a CPU will use when partially loaded so their specs are somewhat meaningless.

 

2 hours ago, Eighjan said:

What other things am I missing

The amount of turbo boost available is controlled by what the turbo power limits are set to. The 10700F has a default TDP rating of 65W. If this CPU is set to this power limit, it will throttle like crazy when fully loaded and will not run at anything close to full speed. Any decent board should allow you to increase these power limits if you choose to. You can also use software to increase the power limits to whatever you like. Setting the power limits sky high allows Intel CPUs to run at their full rated speed without any power limit throttling. A setting of 4095W is the maximum possible value. Obviously, no CPU is going to ever reach that value.

 

 

What all this means is that it is next to impossible for the average Joe to look at Intel's specs and make any sort of comparison. Real world performance can change significantly by 50% or more depending on how a CPU is setup.