| Test System Configuration | |
|---|---|
| Socketed CPU | Intel Core i7-4770K (Haswell): 3.5 to 3.9 GHz, 8 MB Shared L3 Cache, LGA 1150 |
| Embedded CPU | Intel Core i7-4770R (Haswell): 3.25 to 3.9 GHz, 6 MB Shared L3 Cache, BGA 1364 |
| Socketed CPU Cooler | Thermalright MUX-120 w/Zalman ZM-STG1 Paste |
| Embedded CPU Cooler | Gigabyte Brix proprietary |
| Socketed Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 4600: 1250 MHz GPU |
| Embedded Graphics | Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200: 1300 MHz GPU |
| Socketed Motherboard | ASRock Z87-M8, LGA 1150, BIOS P1.20 (08/22/2013) |
| Embedded Motherboard | Gigabyte M4HM87P-IA, BIOS F1 (10/25/2013) |
| Hard Drive | Samsung 840 Pro MZ-7PD256, 256 GB SSD |
| Sound | Integrated HD Audio |
| Network | Integrated Gigabit Networking |
| Software | |
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows 8 Professional RTM x64 |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics Driver 15.31.17.64.3257 |
| Chipset | Intel INF 9.4.0.1017 |
Curious to find out how much power benefit we’d extract from low-voltage SO-DIMMs, we needed a test platform that supported both 1.35 V and 1.50 V standards. That meant deviating away from a mobile or embedded Haswell-based CPU, since those only support 1.35 V modules. A member of its M8 barebones PC kit, ASRock’s Z87-M8 motherboard supports both voltage levels on two SO-DIMM slots by using a socketed processor.

We’ve heard that SO-DIMMs aren't very overclockable, but G.Skill is confident that its modules have headroom to spare when they're paired with an LGA 1150-based platform. While we weren’t able to follow through with a stable 2133 MT/s data rate, we were at least able to use the higher 1.50 volts to push CAS 9 timings.

Everything I’ve read so far lead me to believe that lower thermal and power limitations would slow the embedded version of Intel’s Core i7-4770 by up to 5%. Conversely, I’ve also been expecting that the company's Iris Pro graphics 5200 would deliver about 20% additional performance. The only problem is that CPU model doesn't let us compare different memory voltage levels. Moreover, I didn't have one at my disposal.

That is, until something "fell out of Gigabyte’s trunk" following BlizzCon. This thing packs the wallop of a huge copper sink to prevent thermal throttling, along with support for both 2.5” and mSATA SSDs. Those two advancements roughly doubled the thickness and weight of this enthusiast-oriented Brix compared to familiar models.
| Benchmark Settings | |
|---|---|
| Games | |
| Battlefield 3 | Campaign Mode, "Going Hunting" 90-Second Fraps Test Settings: Medium Quality Defaults (No AA, 4x AF) |
| F1 2012 | Steam Version, In-Game Test Test Settings: High Quality Preset, No AA |
| Far Cry 3 | V. 1.04, DirectX 11, 50-Second Fraps "Amanaki Outpost" Test Settings: Medium Quality, No AA, Standard ATC., SSAO |
| Metro: Last Light | Steam Version, Built-in Benchmarking Tool DX11, Low Quality, 4x AF, Low Blur, No SSAO/Tesslation/PhysX |
| Adobe Creative Suite | |
| Adobe After Effects CS6 | Version 11.0.0.378 x64: Create Video which includes 3 Streams, 210 Frames, Render Multiple Frames Simultaneosly |
| Adobe Photoshop CS6 | Version 13 x64: Filter 15.7 MB TIF Image: Radial Blur, Shape Blur, Median, Polar Coordinates |
| Adobe Premeire Pro CS6 | Version 6.0.0.0, 6.61 GB MXF Project to H.264 to H.264 Blu-ray, Output 1920x1080, Maximum Quality |
| Adobe Acrobat 11 | Version 11.0.0.379: Print PDF from 115 Page PowerPoint, 128-bit RC4 Encryption |
| File Compression | |
| WinZip | Version 17.0 Pro: THG-Workload (1.3 GB) to ZIP, command line switches "-a -ez -p -r" |
| WinRAR | Version 4.2: THG-Workload (1.3 GB) to RAR, command line switches "winrar a -r -m3" |
| 7-Zip | Version 9.28: THG-Workload (1.3 GB) to .7z, command line switches "a -t7z -r -m0=LZMA2 -mx=5" |
| Synthetic Benchmarks and Settings | |
| 3DMark Professional Edition | Version: 1.1, Benchmark Only, Ice Storm, Cloud Gate tests |
| 3DMark 11 | Version: 1.0.1.0, Benchmark Only |
| PCMark 8 | Version: 1.0.0 x64, Full Test |
| SiSoftware Sandra | Version 2013.10.19.50, CPU Test = CPU Arithmetic / Cryptography, Memory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark |
- Did You Know Mobile Haswell Doesn't Support 1.5 V DDR3?
- Ripjaws DDR3-1866 Low Voltage
- Ripjaws DDR3-1600 Low Voltage
- G.Skill Standard DDR3-1333
- Test Hardware And Software Configurations
- Results: SiSoftware Sandra
- Results: 3DMark
- Results: 3D Games
- Results: Adobe Creative Suite
- Results: File Compression
- Power, Efficiency, And Final Thoughts
The R version has 128MB of L4 cache. At 1280x720, it is large enough for all index and vertex buffers and most textures. That is why main memory speed doesn't significantly affect Iris Pro 5200...
intel claims that the edram costs around $80. that'd jack the a10 6800k price over $200 only to benefit the igpu (possibly the same with gddr5). imo, the weaker cpu cores wouldn't benefit much, if at all. that'd make the apus of poor value and people will argue against the apus claiming you can have a faster configuration under $200 (e.g. core i3 4110/fx6300 + radeon 7770/7750) without requiring the edram. as for core i7 4770R (and other R skus) - it's way too expensive. afaik, brix pro is barebones, the whole pc might cost near $800-1000 fully configured.
Simply wait for Broadwell-K near the end of this year and you will get the option of buying a $300+ i5 or $400+ i7 with 128MB L4 cache and Iris Pro.
From what little info leaked about it so far, it is still unclear whether or not there will be an option to buy a desktop Broadwell without that ~$100 extra.