When choosing a processor, you need to pay attention not only to pure performance, frequency and number of cores. Do not forget about the calculated performance of the cooling system or TDP (Thermal Design Power).

Modern processors are no longer limited to 4 cores on board. There can be 8, 12, 16 ... and even more. True, such processors are already designed for professionals who need high computing power. If you are looking for a processor for a gaming system, then you can limit yourself to a chip with 6 cores. For example, such as.

Currently, the processor market is fighting between two famous brand - AMD and Intel. For a while, AMD remained an outsider, but the Ryzen line of processors brought it back to the top of the processor Olympus, making life difficult for representatives from the Intel lines. Today, these two brands are fighting almost on equal terms, ahead of each other with the release of each new model.

Ranking leaders in terms of price / quality ratio

The CHIP test lab tests a huge number of processors every year. All our test results are presented as a summary rating in. This is what we were guided by when choosing the best CPUs that satisfy the price-performance ratio. The final score, which determines the position of a particular model in the table, of course, is made up of performance. But high capacities should cost reasonable money, so in this material we are considering just such processors.

First Place: AMD Ryzen 5 1600X

Despite the fact that Intel products currently occupy the leading positions in the overall rating, AMD chips win in terms of price / quality ratio, showing excellent results subject to an acceptable cost. Take, for example, our leader -. For an average of just RUB 16,500, you get a 6-core processor based on modern Summit Ridge architecture that offers impressive performance and high operating frequencies.

In normal operating mode, the frequency characteristics are at the level of 3600 MHz, but in the auto-overclocking mode, when you need to "throw some fireballs", the processor shows an impressive 4000 MHz. Moreover, this parameter can also be overclocked, since CPUs with X-marking are provided specifically for overclocking. The 95-watt TDP also speaks to this.

In our test, the processor scored 3629 points in the synthetic benchmark PC Mark 8, showing that the performance difference with 8-core processors is not very large. But in benchmarks that give estimates for multithreading, the situation is slightly different: eight-cores noticeably break out ahead, which, however, is quite expected.

Second place: Intel Core i7-8700K

In comparison with the leader of our rating, a six-core one no longer seems so affordable. Its cost is significantly higher and averages about 32,000 rubles, which is almost twice the price tag of AMD Ryzen 5 1600X. In terms of performance, it is the undisputed leader, but in terms of value for money, it loses to a competitor from AMD.

During test tests, he distinguished himself by showing the highest maximum frequency - an impressive 4700 MHz. The nominal frequency in normal operation is 3700 MHz, and now it is already comparable to the competitor's. But in auto-overclocking mode, Intel Core i7-8700K simply puts other chips on the blades and there is no equal to it at the moment.

Note that IntelCore i7-8700KIs not only the bearer of the most recent Coffee Lake architecture. The name of the processor contains the letter "K", and this tells us about good overclocking potential. When the processor is supplied with enhanced power, it is possible to overclock the nominal frequencies of the CPU itself, as well as DDR4 RAM modules. But there is also a nuance - the changed power scheme makes this processor incompatible with the LGA 1151 socket. LGA 1151v2 is required.

Third Place: AMD Ryzen 5 1600

In third place is another six-core AMD, but without the “X” marking. But the cost is even more sparing - about 14,000 rubles. Not a processor, but a gift! However, in comparison with its older brother, this model offers nominal frequencies at 3200 MHz and, if necessary, can be overclocked to 3600 MHz.

One of the differences from Intel processors lies in the lack of a graphics subsystem. If the choice of processors from the top two positions allows you to postpone the purchase of a video card, then in the case of a discrete video card is a necessity. But given the high cost of graphics cards, not everyone has the opportunity to buy this component from one salary.

In benchmark measurements, it lags slightly behind the faster 1600X. This is especially noticeable in the benchmarks in PCMark 8, Cinebench R15 and PovRay 3.7 RC3. But if you do not go into comparison and take into account the TDP of 65 watts, we can say that the end results are very good. Recall that the 1600X version has a much higher parameter - 95 watts.

Fourth Place: AMD Ryzen 7 1700

Again, a representative from the AMD camp shows the best value for money. We recommend buying an 8-core monster in the face of those who do not tolerate any compromises in games or work with resource-demanding programs. According to the results of our tests, this processor has shown itself to be high-performance and efficient, including in multitasking mode.

Clock speeds are slightly lower than those of the leader of the rating. 3000 MHz in nominal mode and 3700 MHz in auto-acceleration mode. Despite this, the processor performs very well in synthetic benchmarks and shows good results. Based on the latter, this CPU can be safely attributed to the top segment. Moreover, the cost of such a top-end processor is very affordable - about 25,000 rubles.

Best suited for work in programs that use multi-core - here it has no equal yet. But for gaming systems, this processor will not be the best option, since many modern games are still poorly optimized for eight-core solutions from AMD. We see the best way use of this processor in the workstation.

Fifth place: Intel Core i7-7700K

In fifth place, AMD's expansion is diluted with another chip from Intel. It can be purchased for 25,000 rubles, if you are not embarrassed by its belonging to the previous Kaby Lake architecture. - a mainstream chip that focuses on performance and does not offer any innovations compared to new products based on Coffee Lake.

Compared to previous CPUs, which occupy the first four lines of our hit parade, they only offer 4 cores and 8 threads. But the base clock frequency starts at 4200 MHz. In the automatic overclocking mode, frequencies can reach 4500 MHz, which is almost comparable to the values \u200b\u200bof the 6-core Intel Core i7-8700K, which is in second place.

High clock speeds are beneficial for performance. In benchmarks, it shows very decent results, and in the PCMark 8 test it even slightly outperforms the Intel Core i7-8700K. In 3DMark test suites, both processors are also almost on par. And given the focus of the processor on gaming systems, we recommend buying it specifically for assembling gaming PCs.

Top 10 Best Desktop Processors in Price / Performance Ratio

1.

: 70.4

Number of cores
Maximum frequency

: 4.0 GHz

Overall rating: 70.4

Value for money: 82

2.

CPU performance (100%)

: 81.4

Number of cores
Maximum frequency

: 4.7 GHz

Overall rating: 81.4

Value for money: 80

3.

CPU performance (100%)

: 66.5

Number of cores
Maximum frequency

: 3.6 GHz

Overall rating: 66.5

Value for money: 81

4.

CPU performance (100%)

: 77.3

Number of cores
Maximum frequency

: 3.7 GHz

Overall rating: 77.3

Value for money: 79

At the end of each year, we summarize our benchmark results for most modern processors, taking into account BIOS updates and performance changes, and then categorize the findings into three separate categories.

The first part of our ranking focuses on performance in gaming benchmarks, in the second we will touch on performance in CAD applications for workstations (real-time rendering), and finally in the third we will collect general data on performance, rendering and power consumption.

No one can always be a leader: a system that lacks performance today may surpass all others tomorrow. So if you have a good strategy, then you can be confident in your future.

This truth works, but not always. First of all, you need to understand today's PC capabilities, tomorrow's computing needs, and also have a reserve for the future. This is where you need to focus - and plan for a small supply.

Unfortunately, high productivity always costs more, perhaps not even always proportionally, so it is very important to optimally determine the amount of such a stock.

Our requests, desires and financial capabilities do not always coincide. However, in this case, there is the concept of "common sense", allowing you to drop insurmountable obstacles. It is always worth combining environmental aspects, such as energy consumption and durability, with economic - costs and profitability of purchase. Simply put, it is worth buying exactly what you really need (or need in the near future).

Our testing methodology is outlined in the article ", so for convenience we will refer to this article. If you are interested in details, we recommend that you refer to it.

Differences from this method for this testing come down to the hardware configuration: processor, RAM, motherboard and cooling system, the features of which can be found in the table below.

Test systems and measuring equipment
Hardware:	AMD Socket AM4 MSI X370 Tomahawk 2x 8 GB G.Skill TridentZ DDR4-3200 RGB AMD Socket SP3 (TR4) Asis X399 ROG Zenith Extreme AMD Socket AM3 + Asus Sabertooth 990FX 2x 8 GB Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR3 2133 Intel Socket 1151 (Z370): MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC 4x 8 GB G.Skill TridentZ DDR4-3600 RGB Intel Socket 1151 (Z270): MSI Z270 Gaming 7 2x 8GB Corsair Vengeance [email protected] MHz Intel Socket 2066 MSI X299 Gaming Pro Carbon AC 4x 8 GB G.Skill TridentZ DDR4-3200 RGB Intel Socket 2011v3: Intel Core i7-6900K MSI X99S XPower Gaming Titanium 4x 4 GB Crucial Ballistix DDR4-2400 All systems: GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition (Gaming) Nvidia Quadro P6000 (for workstations) 1x 1 TByte Toshiba OCZ RD400 (M.2, system SSD) 4x 1050 GByte Crucial MX 300 (storage and images) Power supply unit Be Quiet Dark Power Pro 11, 850 W Windows 10 Pro (with all updates)
Cooling:	Alphacool Eiszeit 2000 Chiller Alphacool Eisblock XPX Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut (for cooler replacement)
Monitor:	Eizo EV3237-BK
Housing:	Lian Li PC-T70 with expansion and modification kit Open test bench, closed case
Energy consumption measurement:	Non-contact current measurement on a PCIe slot (using an adapter card) Non-contact current measurement on the external power supply cable of the PSU Direct voltage measurement on the power supply 2 x Rohde & Schwarz HMO 3054, 500 MHz (4-channel oscilloscope with data logging function) 4 x Rohde & Schwarz HZO50 (current clamp) 4 x Rohde & Schwarz HZ355 (10: 1 oscilloscope probe, 500 MHz) 1 x Rohde & Schwarz HMC 8012 (multimeter with data logging function)
Temperature measurement:	Infrared camera Optris PI640 PI Connect analysis software with various profiles
Noise level measurement:	NTI Audio M2211 (with calibration file, 50 Hz high pass filter) Steinberg UR12 (with Phantom Power for microphones) Creative X7, Smart v.7 Our own measurement chamber with blanking surfaces, dimensions 3.5x1.8x2.2 m (LxWxH) Measurements along the axis perpendicular to the center of the sound source at a distance of 50 cm Noise level in dB (A) (slow), real-time frequency response analyzer (RTA) Graphical spectrum of noise frequencies

Let's start with two synthetic benchmarks, dividing them into two categories for DirectX11 and DirectX12 support. In the 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark, core count is most important, which boosts the performance of older multi-core processors that don't run at high enough clock speeds, such as the Core i7-6950X. Good results AMD Threadripper and Ryzen 7 also demonstrate. Simple quad-core processors have little chance here, as well as Intel six-core processors without Hyper-Threading support.

The picture is repeated in 3DMark Time Spy based on DirectX12. Regardless of the software interface, there is nothing to replace the number of cores. The performance becomes even more convincing with increasing clock speeds.

As in 3DMark, core count plays a major role in Ashes of Singularity: Escalation, followed by clock speed. This is a good example of proper load balancing across multiple threads.

In Civilization VI, the number of threads also matters, but in processors with eight or more possible threads (for example, in Intel Core i7-7700K using Hyper-Threading, clock speeds start to play an important role. So this game needs the right balance between number of cores and clock frequency.

In the game Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War III, the CPU clock speed comes to the fore, while four well-scalable threads will be enough. This lowers Ryzen slightly and boosts the performance of Intel chips.

Grand Theft Auto V is also an Intel-dominated construction site overall. At the same time, all Ryzen do not look too bad in terms of price-performance ratio.

The world of AMD processors looks pretty good in Hitman 2016. At the same time, the basic performance of the chips (for example, in the case of the Intel Core i5-8400) is limited by the power of the video card used. This is a clear example of the fact that if any of the components serve as limiting factors, any increase in performance can be costly. The key to everything is the right balance: the video card must match the processor level, and vice versa.

Project Cars is completely dominated by Intel processors. Even the low-end quad-core models without Hyper-Threading are significantly ahead of Ryzen 7 and Threadripper. Ryzen 3 and Pentium fail completely, and Ryzen 7 1700 has problems with too low clock speeds. So overclocking is indispensable here.

Far Cry Primal is the second game in our tests where the graphics card is the limiting factor, but a little clarification is needed here. This game works well with eight threads, and physical cores are not necessary, a quad-core chip with Hyper-Threading will do if the clock speeds are high enough. However, with "purely" quad-core models, this trick will no longer work if their clock frequency does not go beyond certain limits. In other words, frequency is important here, but frequency alone is not enough.

In the VRMark test we see a similar picture, and here Threadripper is already ahead of all Ryzen 7 modifications. However, this test is still the domain of Intel chips.

First, the bad news: there is no single best processor among the ones we tested, so to make right choice, all factors need to be considered, such as the purpose of use, the performance required, the overall concept of your PC, and your budget. So the good news is that everyone can find the best processor for themselves.

Games or office applications, workstation packages or HTPCs? The applications and applications are multifaceted, and most of us already know how a new processor will be used before purchasing it. The wrong choice not only causes disappointment in the acquisition, but also often leads to significant financial losses, especially if you have to resell, exchange or completely replace components that do not match each other.

There are many options for combining components. Does your CPU match the socket on the motherboard, and if so, does the motherboard itself support it? Is the cooling system suitable in terms of power for this processor, and if so, does this cooler cover the RAM modules and does it interfere with the installation of a video card in the first PCI Express slot? There are such "experts" who screw a huge cooler onto a mini-ITX board, and only then think about the case ...

Processor prices fluctuate like palm trees during a tropical cyclone, and any budding assembler pays attention to them first. Therefore, we are not going to comment on the price level in any way, since both the usual market price adjustments and the relative scarcity of individual models (for example, the Coffee Lake-S from Intel) make such comments meaningless just a few days after they were uttered. Therefore, we simply present the "clean" results and leave the readers the opportunity to independently inquire about prices.

Content

The heart of a computer is called a processor, which is its main processing device. The part looks like a chipset and is responsible for computing processes. How to choose a processor for a computer is the most important question when buying equipment. The overall speed of the system largely depends on the performance of this part. In order not to regret your purchase, choose accessories based on their characteristics.

Main characteristics of the processor

1. Manufacturer. There are two main competitors for computer processors - AMD and Intel. The second firm is considered a leader in cutting edge technology. The main advantage of AMD over Intel is relatively low prices... Moreover, the production of the first is slightly inferior to the second in productivity (on average, by 10%), but the cost is 1.5-2 times lower.
2. What is CPU clock speed? This parameter determines how many operations the device can perform per second. What the processor frequency affects: a high indicator of this characteristic promises fast data processing by a computer. The parameter is considered one of the most important when choosing a device. How to find out the frequency in Windows: you need to open the properties menu on the My Computer icon with the right mouse button.
3. Number of Cores. This indicator affects the number of programs that can be run on a PC without losing its performance. Older computer models are equipped with quad-core or dual-core processors. New devices released during recent years, have 6- and 8-core parts. However, if the software is optimized for a dual-core PC, more cores will not speed it up. On the part box, you can see alphanumeric markings, the decoding of which will provide data on the number of cores.
4. System bus frequency. The characteristic indicates the speed of streams of incoming or outgoing information. The higher the indicator, the faster the exchange of information.
5. Cache memory. An important role in the work of the PC is played by the processor cache, which looks like a high-speed memory block. The part sits directly on the core and is needed to improve performance. Thanks to it, data processing is faster than in the case of RAM. There are 3 levels of cache memory - from L1 to L3. The first two have small volumes, but the third ones, which provide for a large capacity, are surely winning due to the speed of work.
6. Connector type (socket). This characteristic is not considered paramount, but it has a certain relevance when choosing a device. A socket is a "socket" in the motherboard that holds the processor, so it must be compatible with the part you choose. For example, if the socket is marked with AMZ, a corresponding connector on the motherboard is required. The latest models are equipped with modern types of "jacks" and often have improved characteristics (bus frequency and others).
7. Power consumption and cooling. Powerful modern devices have a negative impact on the power consumption of your computer. To avoid overheating of parts and their breakage, special fans (coolers) are used. To use the TDP indicator, which indicates the amount of heat required in the outlet. Based on this value, a specific model of the cooling system is selected.

How AMD differs from Intel

A frequently asked question among those who want to buy a processor is: "What is better AMD or Intel?" The main difference is the hyper-strength technology and the increased compute pipeline that Intel models have. Thanks to this, devices perform a number of tasks faster: they archive files, perform video encoding, and perform other tasks. Parts from AMD do the job just as well, but spend more time on it. Everyone determines for himself which processor is better than Intel or AMD.

To make your choice easier, check out the merits of the products from both manufacturers. Comparison of AMD and Intel processors:

Intel advantages	AMD advantages
High speed PC	The optimum ratio of price and quality
Economical energy consumption	System stability
High gaming performance	Multitasking
Core i7 and i3 multithreading gives extra performance	The ability to speed up the work of processes by 5-20%
Perfectly tuned work with RAM	Multi-platform (the ability to assemble a PC from parts of different generations of AMD)

Which processor to choose for a computer

The answer to this question depends on the tasks that the PC will have to perform. So, when choosing a gaming computer, attention should be paid to the video card model, since the graphics adapter is responsible for supporting certain technologies and levels of performance in games. However, without the right CPU, the graphics card will not reach its potential. For working with other programs or using a PC in the office, less demanding parts are suitable.

For games

How to choose a processor for a gaming computer? There are a number of requirements for a "gaming" PC. The device must be able to handle at least four data streams. The test results prove that Intel Hyper-Treading technology increases the number of frames per second. Experts consider Intel Core i5 models optimal for a gaming PC. Parts from AMD show lower performance. If in the line from Intel 4-core devices cope with their tasks, then their competitors show the same result with 8-core analogs. Which processor should you choose for gaming?

Top devices for games:

1. Intel Core-i5 Ivy Bridge (Quad Core)
2. Intel Core i5-4440 Haswell (Quad Core)
3. AMD FX-8350 Vishera (eight-core).

For home or office use

Browsers and other programs necessary for office work require an impressive amount of RAM, but practically do not load the hard disk and processor. Therefore, it is better to choose a computer with a large amount of memory. However, processor performance should not be neglected either. According to the test results, models from the Intel Core i3 or i5 lines will be a good solution.

List of budget devices for the office:

• Intel Celeron G1820;
• AMD ATHLON II X2 255;
• AMD ATHLON II X4 750K;
• AMD A8-6600K.

For demanding programs

This category includes parts, the function of which is to provide fast operation of demanding programs, for example, video, graphic editors, etc. Devices of this type are expensive components and are distinguished by maximum performance. This category of processors is often of interest to gamers who want to achieve best quality images during the game.

Overview best devices for demanding programs:

• AMD FX-8350 (8-core) Ideal for games and other programs designed for. Differs in speed and reasonable price.
• Intel i7-4770 (4-core). Runs games at the highest possible settings, works fast, ideally optimized for Intel graphics cards.

Ranking of the best PC processors of 2019

1. Intel Core i7-990x. Ideal for the latest generation of gaming PCs. The device is designed for socket 1366, is equipped with 6 cores, has a frequency of 3.46 GHz and 12 megabytes of cache. Estimated cost: 38,000 rubles.
2. Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition. One of the most popular models. Equipped with 6 cores, has 15 MB of cache and 3.5 GHz clock speed. Works great with any new demanding games and programs. Estimated cost: 46,000 rubles.
3. Intel Core i5-4690K. An inexpensive model will show excellent results in terms of performance. Compared to other devices, the i5-4690K stands out due to its value for money. The processor is equipped with a L3 cache, has a 3.5 GHz clock speed and 4 cores. Estimated cost: 22,000 rubles.
4. AMD FX-9370. The most powerful AMD processor has a new AM3 + socket and 8 cores, developing a maximum frequency of up to 4.4 GHz. The model is equipped with 8 MB of cache memory, which allows you to improve your PC and use any programs, games. Estimated cost: 20-22,000 rubles.
5. Intel Xeon E3-1230 v3. Quad-core device belongs to fourth generation processors from Intel. It is equipped with a socket type 1150, which is considered the best among the existing ones. The clock speed of the Xeon E3-1230 v3 is 3.3 GHz, the cache memory is 8 MB. Estimated cost: 22,000 rubles.

2015 Processor Test Table

To understand how to choose a processor for your computer, you should read the results of their testing. Devices are tested based on Windows 7 (64-bit). For this, certain programs are selected to unleash the potential of multithreading, to determine whether there is support for AMD Turbo CORE (dynamic overclocking) and Intel Turbo Boost Technology, whether it is possible to use new SIMDs. The test results are expressed as a percentage of the performance of the fastest existing device, having a 100% result.

Summary table of processor performance:

Name	Result
Intel Core i7-5930K BOX
Intel Core i7-4960X Extreme
Intel Core i7-4960X Extreme BOX
Intel Core i7-5820K BOX
Intel Core i7-4790K
Intel Core i7-4790K BOX
Intel Core i7-4790
Intel Core i7-4790 BOX
Intel Core i7-4820K BOX
Intel Xeon E3-1240 V2
Intel Xeon E3-1230 V2

If you want to buy a processor, you should study its characteristics. For example, in the pursuit of frequency, many people forget about the peculiarities of the kernel of a particular manufacturer, which negatively affects the performance of the computer. To remain satisfied with your purchase, you need to consider the parameters of the device and its compatibility with other parts. Find out how to choose the right processor for your computer by watching this video.

Found a mistake in the text? Select it, press Ctrl + Enter and we'll fix it!

As 2016 draws to a close, new 2017 Intel processors are coming soon. What to expect from them, and how they differ from their predecessors, we will definitely tell you.

Intel processors are popular and accepted by many people. Of course, the company does not want to stop there, one generation of processors is replaced by another, and the article is devoted to the differences between them.

It should be noted that each time the processors under consideration have a new microarchitecture. They differ from each other, of course, not only in names. Also performance, power, heating level and other important characteristics. It should also be noted that processors are becoming more presentable in appearance every year. Although the power increases, they become more compact and more energy efficient.

New Intel processors in 2017 - what to expect from them

There is already a rating of processors for 2017. We would like to inform you a little before submitting the list. Processors can be divided into only two types: AMD and Intel already familiar to us. We can say that the two companies are in no way inferior to each other and have been going toe-to-toe for many years. And now to the rating.

Consider processors from Intel, in 2017 their codename will be Intel Core i7:

In the first place Intel Core i7-4940Mx - the video card has 20 execution units, because of this, the work is 30% faster than HD 4000. The cores function at 3.1 GHz. The high-end processor will now be found on new laptop models.

Intel Core i7-4790K - second place. The model boasts great graphics and frequency. It has a level 3 cache, which is quite commendable. The text frequency of the processor is 4000 MHz. And another big plus is low heating.

Intel Core i7-5960X Extreme Edition - third place. Those who have to use this model will be delighted with its performance and the 8-core L3 cache. Why is he then in third place? Here the price let down, alas, it is high, and not everyone can afford this processor.

The main highlight of Intel processors 2017

Recently, on the World Wide Web, it was recorded that Intel is going to produce a 10nm technical process. Users made a logical conclusion that processors with new chips should be expected in 2017-2018. The company itself has officially announced that it will switch to the 10nm process technology in 2017, but only in the second half.

Only here the question arises, what is this 10-nm technical process, and what is it for.

So, 10nm is the technology by which microcircuits will be produced. And if the microcircuits start to do on it, then this will be the solution to many problems:

1. The new technology will shrink transistors.
2. If the transistors decrease, then, accordingly, the interconnects will decrease.
3. This will all lead to maximizing the density of the elements.
4. As a result, our devices become even smaller and more communicative.
5. And most importantly, all this reduces the total cost of microcircuits, which will allow buying ready-made and high-quality products much cheaper.

So, thanks to this zest, the expectation of new processors will double. Intel will supply Kaby Lake processors.

General conclusion

All of the above means that soon we will have the opportunity to buy laptops and computers of the new 7th generation CPU Core model. And do you know how long you have to wait? This will happen in just three months! Devices with Kaby Lake processors will have technologies such as USB 3.1, Thunderbolt 3. The efficiency of the updated models will increase. In addition, the processors will have 15% more I / O lines.

The new Intel Core processors will also delight seasoned gamers. Thanks to the speed of the processor and the protection features, they are able to take 3D games, especially those made with the latest technology, to a completely different level. This will help programmers to realize their creativity! For comparison: productivity, unlike previous processors, will be up to 2.5 times higher!

We have already talked about energy intensity and will say it again. Imagine up to 10 hours of use without charging! This will give you freedom.

It should be said that the device will turn on from the off state in a second. No tiresome waiting we are used to. This is also important!

And yes: Intel Core running Windows 10 is just great.

The new and improved Intel 2017 processors will bring a lot to the table The devices will be suitable for everything. For games, communication, work - you must agree that this is amazing!

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The best games of 2017 | Special nominations

Friends, 2017 is already behind us, which means it's time to take stock and make our traditional top of the best hardware of the past year.

Processors

According to the established tradition, we will open the top with processors. And yes, in the plural, because in 2017, the dying market, like an old cat at the sight of a cat, perked up and set such a heat that even the experienced one felt uncomfortable.

AMD Ryzen 7 1700

Naturally, the porridge was brewed by not being lazy Inteland half-dead AMD... At the very beginning of spring, as expected, she rolled out a line of processors - AMD Ryzen. In terms of performance per core, they were inferior to Intel Skylake, but bypassed the rival in the number of computing units. For the price of a quad-core Core i7-7700K, AMD began to offer an eight-core Ryzen 7 1700.

Yes, the processor was and still remains a little problematic, especially when it comes to the selection of RAM, but that did not stop it. Due to the double superiority in threads, Ryzen bypassed Skylake in all processor tests and was slightly inferior in games. And this was exactly what the market lacked so much - the end of the "blue" monopoly and a real choice.

AMD did not stop at 8-core Ryzen and immediately announced another line - Threadripper, which were supposed to snatch the palm from the purely working Intel X99 platform. Recall that Threadripper is the same Ryzen, in which the number of cores was brought to 16 pieces. Naturally, Intel could no longer tolerate this.

Intel Core i9-7980XE

Intel made a swing at Computex, where it hastily presented the X299 platform and the Intel Core i9 with 18 cores and 36 threads. This "stone" appeared in the fall and immediately showed who was the boss. The market has never seen more powerful processors ... more expensive, however, too. For the most powerful "stone" in Intel they still ask from 125,000 rubles.

Intel did not confine itself to the answer only in the professional field. In the same fall, Z370 chipsets and Coffee Lake processors began to be delivered to stores. In fact, they were the same Skylake, but with two "bonus" cores and "plus five thousand" on the price tag. The result is known. The Core i3 became quad-core, the Core i5 six-core, and the Core i7 got six cores and twelve threads.

Intel Core i7-8700K

As a result, Ryzen was defeated. The top-end i7-8700K outperformed the eight-core 1800X for the same price and, remarkably, won not only in games, but also in all working applications. And this returned Intel, albeit not very strong, but its leadership in the market. Whether it will continue in 2018 is an open question. Ryzen 2 should appear on sale soon, but Intel is not hindered by the launch of 8-core models into the mass segment.

Motherboard

Despite the barrage of processors, motherboards in 2017 were sad. For the new Core i9 and Core i7, Intel offered absolutely nothing. That X299, that Z370 are old songs, not even sung on new way... AMD with its X399 and X370 also showed nothing interesting, except for a new approach to the allocation of PCIe lines. However, this did not save us from choosing the coolest motherboard, and we appoint ASUS ROG Zenith Extreme based on AMD X399 as the queen of 2017.

ASUS ROG Zenith Extreme

Specifications
Supported processors:	AMD Ryzen Threadripper for Socket AM4
Form factor:	EATX
Chipset:	AMD X399
RAM:	8x DDR4 (up to 128 GB)
PCIe slots:	2x PCIe 3.0 x16, 2x PCIe 3.0 x8, PCIe 2.0 x4, PCIe 2.0 x1
Disk subsystem:	6x SATA Rev. 3, 2x M.2 22110, M.2 2280
Sound subsystem:	Realtek ALC1220
Net:	Intel I218-V, Intel I211-AT, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0
Back panel:	8x USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.1 Type-C, 2x RJ45 (1, 10 Gb / s), 5x 3.5 mm jack, S / PDIF
Dimensions:	305x277 mm
Price for January 2018:	40,000 rubles ($ 700)

Technically, the chipset itself is nothing special. The only nice thing is that AMD gives 60 PCIe lanes for use instead of 44 in the competing Intel X299. Otherwise, everything is standard, and, if not ASUS, the board would not differ much from competitors. However, the engineers of the company tried and used all their developments in Zenith.

Let's start with storage devices. For starters, ASUS hid two M.2 slots for the main radiator of the south bridge. Two more solid-state devices can be installed in the additional, ninth, DIMM port. For this, the board is equipped with a DIMM.2 adapter board, which is installed perpendicular to the motherboard.

The next item is network technologies. By default, the board works with the correct 1 GB / s Intel I211-AT adapter, but the bundle includes a 10 GB / s ROG Areion PCIe card, which is sold separately for 8-10 thousand rubles. It is clear that not a single Internet provider provides such speeds yet, and is unlikely to provide such speeds in the near future, but with due diligence and the availability of funds at home, you can organize an amazing network over which you can actually drive 4K content.

Another gift for technology lovers is tri-band Wi-Fi with support for the 802.11ad protocol and, accordingly, with a theoretical bandwidth of 7 GB / s! For those who missed the appearance of 802.11ad, we note that this is not a replacement for 802.11n / ac, but a stand-alone protocol that operates at a frequency of 60 GHz and is designed for about ten meters of line of sight in terms of range.

That is, if you build an ad-based network in an apartment, then you will have to buy your own router for each room. Madness? On the one hand, yes, on the other, ad has other uses. Soon, TVs with support for this technology should appear on sale, which means that it will be possible to directly stream 4K movies on them.

I got ROG Zenith and a normal sound path. It is based on the disgusted Realtek ALC1220, but with the correct strapping. The capacitors are from Nichicon, the DAC is from ESS, and the Texas Instruments amplifier is responsible for working with high-impedance headphones.

Finally, let's note the board's backlighting. We understand that the abundance of light bulbs on motherboards last year got tired of everyone, but, perhaps, only ASUS had the strength to bring all this color music to mind. The LEDs are included in the Aura Sync system, which drives the LEDs not only on the board itself, but also on video cards, RAM, monitors, mice, keyboards, and cases. Naturally, for this, third-party equipment must support the Aura Sync system, but, as practice has shown, it is not difficult to find such devices.

The advantages of ROG can be described further, but within the "top" we will only note that, despite the general stagnation in the development of chipsets, motherboard manufacturers still move this sector forward, and in 2017 ASUS did the most. Finally, let's say that if you are not a fan of AMD, then the same technologies can be found on the flagship Z370 and X299 variants for Intel processors.

Video cards

The situation with video cards in 2017 was badly damaged by miners. As you remember, at the beginning to the middle of the summer all popular GPUs disappeared from stores, and unsold units almost doubled in price. For example, if in February 2017 GTX 1060 could be bought for 18,000 rubles, then in July it was sold for 34,000, and the goods did not stale. By the fall, the market slightly let go, prices returned to their previous channel, but ... the moment for the release of new generations of Radeon and GeForce was ruined. You yourself understand that when in the first half of the year companies overfulfill the annual sales plan, no one is interested in releasing something new.

Therefore, in 2017 we saw only one new flagship - Vega 64. He could be named the main GPU of the year, but ... we cannot. The new AMD architecture (well, like a new one ... again sawn down GCN) could not even bypass the GTX 1080, which, recall, came out almost two years ago and, what is funny, is more stable, has much less requirements for the power supply and is cheaper.

ASUS ROG Strix

In this regard, the award of the year NVIDIA, we won't give AMD, but we will hand it ... again to ASUS, for its ROG Strix line. In fact, these are the best graphics cards on the market. The power supply system, organization of cooling, overclocking, control - everything is done at the highest level. Even the Strix GTX 1080 Ti manages to stay within 55-60 degrees Celsius! And the super-hot Vega 64 fits into 65.

Monitors

The situation with monitors this year is interesting. We were not able to choose a direct leader, since none of the companies was able to make, so to speak, a “universal”. But we tested a couple of monitors that we not only liked, but also clearly hinted at what to expect in 2018.

LG 34UC89G

Let's start with the updated model from Lg - 34UC89G. It is a direct descendant of last year's 79G, an IPS-based widescreen with enhanced Full HD. The monitor received relatively minor updates, but they were enough to stay in the top.

First and foremost, engineers have added support for G-Sync, which eliminates all gaps or freezes in the picture. Second, the matrix refresh rate has increased from 144 to 166 Hz. Otherwise, we have the same sturdy 21: 9 with a good stand and an excellent matrix, which, after calibration, fits into ∆E 00 0.71.

Samsung C32HG70

Surprised this year and Samsung, which at the beginning of 2017 announced itself as a manufacturer of gaming monitors. Frankly, it was rather strange, but ... the engineers did not disappoint. Samsung has reimagined the idea of \u200b\u200bcurved displays and brought VA panels with a standard aspect ratio and curved panel to the market. We hardly believed in this idea - we got used to the fact that a concave matrix must necessarily be widescreen - but the idea worked. While Samsung's displays were by no means suitable for professional graphics work, they performed well in games.

We can't say they added depth, but having all the points on the screen at the same distance from the eyes certainly felt much nicer than a standard flat panel.

Samsung was not limited to the format and was one of the first to add HDR support to gaming monitors. For those who missed it, HDR is now our future. The technology introduces spot illumination of specified areas into the world of displays. The sky, the light breaking through the windows, bright flashes in the dark - all this now looks exactly as it should look in life. And let the idea with HDR is now actively harmed by all and sundry (especially Microsoft), this technology is the future.

Surely you are now asking, why didn't we give such a cool monitor the sole first place? The answer is simple. Samsung hasn't coped with the styling of all this beauty. The monitor looks great in the photos - gray plastic, thin frames, a beautiful stand - but in real life it came out very large, and at home it has to be set aside from the wall by about 30-35 centimeters. We are sure that in 2018 Samsung will take all this into account and give us the perfect model.

Laptops

Due to the situation with miners, NVIDIA did not update not only desktop, but also mobile chips, and processor giants this year were so carried away by home computers that they were very reluctant to remember mobile technologies. As a result, laptop manufacturers had to get out of the situation themselves. Someone simply changed the design of old models, while someone approached the matter much more seriously. There were three such "serious" ones in 2017 - Acer, ASUS and MSI.

Acer Predator Triton 700

Specifications
Display:	15.6 inches, 1920x1080, IPS, 120 Hz, G-Sync
CPU:	Intel Core i7-7700HQ, (4 cores, 2.8-3.8 GHz, 45 W)
Memory:	32 GB DDR4-2400
Video card:	Intel HD Graphics 630, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, 8 GB GDDR5x
Disk subsystem:	2x 512 GB SSD NVMe (RAID0)
Communication:	Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11ac 1535, Bluetooth 4
Connectors:	2x USB 3.0, USB 2.0, USB 3.1 Type C, 2x 3.5 mm jack, HDMI, DisplayPort, RJ45
Operating system:	Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit
Additionally:	webcam, keyboard backlight, gaming mouse
Equipment:	charging, instruction
Dimensions:	39.3x26.6x1.89 cm
The weight:	2.4 kg
Price for January 2018:	270,000 rubles ($ 4,650)

Acer, so to speak, opened our top at the very beginning of 2017, when at an internal conference it presented a laptop less than two centimeters thick, weighing about 2 kg and with a full GTX 1080 on board. I had to guess what it was until the summer, when the head of NVIDIA presented the Max-Q concept at Computex.

Its essence was simple - we are working on power consumption, lowering the frequencies of the chips and getting powerful video cards that work without problems in thin laptops. We had to wait until the fall to test these "no problems", and we can say that the Max-Q notebooks turned out to be contradictory. For all the tweaks, the Triton 700 came out super hot, and the layout of the controls was questionable.

But all this can be forgiven if you keep in mind that Acer has made a two-centimeter laptop with a full-fledged GTX 1080, which pulls all games at "ultra" with fps above sixty. Just for reference, before such systems fit at least 3.5-4 cm and weighed 3-4 kg. All in all, the Triton 700 is definitely one of the most interesting notebooks of that year.

ASUS ROG Strix GL702ZC

Specifications
Display:	17.3 inches, 1920x1080, IPS, 120 Hz, FreeSync
CPU:	AMD Ryzen 7 1700 (8 cores, 16 threads, 3-3.7 GHz, 65W)
Memory:	16 GB DDR4-2400
Video card:	AMD Radeon RX 580 (4GB GDDR5)
Disk subsystem:	256 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD
Communication:	Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11ac 1535, Bluetooth 4.2
Connectors:	3x USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Type C, 3.5mm jack, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, RJ45
Operating system:	Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit
Additionally:	webcam, keyboard backlight, card reader
Equipment:	charging, instruction
Dimensions:	41.5x2.8x3.4 cm
The weight:	3 Kg
Price for January 2018:	93,000 rubles ($ 1,550)

An interesting laptop was also released by ASUS, which did not wait for gifts from Intel or AMD and shoved the 8-core Ryzen into the laptop itself. The model turned out to be twofold again. We assembled a laptop on a special version of the desktop AMD B350 with a soldered Radeon RX 580 and slots for mobile DDR4. The processor was taken as a desktop one - Ryzen 7 1700 with 8 cores, 16 threads and a frequency of 3.2 GHz.

From a purely gaming point of view, the machine turned out to be controversial: a bundle of Core i7-7700HQ and GTX 1060 is slightly faster, and colder, and thinner, and lasts longer on battery life. But from a working point of view, the GL702ZC had no competitors and is not planned in the near future.

MSI GT75VR 7RE Titan SLI

Specifications
Display:	17.3 inches, 3840x2160, IPS, 75 Hz
CPU:	Intel Core i7-7820HK, 4 cores / 8 threads, 2.9-3.9 GHz, 45W TDP
Memory:	64 GB DDR4-2400
Video card:	2x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, 1443-1645 / 8000 MHz, 8 GB GDDR5
Disk subsystem:	2x 256 GB SSD RAID0, 1 TB HDD HGST HTS721010A9E630
Sound:	ESS Saber
Communication:	Killer E2400 Gigabit Ethernet, Killer Wi-Fi 802.11ac 1535, Bluetooth 4.2
Connectors:	5x USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Type-C, 4x 3.5 mm jack, Mini-DisplayPort, HDMI, LAN
Operating system:	Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit
Additionally:	webcam, keyboard backlight
Equipment:	charging, instruction
Battery:	74 W / h
Dimensions:	42.8x31x5.8 cm
The weight:	4.6 kg
Price for January 2017:	275,000 rubles ($ 4,590)

Finally, the third laptop is the MSI GT75VR Titan SLI. MSI did not dare to experiment with formats. We also installed desktop processors, but we thoroughly worked on strapping the already familiar filling.

Technically, the GT75VR is a combination of a Core i7 with a GTX 1080 or from the same Core i7 and two GTX 1070s in SLI mode. The laptop itself is a heavy and thick colossus that will leave the house only when you move to the country or on a long business trip.

The GT7VR isn't about weight or stuffing though. The first thing that surprised us: a full-size mechanical keyboard that fits into the dimensions of the laptop. MSI was one of the first to use Kailh's low profile switches presented at Computex, which have a feel and actuation confidence very close to full-size Cherry MX switches. The second surprising element is the wrist rest. It would seem such a trifle, but in practice it is very convenient, and, I must say, in other laptops we now lack it. And the third element is an incredibly efficient and very quiet cooling system for such power.

Computer of the Year

Last time in the nomination "Computer of the Year" a whole line lined up, led by the magnificent ASUS Smaug in the form of a dragon. 2017 came out much quieter. There were enough different concepts, but only a few made it to retail. Therefore, today we will single out only two, but very unusual models.

Gigabyte Brix VR

The first is barebone from Gigabyte... Technically, the system is simple - a mobile Core i5 or Core i7 in conjunction with a GTX 1060. The whole relish is that the bundle comes in the smallest case in the world with a volume of only two and a half liters, which corresponds to not the largest Bluetooth speaker. Obviously, this miracle of engineering is not capable of frequency records and hardly passes especially evil load tests. Nevertheless, it works and runs all modern games, and even at "high" or "ultra" settings, with a frequency of 35-40 frames per second. At the same time, the system does not make much noise, and it costs quite adequate money for its concept - a little cheaper than a similar laptop. In general, lovers of everything unusual should like it.

Dell Alienware Area-51

Specifications
CPU:	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X (16 cores, 32 threads, 3.4 - 4 GHz, 180 W)
Memory:	4x 16 GB DDR4-2933 MHz (HyperX)
Video card:	2x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti FE (1480-1582 / 11000 MHz, 11 GB GDDR5x)
Disk subsystem:	1 TB M.2 SSD, 2 TB HDD (7200 rpm)
Communication:	LAN, WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2
Price for January 2018:	321,000 rubles ($ 5649)

The second computer is a super system from Dell, called the Alienware Area-51. In terms of layout and price, this is a typical top based on AMD X399: 16-core Threadripper, 64 GB of 3 GHz RAM, a terabyte NVMe SSD and ... two GeForce GTX 1080 Ti in SLI. Dell is distinguished from regular assemblies by non-standard design. Under the Area-51, an original triangular case was made, in which almost all components either stand at a steep angle, or are hidden behind a panel under the motherboard. Naturally, all this is flavored with branded lighting and thus the logo with an alien head.

Mouse

Giving awards to mice is a thankless job. Universal models that everyone would like were not invented. Therefore, now you will read about the mouse, which has become the sole favorite of our head of the "Iron Shop" and, concurrently, the author of these lines. It's about Cougar revenger.

Cougar revenger

Specifications
Sensor:	PWM3360
Resolution:	100 - 12,000 dpi
Polling rate:	1000 Hz / 1 ms
Built-in memory:	512 KB
Case material:	plastic
Number of buttons:	6
Main buttons:	mechanical (OMRON)
Backlight:	16.8 million colors
Maximum tracking speed:	250 IPS
Maximum acceleration:	50 G
Interface:	USB
Length of cable:	1.8 m
Dimensions:	13.5х7х4.5 cm
The weight:	115 g
Price for January 2018:	4000 rubles ($ 70)

We admit that she conquered with her forms. For ten years we have tested hundreds of mice, and only Revenger fell into the palm of your hand.

Didn't let the mouse down in other parameters. The body is made of nice smooth plastic, which looks like new after six months of operation. The sides are molded from the same plastic, but molded to look like honeycomb rubber. The clicks are one with the back, and underneath are Omron switches. Well, the best sensor model for today - Pixart 3360 is responsible for movement, which proved to be excellent both in games and in MouseTester.

Sound

Game sound has received several powerful kicks from manufacturers this year. First blow struck Sennheiser, the second, at the end of the year, - HyperX.

Sennheiser GSX 1000

In general, in 2017, Sennheiser presented four very interesting products. Two headphone models in the middle price range - GSP 300 and GSP 350. One model in the high - PC373D. AND sound card GSX 1000. Let's stop at the last one.

For a sound card, the GSX 1000 turned out to be very expensive - about 16,500 rubles. And this is for an external card with a minimum of settings and without software support. Why are we giving her a reward? Firstly, it has a very good sound path, and it pumps the headphones up to 150 ohms. Secondly, the management and build quality are top notch. Sennheiser even thought about such a trifle as dimming the backlight while playing. And thirdly, the GSX first introduced new technology "Virtual surround sound" - Sennheiser Binaural Rendering Engine. And it is not only as good as Dolby or DTS, but surpasses them by a head!

HyperX Cloud Core Alpha

We admit that when HyperX showed the new Cloud Core Alpha at Igromir, we strongly doubted their validity and could not even think that we would include them in the Top of the Year. The December tests, as you know, changed our opinion.

Specifications
Projection system:	DLP
Resolution:	3840x2160 (shift), 23-120 Hz
Projected Screen Size:	60-200 inches
Optical zoom:	up to 1.2
Brightness:	2200 lm
Contrast:	10 000:1
Connectors:	D-sub (VGA), 2x HDMI (MHL), 2x 3.5 mm jack, USB, 12V
Equipment:	power cable, remote control
Additionally:	3D Stereo support, built-in 5W speaker
Dimensions:	35.3x13.5x27.2 cm
The weight:	4.2 kg
Price for January 2018:	120,000 rubles ($ 2105)

At the end of the year BenQ surprised with the W1700 projector, which gives 4K not for 400,000, but for 120,000 rubles. In addition to the excellent matrix, the projector received support for HDR, 3D Stereo, as well as a good 2200 lumen lamp. In general, it is extremely interesting and very budgetary for 4K.

As for the rest, the W1700 is a typical projector. The plastic case, all the controls are collected in one block on the top cover, the input has D-sub (VGA) and a pair of HDMI, the image is scaled by a factor of 1.2x, and, of course, there is automatic keystone correction.

Laptop for work

Lenovo ThinkPad 25 th Anniversary Edition

Specifications
Display:	14 inches, 3840x2160, IPS, 75 Hz
CPU:	Intel Core i7-7500U, 2 cores / 4 threads, 2.7-3.5 GHz, 45W TDP
Memory:	16 GB DDR4
Video card:	NVIDIA GeForce 940MX (952-1020 MHz, 8000 MHz, 2 GB GDDR5)
Disk subsystem:	512 GB PCIe SSD
Communication:	WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1, LAN
Connectors:	3x USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Type-C, 3.5 mm jack, HDMI, LAN
Operating system:	Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit
Additionally:	webcam, card reader
Battery:	48 W / h
Dimensions:	33.7x23.3x2 cm
The weight:	1.6KG
Price for January 2018:	102,000 rubles ($ 1,800)

In the past 2017, the legendary ThinkPad series of notebooks is twenty-five years old! Naturally, to miss such an event in Lenovo could not and marked it with a special version of the ThinkPad.

It's nice that it was built not on the basis of the "changeling" X, but on the basis of the more traditional T470 model. The laptop looks strict, it is equipped with a 14-inch display and carries a Core i7-7500U on board in conjunction with 16 GB of RAM and a video card based on GeForce 940MX.

The anniversary version is distinguished from the standard version of the T470 by the keyboard and control system redesigned, so to speak, for the classics. The keys themselves are large and with characteristic recesses for fingers, plus, unlike modern models, there are one row more buttons than usual, and the function keys are highlighted in a characteristic blue color.

In general, Lenovo's machine is excellent, and it will certainly appeal to those nostalgic for "square" notebooks.