The Intel Core i7-6560U is an ULV (ultra low voltage) dual-core SoC based on the Skylake architecture and has been launched in September 2015. The CPU can be found in ultrabooks as well as normal notebooks.. In addition to two CPU cores with Hyper-Threading clocked at 2.2 - 3.2 GHz (2 cores: max. 3.1 GHz), the chip also integrates an Iris Graphics 540 GPU with 64 MB of dedicated eDRAM memory and a dual-channel DDR4-2133/DDR3L-1600 memory controller. The SoC is manufactured using a 14 nm process with FinFET transistors.
Architecture
Skylake replaces both Haswell and Broadwell and brings the same microarchitecture in every TDP class from 4.5 to 45 W. The extensive improvements of the Skylake design include increased out-of-order buffers, optimized prefetching and branch prediction as well as additional performance gains through Hyper-Threading. Overall, however, performance per clock has been increased by only 5 to 10 percent (compared to Haswell) respectively under 5 percent (compard to Broadwell), which is quite modest for a new architecture ("Tock").
Furthermore, the organisation of the eDRAM cache has been modified. Instead of acting like a victim cache, which has to be adressed via the L3/LLC, the eDRAM can now be adressed directly by programms just like the main memory. The size is still 128 MB for the quad-core models (4C + GT4e), while the dual-core chips (2C + GT3e) only offer 64 MB.
Performance
According to the specified clock rates and the improved architecture, the Core i7-6560U should perform similar to a Core i5-4300M (Haswell, 37 W) and slightly beat the Core i7-5600U (Broadwell, 15 W). Thus, the CPU has sufficient power for office and multimedia purposes as well as more demanding applications and multitasking.
Graphics
The integrated graphics unit called Iris Graphics 540 represents the "GT3e" version of the Skylake GPU (Intel Gen. 9). The 48 Execution Units, also called EUs, are clocked at 300 - 1050 MHz and offer (thanks to the fast eDRAM cache) a performance sligthly above a dedicated GeForce 920M. Games of 2015 can thus be played smoothly in low or medium settings. For more information about performance and features, check our page for the Iris Graphics 540.
Power Consumption
Specified at a TDP of 15 W (including CPU, GPU and memory controller), the CPU is best suited for small notebooks and ultrabooks (11-inches and above). Optionally, the TDP can be lowered to 9.5 watts (cTDP down), reducing both heat dissipation and performance and allowing even more compact designs.
| Codename | Skylake | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series | Intel Core i7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series: Core i7 Skylake
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| Clock Rate | 2200 - 3200 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 Cache | 128 KB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 2 Cache | 512 KB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 3 Cache | 4 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Power Consumption (TDP = Thermal Design Power) | 15 Watt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturing Technology | 14 nm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Max. Temperature | 100 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Socket | BGA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Features | Dual-Channel DDR3L-1600/DDR4-2133 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GPU | Intel Iris Graphics 540 (300 - 1050 MHz) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 64 Bit | 64 Bit support | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Architecture | x86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcement Date | 09/01/2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Product Link (external) | ark.intel.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
HP Spectre 13-4200ns x360: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 13.30", 1.4 kg
External Review » HP Spectre 13-4200ns x360
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S-13ISK 80SW00ADSP: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 13.30", 1.1 kg
External Review » Lenovo IdeaPad 710S-13ISK 80SW00ADSP
HP Envy 15-aq003ng x360: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 15.60", 2.2 kg
External Review » HP Envy 15-aq003ng x360
HP Envy 15-aq004ur x360: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 15.60", 2.2 kg
External Review » HP Envy 15-aq004ur x360
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S-13ISK: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 13.30", 1.2 kg
External Review » Lenovo IdeaPad 710S-13ISK
HP Envy 15-as006ur: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 15.60", 2 kg
External Review » HP Envy 15-as006ur
HP Spectre x360 15-ap003ng: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 15.60", 1.8 kg
External Review » HP Spectre x360 15-ap003ng
HP Envy 15-as005n: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 15.60", 2.2 kg
External Review » HP Envy 15-as005n
HP Spectre x360 13-4204ng: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 13.30", 1.5 kg
External Review » HP Spectre x360 13-4204ng
HP Spectre x360 15-ap006ng: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 15.60", 1.8 kg
External Review » HP Spectre x360 15-ap006ng
HP Spectre 13-4204nf x360: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 13.30", 1.4 kg
External Review » HP Spectre 13-4204nf x360
HP Spectre x360 13-4230ng: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 13.30", 1.5 kg
External Review » HP Spectre x360 13-4230ng
HP Envy x360 15-aq005na: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 15.60", 2.2 kg
External Review » HP Envy x360 15-aq005na
HP Envy x360 15-aq055na: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 15.60", 2.2 kg
External Review » HP Envy x360 15-aq055na
Lenovo Ideapad 710S-13ISK-80SW0027UK: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 13.30", 1.2 kg
External Review » Lenovo Ideapad 710S-13ISK-80SW0027UK
HP Spectre x360 13-4203ng: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 13.30", 1.5 kg
External Review » HP Spectre x360 13-4203ng
Dell XPS 13 2016 9350 (FHD, i7-6560U) : Intel Iris Graphics 540, 13.30", 1.2 kg
External Review » Dell XPS 13 2016 9350 (FHD, i7-6560U)
Dell XPS 13 9350 WQXGA: Intel Iris Graphics 540, 13.30", 1.3 kg
External Review » Dell XPS 13 9350 WQXGA
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