Processors for Mining: Intel I5-4570R processor with 128MB L4 cache – Is the redesigned Intel I5-4570R processor good for mining mineable? In 2013, Intel released 22nm BGA1364 processors based on the Crystal Well architecture (in fact, these are Haswell processors with the Iris Pro / GT3e graphics core).
These CPUs were used in laptops and had built-in eDRAM buffer memory that could be used by both the processor cores and the graphics subsystem.
Some time ago, the Chinese Kulibins began selling processors of the Crystal Well family, redesigned for socket 1150 (to work on stationary computers with Z87, B85, Z97 and H81 chipsets).
This article discusses the computing capabilities of the fourth generation Intel i5-4570R (SR18P) processor, adapted for the LGA1150 socket:
Such a stone on AliExpress costs about $ 30-40, having good overclocking potential and a good built-in video card.
To test the CPU capabilities, we used the H81 Pro BTC R2.0 motherboard (BIOS version 1.30B). The performance of the Intel I5-4570R in mining was compared with the I5-4590S processor, which is similar in frequency, but does not have a fourth-level cache, while the hybrid processor confidently won in almost all algorithms.
Intel i5-4570R processor specifications affecting mining
Intel i5-4570R / I5-4590S processors are manufactured using a 22nm manufacturing process and are capable of performing calculations using MMX, SSE-SSE4.2, AES, AVX, AVX2 instructions.
CPU I5-4570R / I5-4590S have the following main technical characteristics:
- generation – fourth;
- codename – Crystal Well / Haswell;
- production start date – Q2’14 / Q2’14;
- technological process – 22 nm;
- number of cores / threads – 4/4;
- base frequency – 2.7 / 3 GHz;
- maximum clock frequency – 3.2 / 3.7 GHz;
- system bus frequency – 5 GT / s;
- Max. memory bandwidth – 25.6 GB / s;
- the maximum amount of memory is 32 GB;
- the maximum number of memory channels is 2;
- Case temperature (°C) — 65/71;
- TDP — 65w.
Cash-память CPU i5-4570R/I5-4590S:
- L1i — 128 KiB (4×32 KiB 8-way set associative per core, write-back);
- L1d — 128 KiB (4×32 KiB 8-way set associative, per core, write-back);
- L2 — 1 MiB (4×256 KiB 8-way set associative, per core, write-back);
- L3 — 4/6 MiB (12-way set associative shared);
- L4 — 128 MiB (16-way set associative).
Integrated graphics for Intel I5-4570R / I5-4590S processors:
- Intel Iris Pro 5200/Intel HD Graphics 4600;
- integrated GPU frequency – 0.2-1.15 / 0.35-1.15 GHz;
- maximum possible video memory – 2GB;
- number of shader cores – 320/160;
- number of TMUs – 40/20;
- the number of ROPs – 4/2;
- TDP – 30/20 watts.
- the supported version of OpenCL multithreaded computing is 1.2.
As you can see from the above data, the I5-4570R / I5-4590S processors have the following differences:
- I5-4570R processor frequency is 10-13% less than I5-4590S;
- the amount of cache memory of the third level L3 of the I5-4570R is 33% less than that of the I5-4590S;
- The I5-4590S processor, like most other regular Intel desktop processors, has no L4 cache at all.
Of greatest interest is the high-performance cache memory eDRAM (embedded DRAM) of the fourth level, which is absent on most other Intel processors.
High-speed memory of the fourth level allows you to get great performance when performing archiving operations (for example, in the Winrar program), when encoding a video signal, as well as on some mining algorithms.
The graphics core performance of the Intel i5-4570R (GPU Iris Pro 5200) is double that of the I5-4590S (GPU HD Graphics 4600). This allows you to use the integrated graphics built into the processor for mining (this topic was partially covered in the article Can I run mining on an integrated graphics card from an Intel processor?).
The performance level of the Intel Iris Pro 5200 video core is comparable to the discrete graphics cards Nvidia GeForce GT640 / GTX745 and AMD Radeon HD6670 / HD7750:
More details about the computing capabilities of Intel graphics cards, in particular the GPU Iris Pro 5200, are discussed in a separate article.
Installing an Intel i5-4570R processor adapted for LGA1150 socket on a motherboard
CrystallWell CPUs adapt to regular motherboards by soldering a part of 1364 BGA balls onto an adapter board cut to fit a regular LGA1150 processor.
CrystallWell 1364-pin BGA processor converted for the 1150th LGA slot by soldering to an adapter board with a scalped heat sink cover:
To install a thick enough APU, you need to slightly increase the distance between the processor hold-down plate and the board surface.
The difference in thickness between a regular processor (left) and an Intel I5-4570R processor redesigned for socket 1150:
When installing the cooling system, loosen the fixing screws of the CPU retaining bar approximately 3/4 of a turn. A dielectric spacer 1-1.2 mm thick must be placed under the top 2 mounting bolts, otherwise the pressure plate may pinch and damage the CPU adapter board.
It is advisable to install the processor heatsink using spacers, washers, which will not allow the heatsink to be pressed too tightly against the processor cover.
Mining on the I5-4570R processor adapted for the 1150th socket
Most modern miners can be used for mining on an Intel I5-4570R processor.
Hashrate of Intel I5-4570R processor on different algorithms (xubuntu 18.04 / Windows 8.1, 8 GB RAM):
- argon2d4096 (avx2) — 1.5-2 Kh/s (4 потока, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2);
- cpupower (sse2) — 840 h/s (4 потока, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2);
- cryptonight_haven — 110-120 h/s(xmrig 6.16.2);
- cryptonight_upx — 8.5 Kh/s (xmrig 6.16.2);
- dynamo — 100 h/s (dyn-miner, Windows 8.1, 4 threads);
- ghostrider — 500-600 h/s (xmrig 6.16.2);
- lyra2z330 (avx2) — 1.3-1.5 Kh/s (4 потока, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2);
- m7m (the algorithm is optimized for a set of sha commands, on Intel fourth-generation processors there are no such instructions, mining is done without software optimization) – 65-68 Kh / s (4 threads, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2);
- minotaurx – 3.1 Kh / s (4 streams, SRBMiner-MULTI 0.8.8);
- panthera – 2.1-2.2 Kh / s (4 streams, SRBMiner-MULTI 0.8.8);
- power2b (sse2) — 820 h/s (4 потока, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2);
- randomARQ – 8 Kh / s (4 streams, SRBMiner-MULTI 0.8.8);
- randomx – 1.7 Kh / s (4 streams, SRBMiner-MULTI 0.8.8);
- scryptn2 (avx2) — 22-26 h/s (4 потока, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2);
- verthash (avx2) – 7-8 Kh / s (4 streams, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2);
- verushash – 3.8-3.9 Khs (4 потока, SRBMiner-MULTI 0.8.8);
- x25x (AVX2, AES) — 96-98 h/s (4 потока, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2)
- xevan (AVX2, AES) — 122 Kh/s (4 потока, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2);
- yescrypt (sse2) — 2,9-3 Kh/s (4 потока, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2);
- yescryptr16 — 750-800 h/s (4 потока, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2);
- yescryptr32 (sse2) — 390-410 h/s (4 потока, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2);
- yespowerr16 (sse2) — 750-800 (4 потока, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2);
- yespowerTIDE – 2.5-2.6 Kh / s (4 потока, SRBMiner-MULTI 0.8.8);
- yespowerURX — 750-800 h/s (4 потока, cpuminer-opt-jayddee 3.19.2).
On most algorithms, due to the lack of a high-speed cache of the fourth level, the hashrate of the I5-4590S processor is 10-15 percent lower, despite its higher frequency.
An example of a batch file for running mining on the verthash algorithm on a processor in the cpuminer-jayddee program with automatic conversion of mined coins to LTC (parameter refcode = 81de238596774683dd427a9d57bae6af provides a discount minus 0.2% on the pool commission): cpuminer --algo verthash --url = verthash.mine.zergpool.com: 4534 --user = wallet --pass = c = LTC, worker, refcode = 81de238596774683dd427a9d57bae6af --threads = 4 --cpu-priority 0 —max- temp = 56 —verify Parameter --verify provides the creation of the verthash.dat file required for mining VTC coins in the directory where the miner is located. If this file already exists on your computer, you can manually move it there.
Mining on the scryptn2 algorithm on zergpool on an Intel I5-4570R processor in the cpuminer-jayddee program (4 threads, hash rate 25-28 h / s):
Conclusion
Some processors converted by Chinese craftsmen require reworking with a file due to poor contact of the heat sink cover with the BGA chip. Improving the heat dissipation of hybrid processors requires straight hands and involves carefully removing the cover and replacing poorly applied liquid metal and / or heat-dissipating paste.
When using mining programs, it is imperative to use the function to stop mining when the specified temperature is reached (for example, the max-temp option in the cpuminer program from jayddee, which only works in Linux). If the CPU overheats, it is better to change the cooling system by installing a more powerful radiator, as well as reduce the number of threads involved in mining.
When mining on a processor, it is imperative to enable Thermal Throttling in the BIOS (the function of protecting the processor from overheating). In addition, you need to adequately assess the VRM capabilities of the motherboard, without overloading the power transistors in the presence of a small number of phases / poor heat dissipation. Tips for mining on a processor are described in the article Tips for mining cryptocurrencies on a processor.
It is impossible to earn all the money in the world, and it is very easy to burn a processor and / or a motherboard …
