I've had no direct experience with Broadwell in recent years.
I've had no direct experience with Broadwell in recent years.
The 5675C and 5775C feature a substantial L4 cache for the integrated GPU, unless a separate discrete GPU is connected, in which case that cache can also support CPU workloads. It seems to function somewhat like the large cache found in X3D processors—though I doubt the comparison is entirely accurate. Back then, many praised its performance in games, especially for gaming purposes. I’m wondering if anyone still uses these chips today, either as a main or backup system for nostalgia. Although they only have four cores and are limited by DDR3, there’s likely much they can’t handle well now. Still, I’m interested in how they perform in contemporary titles—especially regular games rather than high-end AAA releases.
From memory, gaming performance didn't change much compared to Skylake. I still possess a 5775C, though it's stored as a file server. It would be nice to retrieve it for testing, but it's far from the priority list and not compatible with Windows 11. The main distinction between this chip and today's 3D cache CPUs is that it used an L4 cache instead of an L3 one. It was advertised at a 50GB/s data rate. Mid-cycle DDR3 offered around 1600, giving roughly 25GB/s in dual channels—by the end of DDR3’s life you could hit about 2400 for approximately 37.5GB/s. The increase in bandwidth wasn't dramatic, maybe just double the previous amount. There might still be some advantages from lower latency, but those effects would be minor. A review of the 7800X3D indicates it features a 3D cache at the L3 level, delivering over 600GB/s. Even with optimal settings, this cache reaches more than 94GB/s, which is significantly faster than standard RAM.
Hardware Unboxed evaluated the 5775C alongside other 14nm designs, but the outcomes were disappointing. The L4 cache speed didn’t impress much, only slightly surpassing DDR4 performance that newer 14nm chips could offer. Once Skylake launched a few months later, those earlier benefits faded quickly.
I run a Core i7 6850k Broadwell chip on an Asus x99 Deluxe II mobo on the living room pc. Not bad for an older system still. Most use it gets now is to play mp3's and stream Netflix through my Denon... It has an EVGA RTX 2070. Plays Diablo III RoS well enough. I believe I had Diablo IV going on it 2 years ago when it was my main system. I have the add in TPM 2.0 module on it. I still have to do some fuckery to get Windows 11 Pro to install... Rufus or the server setup bypass. The CPU is the only thing flagged on the compatibility check. So, there's that. I don't think it could play the latest tittles, but it's a good gaming system for it's age. 7401 pts in Cinebench R23 @ 4.3 GHz all 6 cores stable, high fan curves...
Thanks for the feedback! The hardware unboxing video was really helpful. I'm planning to install a 5775C once it arrives from China—it will replace my 4690k. If anything else, the hyperthreading should offer some performance gains. My 4690k still works fine for its age, but there are certain game scenarios where it struggles at full speed, so I'm curious if this update can help reduce those freezes and extend the life of my old system.
Personally, two years ago I felt unsatisfied with the x99 setup. It represented a significant upgrade from my long-standing z77 system. When Windows 11 launched, the x99 chipset quickly became outdated for modern operating systems and applications. While it offered some improvements over what I had before, it didn’t provide much value moving forward. I observed used component prices on platforms like eBay, noting that later Skylake HEDT and x299 models became more affordable. The x299 platform began to make sense as a practical choice for achieving strong performance without the high cost of the latest hardware. I didn’t need PCIe 4.0 or 5.0—PCIe 3.0 was sufficient. With a Core i7 or i9 9xxx Skylake X processor and a Core i9 10xxx Cascade Lake X CPU, it would have worked out of the box with Windows 11. An Nvidia RTX 3070 should fit well within budget, paired with solid hardware. I appreciate vintage builds but want flexibility in functionality. The x99 was outdated for my needs; it was time to switch. The x299 remains a viable option today. If you don’t need the newest tech, it’s perfectly adequate. I spent under $350 CAD on a new 64 GB DDR4 3200 Quad Channel system at launch. A quality x299 motherboard in good condition could be found for $250–300 CAD. RAM prices are dropping as they go out of production. At the time, I bought a brand new 64 GB DDR4 3200 kit for less than $200 CAD—mid-range gaming hardware for yesterday’s performance. If you’re aiming for a retro build, it’s a reasonable investment. Just be aware of current market conditions for x299 in today’s scene.