The Intel Core i5-7600K (91W) Review: The More Amenable Mainstream Performer
by Ian Cutress on January 3, 2017 12:01 PM ESTThe Cooler and Cheaper Choice
For people coming over from our Core i7-7700K review, where we heralded a new mainstream performance champion, to say that the Core i5-7600K is the smarter choice could be a little confusing. There are several factors in play which are going to make buying the i5-7600K more pertinent to everyone except pure extreme speed freaks (wait, I thought everyone reading this was…!).
For $86 less, the Core i5-7600K scores about 80% of what the Core i7-7700K does in the heavy instruction benchmarks, all while doing it at 30C less and 20W less. If you need extra performance, overclocking it to 7700K frequencies is super easy, and you still come in under power for the extra performance. While our gaming benchmarks aren’t necessarily the newest W10 busting titles (we’re retesting in Feb with a new benchmark suite), the Core i5 and Core i7 performed almost identical in every test.
If you are user for which money is no object, then the i7 makes sense because it is guaranteed frequency in the system and you have probably bought extra cooling anyway. For a user that needs another $100 to go for a better graphics card but still wants near top mainstream performance, the Core i5 is the smart choice.
Recommended by AnandTech
The Intel Core i5-7600K: The Smarter Choice
As part of our Kaby Lake coverage, we have some other awesome reviews to check out.
Intel Launches 7th Generation Kaby Lake (Overview and Core Improvements)
The Intel Core i7-7700K Review: The New Out-of-the-box Performance Champion
The Intel Core i5-7600K Review: The More Amenable Mainstream Performer
The Intel Core i3-7350K Review: When a Core i3 Nearly Matches the Core i7-2600K
Upcoming (we’re at CES and didn’t have time to finish these yet):
Calculating Generational IPC Changes from Sandy Bridge to Kaby Lake
Intel Core i7-7700K, i5-7600K and i3-7350K Overclocking: Hitting 5.0 GHz on AIR
Intel Launches 200-Series Chipset Breakdown: Z270, H270, B250, Q250, C232
Intel Z270 Motherboard Preview: A Quick Look at 80+ Motherboards
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FourEyedGeek - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
Wow, such a rebel, you are inspiring!pentiuman - Sunday, March 26, 2017 - link
I agree w/ Bullwinkle! I have referred to this website occasionally, but just joined this website to make this post. I have 2 systems, and the older one runs a Core2-quad Q6600 - that idles under 5 % usage, according to Task Manager! It's on both Windows XP and Windows 7 on seperate HD's. I really like my XP install for several reasons: 1. My old HP Laser printer works w/ it, 2. XP doesn't take up much space - I have dozens of programs installed on a 120GB drive. 3. It is very familiar to previous Window versions, so I don't have to learn even more new ways just to do the same tasks. 4. Although Microsoft left us w/ no further updates, XP's support by hardware manufacturers continue! Next time you're at a tech store, read the driver compatibilities. 5. Although I use mainly CD's, I have more digital music rights and options! 6. WinXP works w/ my backup software, my Microsoft Office suites, and old games. 7. Despite what Microsoft wants you to believe, an up to date antivirus program, reasonably careful Internet-based program usage, and customized program installs, means I hardly ever have any virus or malware issues.- Microsoft is up to something, when they give away Windows 10, and prevent us from using anything but Windows 10, starting w/ Kaby Lake and AMD Ruyzen. Why? Question authority.
MonkeyPaw - Tuesday, January 3, 2017 - link
You are using an operating system that has been EOLed on hardware that has been EOLed. Besides, XP was the first OS to start phoning home, so you might want to hunt down a copy of Windows 2000.Bullwinkle J Moose - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
MonkeyPawVolume Licensed copies of XP-SP1 did not contain the Phone Home activation DRM and could easily be slipstreamed to SP2 or SP3 versions
Any remaining microsoft components could easily be blocked with an aftermarket firewall so there is really no need for Windows 2000 just to avoid phoning home
End of Life for XP is the day I can no longer block a persistent threat
End of Life for 7/8 and 10 is the day they were released as I still cannot block the persistent threats imposed by the weaponized spyware and malware that Microsoft simply calls DRM for Legal Reasons
Achaios - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
Dear, Bullwinkle J Moose, since you are so concerned with NSA snooping on you, I'd like to inform you that North Korea and China are the two regions of the world where Windows XP is the most widely used operating system.I don't even need to explain to you why NK and China are prime targets of electronic surveillance and espionage by the US of A and other actors. That means, Windows XP is the worse operating system to run as almost every single espionage tool in the US arsenal is made specifically to target Windows XP PC's, amongst other OS' and so-called "unknown" OS'.
Bullwinkle J Moose - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
Dear Achaiosevery single espionage tool in the US arsenal will fail on a Windows XP box that is set up properly and used in the same manner
It takes a lot of research to get it right and have reliable/repeatable results and it is not recommended for all the wannabe experts at this site, but the results speak for themselves
NO persistent threat has been found that can wreck this XP installation and I check out new threats quite often
It is a read only OS when using Driveshield
Flash and java are disabled and Silverlight and Net Framework are not allowed!
Everything including the antivirus is blocked from sending or receiving in the aftermarket firewall
Only a secure browser is allowed Internet access
Nothing is allowed to update over the Internet!
If I need AV updates, I download the complete updated installer to a clean system and install it offline
Portable utilities are available to close most remaining security vulnerabilities quickly
It is not used for banking or other sensitive input
That's what a fresh copy of Linux LIVE is for!
But it is great for studying malware/extortionware and any other threats without getting hosed by the worst of the worst hackers on the planet
It is SAFE for what it does!
For other things (gaming or banking), I have several other operating systems on several thumbdrives, hard drives and SSD's
I can switch eSATA and USB drives quickly while rebooting and never rely on dualboot drives for reliability purposes
Leaving 1st boot drive blank in the BIOS means it will just boot to whatever drive is connected (SATA OR USB)
maximumGPU - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
let me get this right. You have a severely locked down EOL OS that has very limited usability except for niche things like studying malware and you're claiming kaby lake is a waste of money because you can't make it work on that os?hope this will help:
INTEL AND THE REST OF THE WORLD DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOUR USE CASE, THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED FOR YOU.
ps: i seriously doubt any foreign government gives a sh*t about your pron viewing habits either. Stop trolling.
Shadow7037932 - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
>every single espionage tool in the US arsenal will fail on a Windows XP box that is set up properly and used in the same mannerIf you believe that, I got a bridge to sell you...
tech6 - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
@Bullwinkle Moose: If you're still running Windows XP then you are so vulnerable that you are not blocking ANY malware, let alone state sponsored players.close - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
@Bullwinkle J Moose, I have an XP that I desperately want to keep using but I need assistance in securing it. Mind if you give me a hint with what you've done? I run SP3 but if needed I can upgrade to SP2.