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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Obviously Dead - Wednesday, July 26, 2017 - link
Depends. For me it's the best yet, since I'm upgrading from an E5400.Dr. Swag - Tuesday, January 3, 2017 - link
Hey Ian, where's the 6700k in these benchmarks? It's in the 7700k review but not the 7600k review :/Bullwinkle J Moose - Tuesday, January 3, 2017 - link
What benefit does this bring to me?A fresh install of Windows XP-SP2 boots in 3 seconds on my 35 watt Sandy Bridge
I can block NSA and FBI malware on XP but not on Windows Spyware Platform 10
For audio production, I can record what I hear in XP but not in 7/8 or 10
I can still boot to 10 if I want malware and spyware relabeled as DRM but I haven't had a Blue Screen of death in over 10 years now with XP-SP2 and I do not get persistent malware, so......
What's the point of getting this new chip ?
Why pay more to be limited as to what I can do with "MY" computer?
I'm not trolling
It's a serious question
So answer it honestly without the attacks (Crayons)
Why downgrade to an OS that limits what you can do on a hardware platform that also limits what you can run?
Eletriarnation - Tuesday, January 3, 2017 - link
If you're running Windows XP on Sandy Bridge, it's my guess that Intel isn't really targeting your use case and maybe you shouldn't be surprised that you see no benefit in upgrading.Murloc - Tuesday, January 3, 2017 - link
if you are so concerned with this stuff and security, why don't you use open source software so you can be sure of what it does?Then you'd be able to get all the benefits of modern OSes (which are many compared to XP) without the spyware.
Ninhalem - Tuesday, January 3, 2017 - link
Just stop. You're trolling. This is the same comment in the Kaby Lake i7 article. Your usage scenario is beyond minuscule compared to every other mainstream and enterprise system.Bullwinkle J Moose - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
NinhalemPresenting FACTS regarding these chips and how they can and cannot be used is not trolling
I can provide all the evidence needed to show anyone how to lock down XP to a VERY secure state
I cannot do the same for Windows 7/8 or 10 due to the malware and spyware that Microsoft calls DRM to get around the Law for the purpose of committing what are considered Very serious crimes if done by you or me
If you wish to reproduce my results, I can show you how but this is NOT trolling
Only negative responses to my posts without any evidence or effort given to reproduce my results are from Trolls
Read replies by Crayons for trolling examples
He is a Pro!
lopri - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
You piqued my interest. Is there something I can look up as to how to lock down XP to a secure state?jimbo2779 - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
The power button is quite useful for keeping XP secure.Seriously though, the guy is trolling, to what ends I do not know, but his use case apparently has no need for any of the multitude of improvements brought in from vista onwards.
From what I gather from all his posts all he wants to do is test malware and prove his locked down XP is secure. Personally I use my system for much more and don't remember the last ti.e I caught any kind if malware infection so have no need to stay shackled by an out dated OS.
To each their own I guess
Bullwinkle J Moose - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
lopriIs there something I can look up as to how to lock down XP to a secure state?
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yes, you can read my posts and try what I have done for yourself so you have your own evidence instead of believing the majority voice at every turn and finding your computer can never be secured
or, you can choose to believe Microsoft and continue to think that DRM opening backdoors into your system is a good thing and is keeping you safe by watching everything you do to ....
A. Protect You?
or
B. Protect a Monopoly that cannot be overturned because protecting MY right to privacy is in direct violation of the Laws the Monopoly created to prevent me from defeating "their" DRM
I say it is B.
The only way they can survive is by preventing me from doing what they are doing ensuring their own survival at my expense
I do not recognize their (your) Laws or their (your) License
I will continue to violate any Law or License that grants anyone rights that they choose to deny me
So to humor me for the Lulz is a waste of time
but you already knew that