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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solnyshok - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
7350K seems like a good old overcloking fun CPU. Introduced just ahead of Ryzen launch. Taking this one from 4.2 to 5GHz is a good +20% overclock. And good (not incredible) value at $175. This or its successor on 10nm will be my next gaming machine.skpetic - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
1. Aggregated results are that an i7-6700 is as fast as the i5-7600K(?)2. The 6700 is more future proof as it has better performance in applications with good multithreading implementations (future apps and games)
3. Why is this not considered in the review?
Anato - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
Had I known this in 2011 when I bought i5-2500k I would have purchased i7-2600k for hyperthreading as it helps in spice simulations. I also would have spend 100$ more to better modo. On the other hand I saved 200$+interest not doing so...I'm almost happy that advancement in performance has slowed down. No need to upgrade and finally we are seeing software being optimized. Like Chrome browser, we wouldn't see these java script competitions if never hardware would be suffice.
masouth - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
In the 5th paragraph you have the 7600K as 4.0 base/ 4.2 turbo but in the table it is listed as 3.8 base/ 4.2 turbopavag - Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - link
I cannot find the log out linkzodiacfml - Thursday, January 5, 2017 - link
Not surprised.inmytaxi - Friday, January 6, 2017 - link
Why is the ivy bridge you are using the 3770k, an i7, instead of an i5 3570k? Don't you think people considering the i5 are more likely to have ... AN IFIVE@!!!!Adam Saint - Saturday, January 7, 2017 - link
Looks like the 4790k is holding up exceptionally well in both single and multithreaded tests. Impressive for a chip that's 3 generations old.epobirs - Sunday, January 15, 2017 - link
I build new systems as a hobby, so I'm not especially concerned with whether the new box is a sufficient upgrade over my current main system. That my next build can have some incremental improvements at about the same price point is real progress in my book. Right now, I have a pair of Antec mITX cases I got especially cheap. The original purpose they were intended to serve has been cancelled, so some HTPC configurations are likely, just for the fun of it. since some of Kaby Lakes upgrades are directly applicable to an HTPC's needs, those are likely the parts I'll use if no Skylake items become available for an especially good price.In general, incremental upgrades of the product line don't offend me any more than minor improvements to an automobile model from one year to the next. Just because I'm not in the market for a new car this year doesn't mean they should hold still. There are plenty of others who are more than due for an upgrade and those incremental improvements add up eventually for everybody.
snapch23 - Friday, December 29, 2017 - link
It is good that we know so much of the gta. http://mygtacheats.com