Choose your player: Intel Core i5 7600K vs. i7 7700K Processor. Which one will it be?
Suppose you are a gamer and want to build a high-end custom computer. Or perhaps your job requires you to use some demanding apps, like 3D modeling, for example. There are a few components that you should really pay attention to.
Even if you have a great GPU and lots of RAM, it is still essential to have a processor that can keep up. We can’t say that a good processor is more important than a good graphics card or RAM. All three components are equally important. Too, play a significant role in building a heavy-duty PC.
Although these two processors are not the newest on the market, they’re still great and popular. And they share both similarities and differences.
Comparison Chart
Before taking an in-depth look into both of the processors, let’s see a quick breakdown of features:
| Features | I5 7600K | I7 7700K |
| Number of cores | 4 | 4 |
| Number of threads | 4 | 8 |
| CPU base frequency | 3.80 GHz | 4.20 GHz |
| Max turbo frequency | 4.20 GHz | 4.50 GHz |
| Graphics base frequency | 350 MHz | 350 MHz |
| 4K support | Yes, at 60 Hz | Yes, at 60 Hz |
I5 7600K Review
The fact that i5 7600K is a good processor and faster than 6th generation processors did not stir the CPU world. You can upgrade 4th generation processors and they will offer a similar performance. So, if your concern is gaming performance, then you might as well pass this round.
This processor is great if you do some light work on your PC. But if you intend to do an intensive CPU work, such as video editing, for example, you may want to switch to Core i7.
Overclocking can help increase the processor’s performance. But during the testing, it seemed to be pretty unstable at 5.0GHz and must only be at 4.9GHz. Some people even tried overclocking it to 5.2, but overclocking is never guaranteed. Also, you should have a pretty good cooling system when overclocking. And this process can’t even catch the i7 7700K when overclocked.
In comparison to the previous generation, the i5 7600K is 8% faster than the i5 6600K. It is also 40% faster than the i5 2500K assuming that all the chips are running stock and they are not overclocked.
But what does benchmark statistics say? We tested an overclocked i5 7600K, as well as the i7 7700K with GTX 1080. The results were almost the same. But, keep in mind that i5 7600K was overclocked while testing. It’s not advised to use overclocked CPUs for a long time since the temperature will rise faster. Unless, of course, you have a super-efficient cooling system.
It also shows in the benchmark testing that this processor is not that different from newer ones. But, a good graphics card is far more important.
If you are starting from scratch and building a new PC, this processor is a good choice. It is slightly faster than the previous generation, and still, not very expensive. As mentioned before, this is not a revolution in the CPU industry.
Intel could have done a bit more with this processor. But since it is somehow better in performance than the previous generation, it can be a good choice. Thus, upgrading an old PC to this will make a significant difference in performance.
However, this processor seems to be only a fraction faster than Skylake. It does not even have major enhancements. Since it is a newer generation, it is agreeable that Intel should have put some more effort into this one. Also, keep in mind that it also costs more than the Skylake.
I7 7700K Review
Since this is a Core i7 processor, right from the start, it should be at least faster than Core i5.
The first change that we noticed is an improved 14nm process, a dubbed 14nm+. Changes in fin height and silicon also results to power and clock speed enhancements.
The most noticeable result due to optimization is the higher clocking than i7 6700K. Overclocking is even expected to be higher. Also, using an integrated GPU can give you lower processor use for 4K video decoding and 4K streaming.
But, the integrated graphics card is not up to par with some serious, modern-era gaming. In this case, you should aim for a great graphics card that will match this processor.
After some benchmark testing between an overclocked i7 7700K and non-overclocked processor,. The difference between i7 7700K overclocked and the i5 7600K non-overclocked is noticeable. However, compared to the i7 6950X, the difference is even more significant. I7 6950X seems to provide much higher performance, even if not overclocked.
We have also tested the i7 7700K for gaming purposes, along with similar processors. Although it is faster than the previous generation, the difference is not remarkable. The reason is that a graphics card is far more important. A processor itself can’t make any drastic changes when it comes to gaming.
So, who is this processor for? For gaming, it is one of Intel’s fastest processors when overclocked. But as mentioned, it’s not the most important thing for a gaming computer. And that the actual difference is pretty small. If you are building a gaming PC, it might be better to save some money by buying the i5-7600K. Then invest the saved money on a high-performance graphics card.
Saying that you already have a great graphics card, you won’t make a mistake by buying this processor. So, if you are not a gamer, but need a good PC for work which requires you to use some demanding programs. There is no denying that this processor should be perfect.
The Key Differences between the Two Processors
It is obvious that both of these processors are pretty good, and you won’t make a mistake by buying either of these two. However, the first difference is in the price. Depending on what you need your processor to do, you should think carefully before buying. The price is very different, so you shouldn’t pay for the i7 7700K, for example, if you won’t need all of the stuff it can give you.
Also, while testing these two processors on a benchmark, some significant differences could be noticed. For example, the i7 7700K provides a much faster octa-core speed, of around 47 percent both in overclocked and non-overclocked mode.
The I7 7700K also has a double thread count, so it has 8 threads, compared to 4 that the i5 7600K has, and it also provides a slightly higher base frequency, for around 11%. Turbo frequency is also higher, for around 7-8%.
When it comes to graphics, it should be mentioned that these two processors have the same graphics unit. However, the i7 7700K has an 8MB cache unit, instead of the i5 7600K’s 6MB.
Another important thing is the thermal solution specification. It has 130W in the i7 7700K, and only 65W for the i5 7600K.
As you can see, there are some noticeable differences and features by which the i7 7700K is a winner. But you should also keep in mind that it costs around $100 more, depending on your geographical location.
On the other hand, something that should be considered as a negative about this processor is that it is still a quad-core, although there are many octa-core processors nowadays. Besides, its discrete GPU use can sometimes bypass some of the graphics features that video games provide.
The Similarities between the Two Processors
Although these two processors have some differences, they are not that different. At first, they have the same integrated graphics unit. So, if the integrated graphics is the first, most important thing for you, then these two processors don’t make any particular difference. However, their integrated graphics card is not for heavy gaming.
Also, both of these processors have the same number of cores and have a similar max turbo frequency. A one-core speed differs by a few percentage points, which is hardly noticeable.
Best Use for Each Processor
It seems that the i5 7600K targets high-end gamers. It was one of the most popular gaming CPUs in 2017 and is still pretty popular today. When compared to the 6600K, it seems that these two processors offer very similar performance, and there are also no significant architectural differences. However, the i5 7600K has better graphics than its predecessors.
The I7 7700K is reported to have the same IPC as its predecessors. However, it has better graphics and better overclocking capacity. This processor was one of the best 2017 gaming processors, but can still be used today. Many gamers use processors up to three years old to play modern video games.
Both of the processors are great for gaming but are also suitable for other CPU consuming tasks, which involve the use of heavy programs.
Which is the Winner: Intel Core i5 7600K vs. i7 7700K Processor
The fact is that these two processors are very similar, but also have some significant differences when it comes to gaming. According to the performance they provide, the i7 7700K is definitely a winner, although it doesn’t make an incredible difference. On the other hand, it is a bit more expensive, so this is another thing that should be considered.
Is the difference in performance good enough, according to the difference in price? After some in-depth testing, we can say that it is. Therefore, we can conclude that the i7 7700 is a winner. But depending on what you need the processor for, and what you mainly are using your computer for, you might even consider an i5 7600K for more than $100 lower price.
FAQ
Do these processors have hyper-threading?
That’s one of the significant differences between these two processors. The I5 7600K doesn’t have hyper-threading, while the i7 7700K does. Since it allows a single CPU core to process two threads simultaneously, it’s a great feature that can significantly affect performance.
Are the i5 and i7 sockets the same?
The I5 and I7 sockets are the same as long as they are the same generation. For example, processors can have the same sockets, no matter if they are i3, i5, or i7.
Can you change the processor without replacing the motherboard?
You can, if the processor is not soldered to the motherboard. However, you should pay attention to the fact that not all the processors are compatible with all the motherboards.
Is the i7 better than i5?
The fact is that i7 processors have more capabilities than i5 processors. They are better for various things, especially for multitasking and high-end gaming. However, it doesn’t mean that every i7 processor is better and faster than every i5 processor. There are also other things to consider, such as frequency, number of threads, and so on.
Are Core i5 processors good for gaming?
Both Core i5 and Core i7 processors are great for mainstream users who care about high performance, high speed, and brilliant graphics. Although i5 processors are great for video games and high-end tasks, i7 processors are even better, and they usually do the same work with less heating.
Are i7 processors worth it over the i5 assuming the price?
Usually, they are, but it depends on the model itself. With all the things we mentioned, you can see that i7 processors offer higher performance, but at a higher price. Therefore, you should look at all the stuff that a particular processor provides, instead of just choosing between Core i5 and Core i7.
Check the most popular products today and see what they can do. Product Fight covers you with this regard! We cover Lawn & Garden, Electronics, and Computer & Accessories. You can trust us to provide you with the best and only the best!