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Intel Core i5-7600K

Intel Core i5-7600K: Obsolete, but Still Relevant? Review and Recommendations for 2025

(Relevant as of April 2025)

Introduction: Kaby Lake in the Era of Hybrid Processors

The Intel Core i5-7600K processor, released in 2017, today seems like a relic from the 14-nm technology era. However, even after 8 years, it retains niche popularity among enthusiasts of budget builds and upgrades. In this article, we will discuss whether it’s worth considering in 2025, what role it can play in modern systems, and what pitfalls users might encounter.

1. Key Specifications

Architecture and Process Technology

- Codename: Kaby Lake (7th generation Intel Core).

- Process Technology: 14 nm (3rd iteration of FinFET).

- Cores/Threads: 4 cores, 4 threads (no Hyper-Threading).

- Frequencies: Base - 3.8 GHz, Turbo Boost - 4.2 GHz.

- Cache: L3 - 6 MB.

- TDP: 91 W (up to 120 W when overclocked).

Performance

- Geekbench 6:

- Single-Core: ~1500 (comparable to Ryzen 5 5500).

- Multi-Core: ~4214 (inferior even to budget 6-core CPUs from 2023+).

- Real World Usage: In games from 2024–2025 (such as Starfield or GTA VI), it often becomes a "bottleneck" due to having only 4 threads.

Key Features

- Unlocked Multiplier: Overclocking capability (depends on motherboard).

- Intel HD Graphics 630: Integrated graphics for emergencies (but not for gaming).

- Optane Memory Support: Speeds up HDDs (relevant for older systems).

2. Compatible Motherboards

Socket and Chipsets

- Socket: LGA 1151 (only for 6th and 7th generation Intel).

- Chipsets:

- Z270: For overclocking (e.g., ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero, MSI Z270 Gaming M5).

- H270/B250: Without overclocking (e.g., ASUS Prime H270-Plus).

Considerations for 2025

- New Boards: No longer being produced. Only used or leftover new stock remains (price: $80–$150).

- Risks: Outdated BIOS, lack of warranty.

- Advice: Look for boards with USB 3.1 Gen2 and M.2 NVMe (e.g., ASRock Z270 Taichi) for compatibility with modern drives.

3. Memory Support

- Type: Only DDR4 (does not support DDR5).

- Frequencies: Up to 2400 MHz (officially). When overclocked - up to 3000+ MHz (depends on the board).

- Configurations: Dual-channel (recommended 2×8 GB).

Example: The Kingston HyperX Fury 2×8 GB DDR4-2666 kit ($45 in 2025) runs stably at 2400 MHz without manual adjustments.

4. Power Supply Recommendations

- Basic Calculation:

- CPU: 91 W (up to 120 W when overclocked).

- Graphics Card (e.g., RTX 3060): 170 W.

- Total: 300–400 W.

- Recommended PSU: 500–550 W with 80+ Bronze certification (e.g., Corsair CX550M - $60).

- For Overclocking: 600+ W (e.g., Be Quiet! Pure Power 11 600W - $80).

Important: Do not skimp on the PSU - older models (2020–2023) might not support modern energy-saving standards.

5. Pros and Cons

Pros:

- High IPC: Single-threaded performance on par with Ryzen 5 5500.

- Overclocking: Can reach 4.8–5.0 GHz with good cooling.

- Price: New processors on the second-hand market - $50–$70.

Cons:

- 4 Threads: Insufficient for streaming tasks and modern games.

- Outdated Platform: No PCIe 4.0, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4.

- Energy Efficiency: Lags behind 7nm and 5nm CPUs (e.g., Ryzen 5 7600).

6. Usage Scenarios

Gaming:

- 1080p/Medium Settings: Suitable for CS2, Fortnite, Dota 2 (with a GPU like GTX 1660 Super).

- Issues: Micro stutters in CPU-intensive games (Cyberpunk 2077, Star Citizen).

Work Tasks:

- Office, Web Browsing: Ideal.

- Rendering/Encoding: Only for small projects (4 threads are a weak spot).

Multimedia:

- 4K Video: Hardware decoding via iGPU.

- Streaming: Requires a discrete GPU with NVENC (e.g., NVIDIA RTX 3050).

7. Comparison with Competitors

AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (2017):

- Pros: 6 cores/12 threads ($60 used).

- Cons: Lower IPC, harder to find AM4 boards.

Intel Core i3-12100F (2023):

- Pros: Newer, higher IPC, PCIe 5.0 ($90 new).

- Cons: Only 4 cores/8 threads.

Conclusion: In 2025, the i5-7600K is outclassed by even budget newcomers, but it is more affordable on the second-hand market.

8. Practical Assembly Tips

- Cooling: Cooler like the DeepCool Gammaxx 400 V2 ($25) for overclocking.

- Case: Good ventilation (e.g., Zalman S2 - $50).

- Storage: Definitely an NVMe SSD (e.g., Kingston NV2 1TB - $60).

- Advice: Do not invest in an expensive motherboard - the platform is morally outdated.

9. Final Conclusion: Who Should Consider the i5-7600K?

This processor is worth considering only in two cases:

1. Upgrading an Old PC: If you already have an LGA 1151 motherboard and DDR4.

2. Budget Build: When you need to assemble a PC for office tasks or light gaming for $200–$300.

Alternative: For the same $200–300, you can find sets based on Ryzen 5 5600G (6 cores/12 threads + integrated graphics), offering better prospects.

Epilogue: Nostalgia or Rationality?

The Intel Core i5-7600K is a symbol of an era when 4 cores were sufficient for everything. Today, it reminds us of how rapidly technology evolves. If you're not a collector or are constrained by budget, it is better to choose something more modern. However, for those who value a balance of price and nostalgia, it can still be a loyal companion.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

January 2017

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i5-7600K

Code Name

Kaby Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.80 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

4.20 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

4.20 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

L3 Cache

6 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1151

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

91 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-2133/2400 | DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

64 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

8 GT/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 630

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.15 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

64 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@24Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

6 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1500

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

4214

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1096

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

3707

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2553

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

6806

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i5-1230U

1622 +8.1%

Core i3-10320

1555 +3.7%

Core i5-7600K

1500

Xeon E3-1270 v6

1448 -3.5%

EPYC 7313

1395 -7%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon E5-2687W

4784 +13.5%

Core i5-10500T

4517 +7.2%

Core i5-7600K

4214

Ryzen 5 4500U

4007 -4.9%

Ryzen 5 2500X

3754 -10.9%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

1140 +4%

Xeon E-2124

1116 +1.8%

Core i5-7600K

1096

Xeon Platinum 9282

1074 -2%

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

1055 -3.7%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i5-8600T

4030 +8.7%

Core i7-8705G

3854 +4%

Core i5-7600K

3707

Xeon E3-1240

3576 -3.5%

Core i5-8400H

3445 -7.1%

Passmark CPU Single Core

EPYC 7713

2631 +3.1%

Xeon W-1250E

2588 +1.4%

Core i5-7600K

2553

Ryzen Embedded V2546

2513 -1.6%

Pentium Gold G6400

2467 -3.4%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i7-6700T

7255 +6.6%

Athlon Gold PRO 3150GE

7006 +2.9%

Core i5-7600K

6806

Core i7-6700TE

6496 -4.6%

Core i3-8300

6299 -7.4%