I7 8700k vs i7 7700k benchmarks and games performance comparison

No one can deny that this year 2017 has been the most animated in the processor sector since 2011. First AMD launched its new Ryzen chips and then Intel has countered with its new Coffee Lake, also known as the eighth-generation Intel Core. As usual, it is time to compare the current top of the range with its equivalent of the previous generation. Core i7 8700K vs Core i7 7700K.

i7 8700K vs i7 7700K: specifications and news

The Intel Core i7 7700k is a processor released in early 2017 and based on the Kaby Lake architecture, it is a physical quad-core solution that can handle eight threads of data thanks to Intel's HT technology. Its advanced 14nm + Tri-Gate manufacturing process enables its cores to operate at a clock rate of 4.2 GHz in base mode and 4.5 GHz in turbo mode, a fairly high figure. Finally we find 8 MB of L3 cache that is distributed among all the cores and with intelligent management so that it can be used to the maximum. The TDP rises to 91W and includes the Intel HD Graphics 630 GPU with a total of 24 Execution Units and which offers excellent multimedia behavior as well as power to move a large number of video games, although if we want to play the new generation titles or very demanding will clearly fall short of benefits.

We now turn to the Core i7 8700K, which represents the biggest evolution in the Intel mainstream range since the arrival of Sandy Bridge in 2011. For the first time, all four cores are abandoned to move to a six-core, twelve-wire configuration thanks to Intel's HT technology. This processor is based on Intel's highly advanced Coffee Lake architecture manufactured in 14 nm ++ Tri-Gate that allows it to reach a maximum turbo speed of 4.7 GHz despite its base speed being only 3.7 GHz. In this In case there is 12 MB of L3 cache with a TDP of 95W. As for the GPU, it is still the same as that of the Core i7 7700K although for marketing reasons it is now called Intel UHD 630.

We highlight that both processors use the LGA 1151 socket although the Core i7 7700K requires a 100 or 200 series motherboard and the Core i7 8700K requires a 300 series motherboard. We can see that the Core i7 8700K is a processor that It offers us 50% more cores than its rival, something that will be essential in many cases.

Test bench and application performance

The test bench used in the tests is as follows:

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Core i7 8700K vs Core i7 7700K
Base plate:	Asus Maximus X Hero / Asus Maximus IX Formula
RAM:	Corsair LPX 64 GB DDR4 @ 2600 MHz
Heatsink	Corsair H115
HDD	Samsumg 850 EVO.
Graphic card	Gigabyte GTX1080 Ti 11GB
Power supply	Corsair AX860i.

We start by looking at the performance of both processors in applications that make very intensive use of it.

Gaming performance

We now turn to see the performance of both processors in games, remember that current games are not capable of taking advantage of more than 8 processing threads, so it is expected that the differences are quite small.

Data analysis and conclusion

Cinebench R15 is the flagship application to measure the gross performance of a processor since it is capable of using all the cores and threads that it has. The improvement from the Core i7 7700K to the Core i7 8700K is brutal with a figure of approximately 50%, which corresponds to the increase in the number of cores. Here the new Intel processor is superior even to the Ryzen 7 with 8 cores and 16 threads, so there is no doubt that we are facing a beast that will be unstoppable in applications that know how to use all its resources. Only the Ryzen Threadripper and Core i7 / i9 from the HEDT platform are on top.

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The rest of the benchmarks show a much smaller improvement, this is because the Core i7 7700K is a very powerful processor and few applications are able to take advantage of its 8 processing threads or more, which is why the new Core i7 8700K does not It can always shine as it should.

We go to games and see a very similar situation, we have already commented that no current game is capable of using more than 8 processing threads, so the new processor will have little advantage in this regard beyond somewhat higher operating frequencies..

After analyzing the data, our conclusion Core i7 8700K vs Core i7 7700K is clear, the Core i7 8700K is the best processor available today for the mainstream range, despite this, not all users will be able to take advantage of its full potential. If you are going to do video rendering and editing tasks, the cORE I7 8700K is the ideal processor for you.

On the other hand, if you are going to use your PC to play and / or less demanding tasks, the Core i7 7700K is an excellent option with a price of approximately 320 euros compared to 400 euros or more, so we can find the Core i7 8700K.