I7 processor: use, recommendations and if it really worth it

Over time, Intel has evolved its i7 processor and the rest of the models numerous times. From the first generation Intel Core i7, called Nehalem, to the sophisticated and powerful 9th generation 6 and 8 core Intel Core i7 Coffee Lake Refresh that have little to do with its beginnings. Today we give you the keys on its use, recommendations and when it is worth buying an i7 processor.

Index of contents

The evolution of the Intel i7 processor

We already know that the processor is an electronic chip whose function is to execute all the functions and tasks that are generated in the programs that are loaded in the computer's RAM. Thanks to him and his cores, we can perform different tasks on our equipment and provide it with intelligence, so to speak.

Intel was one of the first manufacturers to launch personal computer processors with its innovative x86 architecture in 1978, and then of course it was AMD. It has rained quite a bit since then, but in the timeline, barely 41 years have passed since then, processors and electronics have evolved dramatically.

Intel began the journey of its family called Core i, successors of the first Intel Core 2, innovating in the concept of cores, where a processor was not only capable of carrying out one task in each cycle, but several at the same time thanks to its division into processing cores or sub processors (Cores). So I call them: Intel Core i3, i5 and i7.

As you will understand, the i7 processor was destined to be the high-end, bridging the gap with the server and Workstation processors, it was the most powerful CPU you could buy for desktop computers. And since then a total of 9 generations have passed, there is nothing. Let's quickly see their names and main characteristics.

Hyper-Threading, Turbo Boost, Smart Cache

These technologies appeared with more force at the time of the first Core i7, especially high-end processors aimed at the most demanding users. It is necessary to have notions of them to better understand the benefits of the i7 processors that we will see.

• Hyper-Threading is based on the implementation of simultaneous multithreading. What it does is that for each physical processor core (Core), the operating system creates two virtual cores to increase the number of simultaneous tasks (Threads). For its part, Turbo Boost technology is nothing more than a feature that increases Automatically processors work frequency when required for more demanding tasks. This is why today's processors always have a base frequency and a turbo frequency. The intelligent cache or Smart Cache also revolutionized the architecture of the processors. With this feature, the cache is not fixedly assigned to certain cores, but each core takes what it needs at any time if possible, thus reducing cache failures.

Generations and Features of the Intel Core i7 processor

1st 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation: Nehalem Sandy Bridge, Ivy Brigde and Hashwell

These processors were the successors of the first Intel Core 2 and with 45, 32 and 22 nm process technology . The key is to know that these CPUs almost all had 4 Cores and 8 Threads, and some higher models oriented to Workstation with 6/12, with L3 cache of 8 and 12 MB respectively. All of them also supported DDR3 memory.

5th generation: Broadwell

Of course its name starts with 5xxx and this is where the current era begins, so to speak, with the 14nm manufacturing process. They were 4/8 and 6 MB cache L3 desktop processors and up to 10 core and 25 MB L3 Workstation. The 6th generation quickly came out. In this architecture, the 2133 MHz DDR4 RAM began to be used.

6th and 7th generation: Skylake and Kaby Lake

We are still in the 14nm manufacturing process now with the 6xxx and 7xxx distinctive, the motherboards manufactured under the LGA 1151 socket are compatible with these two generations. In the 6th they continued being processors of 4/8 and 8 MB of cache L3 for the desktop versions and of 6 and 8 cores for the Workstations under socket LGA 2066. They support 64 GB of RAM memory on 4 DIMM slots and 128 GB on 8 DIMM slots for X and XE family workstations.

Current generations

8th generation (current): Coffee Lake

The 8th generation of processors is still in force on desktop computers, although we already have several 9th ​​generation CPUs. In this generation these CPUs still have Hyper-Threading and a 6 core and 12 thread count along with 12MB of L3 cache. In addition, they have integrated graphics (IGP) capable of representing content at UHD resolution with the Intel Graphics 630.

These processors are distinguished by the i7 8xxx specification, both desktop and Workstation. They are still installed in socket LGA 1511 and LGA 2066, although the 6th and 7th boards will not be compatible with them. They also support 64 GB (4 DIMM slots) and 128 GB (8 DIMMs) of RAM respectively

9th generation (current): Coffee Lake Refresh

The peculiarity with respect to the previous generation is that Intel has eliminated Hyper Threading from this family of processors, with the aim of making them more affordable and also for the simple reason of creating the Core i9 family, whose processors are 8 Cores and 16 Threads.

The core count has also been updated, reaching a total of 8/8 with 12 MB of L3 cache and eye, because the newer ones support a total of 128 GB of DDR4 RAM with only 4 DIMM slots, compared to 64 GB of the previous generation.

Another interesting novelty is that Intel has decided to create, or rather recover two new variants F and KF in addition to the K. The F family will be locked processors without integrated graphics, while the KF will be unlocked and without graphics. It is a way to add variety against the competitive i5 family.

I7 processor laptops

We also have Core i7 processors in laptops, these are also 6 core and 12 thread processing. In fact, in the new 9th generation CPUs such as the Intel Core i7-9750H, successor to the Core i7-8750H, Hyper Threading has been maintained with 6/12, something extremely positive and with a logical explanation and that is that the range of CPUs Available is much smaller and all of them are assembled by independent manufacturers.

In this case, the nomenclature consists of:

• U: it is a low-power processor and it is slower than the others K: it has the multiplier unlocked H: if it has a high-performance integrated Intel graphics card HK: if it has both HQ: when we are dealing with a dedicated Intel IGP and processor 4 cores, in the case of the Core i5.

When is a Core i7 processor better?

As we have seen, the most current generations have i7 processors between 6 and 8 cores, in fact, if it were not for the detail of the Hyper Threading, many of the new i9 could be practically the same processors, with the only difference of a bigger one. or less frequently, for example, the 8/8 Core i7-9700K and 8/16 i9-9900K. Its only difference is the implementation of the technology inside and the considerable price increase.

We have seen then that these i7 are oriented to be the high-end processors, while the Core i5 are located in the mid-range and the i3 in the low range, so far everything correct. However, depending on the use that we are going to give to our PC we are going to be interested in an i7 or not since the price to be paid is quite different.

The primary use of i7 processors is multitasking, rendering, and desktop virtualization. Having more cores and threads means that the processor will have a greater capacity to process tasks simultaneously and this is the key to its use.

• Multitasking: The Core i7s have 6 and 8 cores, so they easily support large workloads, for example, having many tasks open and working simultaneously with them. Here the difference between an i7 and an i5 is going to show a lot. Rendering and design: While it is true that video rendering requires powerful graphics cards, it also uses a lot of CPU resources, especially in images, of course. Here the difference that makes an i7 processor is very important, since 8 cores rendering frames, doubles the pure performance of any Core i5. Virtualization: To make matters worse, an operating system, many users need to run several systems simultaneously on the same computer, either to test with applications they program or because they have a small server at home. In this case, the volume of tasks doubles or triples and the pure performance or availability of cores for each system will also make a difference.

Take for example a quick comparison of an Intel Core i5-9600K and an Intel Core i7-9700K.

Intel Core i5-9600K	Intel Core i7-9700K
280 euros	430 euros
6 Cores / 6 Threads	8 Cores / 8 Threads
9 MB L3 cache	12 MB L3 cache
3.7 / 4.6 GHz	3.6 / 4.9 GHz
Unlocked	Unlocked
Supports 128 GB of RAM	Supports 128 GB of RAM
IGP Intel UHD Graphics 630	IGP Intel UHD Graphics 630

There we have the main characteristics, how does this affect performance?

According to CPUbenchmark the i7 scores 17239 and the i5 13498 points, being 22% more powerful. And according to Userbenchmark, the i7 is 9% more powerful. It is evident that we would use this CPU for the tasks that we have seen before.

And when is it better to use a Core i5 or i3

Now we are also going to give the reasons why we should not opt ​​for an i7 or even i9 processor having 4 and 6 core processors such as the Intel Core i5.

Yes, slab i5 do not have Hyper Threading, but the truth is that for many tasks we do not need it either and much less for the price premium to pay. Let's continue with the comparative example above to see how this would affect gaming on a PC.

• Games: The results obtained in comparative tests by groups such as Testing Games in multiple games have been less than 10 FPS in all games. Why is the performance so similar? Well, for the simple fact that we are not multitasking and also the graphics card is the one that carries all the weight of the 3D graphics of the games. And much less would it affect without 16 threads instead of 8. Use in office and work: if we are still advanced users who have not used too many programs simultaneously and also do not render, an i7 would not make sense either, due to the high cost. Navigation and multimedia use: in this aspect, not only i5, but the best would be an Intel Core i3. Here we do not need a dedicated graphics card either, since we are not going to play too much. For example, the Intel Core i3-8300 has exactly the same IGP as the other processors that we have compared, that is, Intel UHD Graphics 630. This means that we will have exactly the same graphics power in a CPU of 430 euros as in one of 160.

Best recommended i7 processors

Let's now look at the most recommended models of i7 processors that are available on the market.

Intel Core i7-7700K

Intel Core i7-7700K - Processor with Kaby Lake technology (Socket LGA1151, Frequency 4.2 GHz, Turbo 4.5 GHz, 4 Cores, 8, Threads, Intel HD Graphics 630)

• Cach: 8 MB SmartCache, bus speed: 8 GT / s DMI3 Support memory type DDR4-2133 / 2400, DDR3L-1333/1600 at 1.35 V Support 4K resolution (4096 x 2304 pixels) at 60 Hz PCI Express settings: Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 + 2x4Thermal Design Power (TDP): 91 W

437.00 EUR Buy on Amazon

For those users who still make one of a 7th generation LGA 1151 platform and want to add power to their equipment, the best option will be the i7-7700K. an unlocked processor with 4 cores and 8 threads working at a maximum of 4.5 GHz. It has 8 MB of L3 cache and integrated Intel HD 630 graphics.

Intel Core i7-8700K

Intel Core i7-8700K - Processor (8 generation Intel Core i7 processors, 3.7 GHz, 12MB Smart Cache, PC, 14 nm, 8 GT / s)

• 3.70 GHz frequency Number of processor cores: 6Cach: 12 MB SmartCache Maximum memory size (depends on memory type): 128 GB Memory types: DDR4-2666

485.00 EUR Buy on Amazon

Now we turn to see the 8th generation version of the i7, which raises its count to 6/12 of course with Hyper Threading and multiplier unlocked. The frequency goes up to 4.7 GHz along with 12 MB of L3 cache and capacity for 128 GB of DDR4 RAM. The best there is in the generation for the Z390 chipset.

Intel Core i7-9700K

Intel BX80684I79700K - INTEL Core CPU I7-9700K 3.60GHZ 12M LGA1151 BX80684I79700K 985083, Gray

• Ninth Generation Intel Core i7 9700K processor with eight cores, With Intel Turbo Boost Max 3.0 technology, the maximum turbo frequency this processor can reach is 4.9 GHz. This processor also supports dual channel DDR4-2666 RAM and uses 9th generation technology.

404, 74 EUR Buy on Amazon

It is the unlocked version of the 9700, its price rises, but so does the frequency up to 4.9 GHz. The TDP goes up to 95W, although Intel maintains the 8/8 setting without Hyper Threading. When unlocked, it is of course geared towards high-end gaming equipment.

Intel Core i7-7820X

Intel Core i7-7820X X-Series processor

• Cach: 11 MB SmartCache, bus speed: 8 GT / s DMI3 8-core, 16-wire processor 3.6 GHz frequency. 4.5 GHz turbofrequency Support DDR4-2666 type memory (4 channels) Support 4K resolution (4096 x 2304 pixels) a 60 Hz

699, 90 EUR Buy on Amazon

We now turn to see a couple of models oriented to Worksation under the LGA 2006 socket. The first one is a 7th generation with 8 cores and 16 threads working at 4.3 GHz with 11 MB L3. Supports 128 GB DDR4 in 8 DIMM slots on Quad Channel and without integrated graphics.

Intel Core i7-9800X

BUY ON PC COMPONENTS

Finally, we have this 9th generation X family processor also with 8/16 and in this case 16.5 MB L3. It is the best we can find at a price of less than 1, 000 euros and, like the previous model, it will be geared towards equipment for publishing professionals.

Conclusion: is an i7 processor worth it?

The answer is, it depends on the circumstances and the use that you are going to give to the PC. If you need to do demanding tasks, you are a YouTuber or a designer and you need rendering power, it is best to opt for a 6 or 8 core processor.

If, on the other hand, you are a gamer and you do not mind having about 5 or 6 FPS less, we recommend of course a 4 or 6 core i5 processor. The price is even 150 euros less, which can be used to buy a more powerful graphics card or anything else we need. And if of course we are not going to play and we are going to allocate a PC for multimedia use, we will highly recommend a Core i3 with integrated UHD graphics.

Now we leave you with some extra tutorials

We hope this article has been useful for you to better understand i7 processors. Write us in the comment box or the hardware forum if you need more information. Which Core i7 do you think is the best in power / price?