Intel Core i7-10700K Review: the best Gaming Cpu

Intel's Comet Lake has cratered into the market, bringing more threads to the company's Core i5 and i7 lineups along with more cores for the halo Core i9 family. In response to AMD's unrelenting pressure, Intel's revamped lineup offers more threads for the same pricing as previous-gen models. The Core i7-10700K slots in with eight cores and 16 threads for and MSRP of $374 (depend on the shipping and location price will change, though current street prices are higher. In fact, the 10700K offers the same number of cores and threads as the previous-gen Core i9-9900K, but for $114 less, making it a contender for our list of Best CPUs.

As expected, Intel reserved the best features for its halo Core i9-10900K, like support for its Thermal Velocity Boost that triggers higher boost speeds if the chip runs below a certain temperature. However, the Core i7-10700K still marks the debut of Turbo Max 3.0 to the Core i7 family. This tech targets the 10700K's two fastest cores, which peak at 5.1 GHz, with lightly threaded workloads to improve snappiness. That results in a surprisingly close competition for gaming supremacy between the Core i7-10700K and the Core i9-10900K.

The Intel Core i7-10700K also comes with a 3.8-GHz base clock that, paired with its 16 threads, improves its standing against price-comparable Ryzen processors in threaded desktop PC applications, while the snappy single-threaded performance gives it an outright win in lightly-threaded apps. The Core i7-10700K also proves to be a nimble overclocker that doesn't generate an untenable amount of excess heat, so off-the-shelf water coolers can unlock big gains.

Overall, the Core i7-10700K gives you nearly the same gaming performance as the Core i9-10900K, but for $110 less, and overclocking eliminates any meaningful difference in gaming performance between the chips. You also get extremely competitive single-threaded performance at stock settings.

Essentials

• Product Collection10th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors
• Code NameProducts formerly Comet Lake
• Vertical SegmentDesktop
• Processor Numberi7-10700K
• StatusLaunched
• Launch DateQ2'20
• Lithography14 nm
• Use ConditionsPC/Client/Tablet
• Recommended Customer Price$374.00 - $387.00

CPU Specifications

• # of Cores8
• # of Threads16
• Processor Base Frequency3.80 GHz
• Max Turbo Frequency5.10 GHz
• Cache16 MB Intel® Smart Cache
• Bus Speed8 GT/s
• Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 Frequency ^‡5.10 GHz
• Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency^‡5.00 GHz
• TDP125 W
• Configurable TDP-down Frequency3.50 GHz
• Configurable TDP-down95 W

Supplemental Information

• Embedded Options AvailableNo
• DatasheetView now

Memory Specifications

• Max Memory Size (dependent on memory type)128 GB
• Memory TypesDDR4-2933
• Max # of Memory Channels2
• Max Memory Bandwidth45.8 GB/s
• ECC Memory Supported ^‡No

Processor Graphics

• Processor Graphics ^‡Intel® UHD Graphics 630
• Graphics Base Frequency350 MHz
• Graphics Max Dynamic Frequency1.20 GHz
• Graphics Video Max Memory64 GB
• 4K SupportYes, at 60Hz
• Max Resolution (HDMI)^‡4096 x 2160@30Hz
• Max Resolution (DP)‡4096 x 2304@60Hz
• Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)‡4096 x 2304@60Hz
• DirectX* Support12
• OpenGL* Support4.5
• Intel® Quick Sync VideoYes
• Intel® InTru™ 3D TechnologyYes
• Intel® Clear Video HD TechnologyYes
• Intel® Clear Video TechnologyYes
• # of Displays Supported ^‡3
• Device ID0x9BC5

Expansion Options

• Scalability1S Only
• PCI Express Revision3.0
• PCI Express Configurations ^‡Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
• Max # of PCI Express Lanes16

Package Specifications

• Sockets SupportedFCLGA1200
• Max CPU Configuration1
• Thermal Solution SpecificationPCG 2015D
• T_JUNCTION100°C
• Package Size37.5mm x 37.5mm

Advanced Technologies

• Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported ^‡Yes
• Intel® Thermal Velocity BoostNo
• Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 ^‡Yes
• Intel® Turbo Boost Technology ^‡2.0
• Intel vPro® Platform Eligibility ^‡Yes
• Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology ^‡Yes
• Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) ^‡Yes
• Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) ^‡Yes
• Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT) ^‡Yes
• Intel® Transactional Synchronization ExtensionsNo
• Intel® 64 ^‡Yes
• Instruction Set64-bit
• Instruction Set ExtensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
• Idle StatesYes
• Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® TechnologyYes
• Thermal Monitoring TechnologiesYes
• Intel® Identity Protection Technology ^‡Yes
• Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)Yes

Security & Reliability

• Intel® AES New InstructionsYes
• Secure KeyYes
• Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)Yes with Intel® ME
• Intel® OS GuardYes
• Intel® Trusted Execution Technology ^‡Yes
• Execute Disable Bit ^‡Yes
• Intel® Boot GuardYes