Intel Core i5-10600K vs Intel Core i7-7700

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i5-10600K vs Intel Core i7-7700 and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, machine learning, programming, rendering. Here is all information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like Blender, WPrime, Furmark, PCMark 10, 7zip, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, UserBenchmark, RealBench, AIDA64, Prime95, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 3DMark, VeraCrypt, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, MATLAB, SuperPi, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Rainbow Six Siege
Borderlands 3
Last Man Standing
DOOM: Eternal
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Valorant
Fallout 76
Watch Dogs Legion
Red Dead Redemption 2
Halo Infinite
Death Stranding
Apex Legends
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Cyberpunk 2077
Overwatch
Fortnite
Grand Theft Auto V
Valheim

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-7700 or Intel Core i5-10600K.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-10600K

54%

Core i7-7700

52%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-10600K is 3% better than Core i7-7700. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-10600K

55%

Core i7-7700

53%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Metro Exodus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Monster Hunter World, League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Ghostrunner, Forza Horizon 4, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, DOTA 2A, Horizon Zero Dawn, Control, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.0	94.1
Valorant	110.2	106.9
Cyberpunk 2077	61.7	59.9
Apex Legends	103.6	100.5
Call of Duty Warzone	82.7	80.2
Overwatch	89.3	86.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.1	73.8
DOOM Eternal	55.1	53.5
Warzone	86.0	83.4
Assassin's Creed	92.6	89.8
Valheim	91.5	88.7

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-10600K

39%

Core i7-7700

59%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i7-7700 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-10600K as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 65W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, streaming, video rendering or video editing, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i7-7700
Cinbench 15 Single-core	215	186
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1615	901
Cinbench 20 Single-core	501	414
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3629	2138
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1376	1115
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10379	4329

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i7-7700
Single-Core	2967	2460
Multi-Core	14674	8664

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i7-7700
Single-Core	1495	1162
Multi-Core	8815	5965

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i7-7700
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	October 01, 2016
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	LGA1151
Core name	Comet Lake	Kaby Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	7
Turbo Frequency	4.8 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	4.1 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	6	4
Threads	12	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	4800 millions	2460 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2133/2400, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V
Max. Memory	128 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	12 MB	8 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-10600K is 12% better than Core i7-7700 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i5-10600K has 2 more core than Core i7-7700. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-10600K is better: 30
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-7700 is better: 2
Although it should be understood that all the figures in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-10600K and Intel Core i7-7700 before deciding which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i5-10600K specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-7700 specs and review.