Intel Core i5-10600K vs Intel Core i7-8700K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i5-10600K vs Intel Core i7-8700K and see which is better for games or simple use for streaming, rendering, programming, machine learning, video editing. Here you can find all information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like WPrime, PCMark 10, Prime95, PassMark, 7zip, VeraCrypt, SuperPi, MATLAB, AIDA64, Furmark, Gears 5, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, Handbrake, GeekBench 6, 5.2, UserBenchmark, Dolphin Emulator, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 3DMark, RealBench.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-8700K 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 i7-8700K

54%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-10600K

55%

Core i7-8700K

54%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small 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: Control, League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Metro Exodus, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Ghostrunner, Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Forza Horizon 4, Battlefield V, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.0	95.7
Valorant	110.2	108.7
Cyberpunk 2077	61.7	60.9
Apex Legends	103.6	102.2
Call of Duty Warzone	82.7	81.6
Overwatch	89.3	88.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.1	75.0
DOOM Eternal	55.1	54.4
Warzone	86.0	84.8
Assassin's Creed	92.6	91.3
Valheim	91.5	90.3

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 participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-10600K

39%

Core i7-8700K

49%

To make a finishing resolution 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 i7-8700K is more energy efficient than the Core i5-10600K as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 95W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, video rendering or video editing, programming, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using 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. Because 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 i7-8700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	215	208
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1615	1447
Cinbench 20 Single-core	501	487
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3629	3689
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1376	1209
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10379	8960

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

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i7-8700K
Single-Core	2967	2760
Multi-Core	14674	13949

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

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i7-8700K
Single-Core	1495	1402
Multi-Core	8815	7536

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. 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 continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i7-8700K
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	October 01, 2017
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Comet Lake	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	8
Turbo Frequency	4.8 MHz	4.7 MHz
Frequency	4.1 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	6	6
Threads	12	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	4800 millions	3200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	12 MB	12 MB
Overclocking	Yes	No
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 9% better than Core i7-8700K in terms of CPU frequency. 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: 26
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-8700K is better: 2
Although it should be realized that all the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i5-10600K and Intel Core i7-8700K before making a choice which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-10600K specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-8700K specs and review.