Intel Core i9-10850K vs Intel Core i7-7700K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-10850K vs Intel Core i7-7700K and understand which is better for games or normal use for video editing, machine learning, programming, streaming, rendering. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or many benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as Handbrake, PCMark 10, 7zip, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), GeekBench 6, 5.2, Furmark, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, SuperPi, WPrime, Prime95, MATLAB, PassMark, Blender, Gears 5, RealBench, AIDA64, Dolphin Emulator, 3DMark, VeraCrypt.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-7700K or Intel Core i9-10850K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-10850K

57%

Core i7-7700K

52%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10850K is 8% better than Core i7-7700K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10850K

56%

Core i7-7700K

53%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low game result, just 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: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Hitman 3, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, NBA 2K20, League of Legends (LOL).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	99.8	93.7
Valorant	113.4	106.5
Cyberpunk 2077	63.5	59.7
Apex Legends	106.6	100.1
Call of Duty Warzone	85.1	79.9
Overwatch	91.9	86.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	78.3	73.5
DOOM Eternal	56.7	53.3
Warzone	88.5	83.1
Assassin's Creed	95.3	89.5
Valheim	94.1	88.4

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 i9-10850K

36%

Core i7-7700K

49%

To make a finishing resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i7-7700K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10850K since it has less power consumption: 125W vs. 95W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, machine learning, streaming, video rendering or video editing, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the advantages 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 i9-10850K	Intel Core i7-7700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	229	200
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2616	995
Cinbench 20 Single-core	536	466
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6318	2257
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1367	1216
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	16820	6055

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

	Intel Core i9-10850K	Intel Core i7-7700K
Single-Core	3074	2791
Multi-Core	23350	9750

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

	Intel Core i9-10850K	Intel Core i7-7700K
Single-Core	1383	1412
Multi-Core	11578	5637

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings are obvious! It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-10850K	Intel Core i7-7700K
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	October 01, 2016
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	LGA 1151
Core name	Comet Lake	Kaby Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	7
Turbo Frequency	5.1 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	4.2 MHz
Cores	10	4
Threads	20	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	9200 millions	1760 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4-2133/2400, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V
Max. Memory	128 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	20 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 i7-7700K is 14% better than Core i9-10850K in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10850K has 6 more core than Core i7-7700K. 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 i9-10850K is better: 28
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-7700K is better: 4
Although it should be understood that all the number that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i9-10850K and Intel Core i7-7700K before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-10850K specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-7700K specs and review.