Intel's Core i7-7740K Kaby Lake-X Benchmarks Surface

[deu]

Maybe if devs pushed the core thing, we may have seen Intel move off their asses. AMD took long enough, but finally gave us that - more cores/good price. Hopefully the industry makes use of them.

They actually gave them more cores a long time ago! But in a optimistic platform not able to compete with the way software was and still is coded.

 

[Funky303]

There is a ) missing in the text. As simple as that. It should be after 1x, 8x and 2x, 4x PCIe ports. Since the "these" from the following sentence clearly points to the "16 lanes of PCIe 3.0).

I agree that the article is not really that professional as many other press releases, I still prefer Ravenlords and W1zzards articles over many other sites who just copy&paste press releases.

I do know then that at least someone with knowledge has read an info, thought about it and edited it (even with his own opinion written into it). The infos he has in the article are just infos. I am able to read his personal opinion out of the post. So no biggy for me. Most of us readers should or are mature enough to be able to distinguish between news and personal opinion, even if it is in one article.

@4core is enough. Well.. it is. But not for Intel and not for the price they will surely ask for the 4c/8t 7700k.

And for all of computer programming, there is always a rule: whatever hardware you have, there will always be software to get it down to it's knees. So we should thank AMD that they went all in the consumer market with 6 and 8 cores and maybe more, so Intel had to react. Offering a measly (IMHO) 4 core is kinda lame.

 

[Brusfantomet]

Has there ever been a 4c/8t HEDT chip from intel? Cause they seem to be going backwards. (Note that I don't mind fewer, more powerful cores, but this is HEDT)

i7 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 965 EE, 975 EE, 3820 and 4820k. these were on X58 and X79. There is also a forest of Xeon ones, W3503 (2C/2T), W3505 (2C/2T) and the mighty LC3518 (1C/1T).for something more modern you could go for the LGA2011-v3 based E5-1603 v4 (4C/4T), to name a few.

 

[nuwb]

"These also eschew Intel's integrated graphics, thus saving die space (which could've been used for more cores instead of keeping the same 4-core, 8-thread configuration? Maybe?)"

If it's like their previous HEDT parts, there is no iGPU to eschew. If that's the case, then they actually aren't saving any die space and the quad core parts will just be cut down versions of a higher core count die which is fairly typical of HEDT parts. So it's yield optimization and likely higher frequencies with lower core counts.

Do you want Intel to not offer 4-core parts and have a 6-core minimum for HEDT? I'll grant that the 3820k and 4820k didn't make a lot of sense for most, but it's still good to have those quad core options even if they were hexacore and octacore rejects (HEDT being, in turn, Xeon rejects).

I have to agree with several posters that your editorializing isn't adding anything, particularly if your snark is coming from ignorance.

 

[bubbly1724]

What really got me was the
"Average performance :|"

 

[FR@NK]

If it's like their previous HEDT parts, there is no iGPU to eschew. If that's the case, then they actually aren't saving any die space and the quad core parts will just be cut down versions of a higher core count die which is fairly typical of HEDT parts. So it's yield optimization and likely higher frequencies with lower core counts.

Based on the road maps these chips are from the same die as the LGA1151 kaby lake version so there will be a disabled iGPU on the die. It will have the same feature set as the current 7700K but on a higher power platform which should make it much easier to overclock.

@Ravenwolf If only AMD would have released a highly binned single CCX 4 core version of ryzen maybe it could have bumped the 7700k off of the gaming throne. Instead you are stuck with 8 mediocre cores with only 100MHz of overclocking headroom

 

[EarthDog]

but on a higher power platform which should make it much easier to overclock

what does that mean?

 

[xorbe]

I can't see how this will sell at all, given the competition's 8/16 chip. This is basically trying to push HEDT prices down into the lower products, going backwards!

 

[sergionography]

i7 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 965 EE, 975 EE, 3820 and 4820k. these were on X58 and X79. There is also a forest of Xeon ones, W3503 (2C/2T), W3505 (2C/2T) and the mighty LC3518 (1C/1T).for something more modern you could go for the LGA2011-v3 based E5-1603 v4 (4C/4T), to name a few.

Yes in the days of 45nm and 32nm lol. When 6 cores was the highest end intel extreme that you can get. However I dont see this as a big deal anyways tbh because if this cpu is priced similar to the 7700k then it gives more gamers access to higher end motherboards with more features without having to pay an arm and a leg for the cpu.

 

[Steven B]

Based on the road maps these chips are from the same die as the LGA1151 kaby lake version so there will be a disabled iGPU on the die. It will have the same feature set as the current 7700K but on a higher power platform which should make it much easier to overclock.

The article says it still had quad channel memory, I think it would be easier to just disable cores on lower yield CPUs than to remove an iGPU and add in two memory channels.

 

[mcraygsx]

Yes in the days of 45nm and 32nm lol. When 6 cores was the highest end intel extreme that you can get. However I dont see this as a big deal anyways tbh because if this cpu is priced similar to the 7700k then it gives more gamers access to higher end motherboards with more features without having to pay an arm and a leg for the cpu.

Right but why would a gamer buy Quad core when a more refined six core Cannon Lake is also around the corner. X299 platform will go for a while without updates like X99 while mainstream platforms get more frequent updates.

Now we have Core i5 on HEDT platform, is INTEL trying to phase out mainstream platforms for good? Does i5 even belong in HEDT family.

 

[sergionography]

Right but why would a gamer buy Quad core when a more refined six core Cannon Lake is also around the corner. X299 platform will go for a while without updates like X99 while mainstream platforms get more frequent updates.

Now we have Core i5 on HEDT platform, is INTEL trying to phase out mainstream platforms for good? Does i5 even belong in HEDT family.

Part of it is that there was a void between mainstream and hedt. What i mean by that is you have quad i7s with crazy clockspeed suitable for gaming but then you are restricted by the mainstream platform/chipset. For example dual gpus have to run 8x 8x etc. And if you needed a no compromise platform/chipset then you had to jump few hundreds of dollars to the HEDT platform except you couldnt get the same high-speed clocked quad cpus. Now intel is filling that void allowing gamers to get both crazy highclocked cpus and a high end platform. Also I think part of it is to emphasize that the defacto gaming cpus are highclocked quads with high single thread performance at a time when ryzen cannot reach such high clocks(since ipc is extremely close). Its their way of hitting amd where it hurts the most at this point which is just healthy business and im loving it. Anywho any design will always have tradeoffs but i feel like intel is gonna be pretty busy the next year or so with many jerk reactions. I expect zen to so wonders in mobile as the core along with the fab process is very well suitable for low power .

 

[FR@NK]

The article says it still had quad channel memory, I think it would be easier to just disable cores on lower yield CPUs than to remove an iGPU and add in two memory channels.

So you think there is a larger kaby lake die for the HEDT platform but Intel will only sell cut down 4 core versions? That makes no sense.

Because the larger 6,8,10 core are all Skylake based.

It will have dual channel ram based on what has been leaked:

It will be just like a 7700k but with the iGPU disabled and on the new HEDT socket.

what does that mean?

The HEDT platform supports higher wattage processors compared to LGA1151. The VRM is much stronger and there are more power pins on the actual socket. In theory this should allow you to get a stable voltage at higher amp draws. To put this into perspective: a 7700k will draw about 150watts at 5GHz compared to a 6950x at 4.3GHz draws around 230watts.

 

[xorbe]

Too bad it wasn't quad channel mem + the 5775C's 128MB cache!

 

[Kanan]

While I don't mind the personal go of the author in the article, I can understand people who don't like it and see it as "unprofessional", because it kinda is. But I digress.

The article has some mistakes I'd like to point out:

a) a 4 core / 8 thread CPU with 16 lanes is hardly "HEDT", it's the 7700K ported to the X platform and renamed, nothing more or less.

b) it has no quad channel, I already saw official Intel papers on it, pointing out Dual Channel for 7740K.

Sorry @ the Intel fanboys who care to defend this garbage. But it's garbage. The 3820 (which I owned before) and 4820K btw. had Quad Channel and 40 lanes - so are not comparable to this (soon to be) overprized crap.

 

[nuwb]

it's the 7700K ported to the X platform and renamed, nothing more or less.

If this is the case, then it is worse than the 7700K because the iGPU can come in handy for QuickSync transcoding and other things. I had the 4820k for a bit because of Intel's crappy TIM situation on their mainstream i7s after Sandy. It used to be HEDT was a guarantee you would get solder but I'm not so sure anymore. Oh well, I'd like to think the smart money did what I did and bought a 1700X.

 

[Kanan]

If this is the case, then it is worse than the 7700K because the iGPU can come in handy for QuickSync transcoding and other things. I had the 4820k for a bit because of Intel's crappy TIM situation on their mainstream i7s after Sandy. It used to be HEDT was a guarantee you would get solder but I'm not so sure anymore. Oh well, I'd like to think the smart money did what I did and bought a 1700X.

I bet the only upside to this will be the soldering. Those big X platform cpus were always soldered until now so I guess it will be the same. Maybe Intel directs it at gamers who want extreme overclocks, buying the more expensive X platform for that. /theory. 4 core / 8 thread still is the sweet spot for gamers and the frequencies are unbeatable on this one. That said, I would never buy it, the future of gaming is 6 core and more. A good 6/8 core overclocked already beats the 7700K (overclocked as well) at cpu heavy games that make use of it.

 

[EarthDog]

The HEDT platform supports higher wattage processors compared to LGA1151. The VRM is much stronger and there are more power pins on the actual socket. In theory this should allow you to get a stable voltage at higher amp draws. To put this into perspective: a 7700k will draw about 150watts at 5GHz compared to a 6950x at 4.3GHz draws around 230watts.

gotcha.

Still plenty boards on z270 can handle such wattage....

... the other side if this is you wont hit that wattage in a quad unless you use ln2. A better power plane isnt really going to help much as it doesnt need much in the first place. On any (intel) platform, the difference between a $140 board and best vrmzomg board ever, makes little difference...what 50-100mhz and .05v on ambient cooling at best???? I guess im saying i wouldnt hold my breath because of better power sections on a mobo platform for a measily quad core.

 

[ratirt]

I'm kinda sceptic about that intel I7-7740K-X. so many lanes for PCI-e? What for? i7-7700k is maxed out in some demanding games with what it offers. No headroom whatsoever. This new i7 better reach 6Ghz or that 4c/8t processor is simply useless with all that PCI-e lanes.

 

[Brusfantomet]

Yes in the days of 45nm and 32nm lol. When 6 cores was the highest end intel extreme that you can get. However I dont see this as a big deal anyways tbh because if this cpu is priced similar to the 7700k then it gives more gamers access to higher end motherboards with more features without having to pay an arm and a leg for the cpu.

the E5-1603V4 is 14 nm and based on the same architecture as 6950X.

And if the X299 platform behaves anything like the X99 i pity the person getting it, as X99 is the most fragile platform i have ever encountered.

So you think there is a larger kaby lake die for the HEDT platform but Intel will only sell cut down 4 core versions? That makes no sense.

See the E5-1603V4

 

[FR@NK]

See the E5-1603V4

the E5-1603V4 is 14 nm and based on the same architecture as 6950X.

I think you are confused...the 7740k is kaby lake architecture which isnt the same as the other skylake-x based processors with larger core counts. Intel very well could sell cut down 4 core versions of skylake-x but in this case they are going to use the 4 core mainstream die version of kaby lake on the HEDT socket instead.

 

[m1dg3t]

They actually gave them more cores a long time ago! But in a optimistic platform not able to compete with the way software was and still is coded.

True, they were pushing more cores for a while but lacking in single thread perf. At least AMD is compelling enough now with their ST performance to garner more attention from devs.

I wonder what things would be like now if people had spent the last 5/6 years trying to make the best use of all those cores? Instead of focussing just on Intels 'roadmap'...

gotcha.

Still plenty boards on z270 can handle such wattage....

... the other side if this is you wont hit that wattage in a quad unless you use ln2. A better power plane isnt really going to help much as it doesnt need much in the first place. On any (intel) platform, the difference between a $140 board and best vrmzomg board ever, makes little difference...what 50-100mhz and .05v on ambient cooling at best???? I guess im saying i wouldnt hold my breath because of better power sections on a mobo platform for a measily quad core.

Sweet! Nobody needs a MoBo over $140! I puke when I see what some people pay for a MoBo, especially on Intel side.

 

[Raevenlord]

Man, articles like this makes me really disappointed in the direction Techpowerup is heading.

I don't disagree with the article but if I want to read the editors opinion i'll read the editorials. This feels really unprofessional.

if i wanted spice, id read charlies articles at semi-accurate.

Theyve had a similar style before where the author's opinion was injected into news articles... it didnt work out. That writer got a ton of flack for various appropriate reasons and bailed or was let go...

I dont appreciate being led in a particular direction either. Saying nvidia is scared of vega hence the moving up of volta or whatever was really offputting.

4 cores arent measily. Its a sweetspot for price and performance. Regardless if you are spoiled by core count, 90% of users cant use more than 8 threads anyway, so what does it really matter?

Tough read with the parentheticals litering that first para (one also isnt closed)...sorry for the public mention... i digress.

I smell Fudzillish style even.

Can we ask to mark these articles with yellow background.

I don't mind an opinion sprinkled in if limited. That said, this one is a mess. When parentheses are used inside of parentheses you have moved beyond reasonable commentary. Perhaps a close ) is just missing? Either way, way too much additional commentary (though I still like some sprinkled in) if the result is a mess (which is was, because even the author (who generally writes great articles) got confused).

From the article:

I agree here. I'd prefer less posts or fewer words if writing a paragraph properly seems too much of a thinking effort for the editor. Techpowerup is a great site with really smart people around, so we should all try to keep a good level in speech. Don't let Trump ways... sorry, now I'm lowering the discussion level.

About the CPU's, yes, nothing to get excited about, but good info to remember anyway; Intel doesn't feel new AMD cpu's will have any impact on their business in the short term, hence they keep the launch strategy.

Eventhough I hate intels business practice I agree with him. They should maintain neutrality and let the user be the judge and let the forum / threads tear intel apart. If they start handfeeding us the oppinion "that obviously is the right one" s*** goes south and alot of people will start considering Techpowerup as biased site instead of a scientfic and neutral review site (which I still think techpowerup's core is), but a new trend to push opinions have been set by some of the writers. ( I would say that Techpowerup should discuss their vision and make sure it gets enforced (even if the result differs from what I hope for )

Hey, guys. Just to let you know that your comments don't fall in a bottomless pit of news editing and editorialism.

Not my best work, and not only do I understand where most of you are coming from, I agree with most of what has been said. Slight side-line in this article - the delivery wasn't as sound as it could have been. And those parentheticals and run-in-sentences could have been avoided.

Anyway, problem acknowledged, and rest assured this will inform future articles. Piece by piece we'll reach an agreement between editor and TPUers =)

"These also eschew Intel's integrated graphics, thus saving die space (which could've been used for more cores instead of keeping the same 4-core, 8-thread configuration? Maybe?)"

If it's like their previous HEDT parts, there is no iGPU to eschew. If that's the case, then they actually aren't saving any die space and the quad core parts will just be cut down versions of a higher core count die which is fairly typical of HEDT parts. So it's yield optimization and likely higher frequencies with lower core counts.

Do you want Intel to not offer 4-core parts and have a 6-core minimum for HEDT? I'll grant that the 3820k and 4820k didn't make a lot of sense for most, but it's still good to have those quad core options even if they were hexacore and octacore rejects (HEDT being, in turn, Xeon rejects).

I have to agree with several posters that your editorializing isn't adding anything, particularly if your snark is coming from ignorance.

There has been an answer to your question already regarding this issue. While I am ignorant in many aspects of this world (as in, not knowing everything), if latest information bears fruit, these will be repackaged consumer processors, which do carry the IGP. Hence the referral. So as you see, the snark has basis. Even if it could've been delivered in other ways. Thanks for commenting.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Anyway, problem acknowledged, and rest assured this will inform future articles.

Why not fix it? The internet never forgets, especially TPU which prides itself on not deleting anything. People will still be cringing at this 10 years from now if TPU is still around.

 

[Raevenlord]

Why not fix it? The internet never forgets, especially TPU which prides itself on not deleting anything. People will still be cringing at this 10 years from now if TPU is still around.

Why not indeed?