Test System and Methods
Here is the full range of test systems used for CPU and APU reviews:
Test System
Z87
- Motherboard – ASUS Maximus VII Ranger
- RAM – 16GB Crucial Ballistix Sport XT (2 x 8GB) DDR3 1866MHz (10-10-10-30)
- CPU Cooler – Thermaltake Water 3.0 with Gelid GC-Extreme
- Graphics Card – Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 980Ti
- Power Supply – BeQuiet Dark Power Pro 850 Watt
- Main Storage Drive – Toshiba OCZ VX500 500GB
- Chassis – Lian Li T80 Test Bench
- Displays – U2868PQU 4K
- Operating System – Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Z170
- Motherboard – ASRock Z170 Extreme7+
- RAM – Crucial Ballistix Elite 16GB (2x8GB) 2666MHz (16-17-17)
- CPU Cooler – Thermaltake Water 3.0 with Gelid GC-Extreme
- Graphics Card – Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 980Ti
- Power Supply – BeQuiet Dark Power Pro 850 Watt
- Main Storage Drive – Toshiba OCZ VX500 500GB
- Chassis – Lian Li T80 Test Bench
- Displays – U2868PQU 4K
- Operating System – Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Z270
- Motherboard – Combination used to determine widespread performance
- RAM – Crucial Ballistix Elite 16GB (2x8GB) 2666MHz (16-17-17)
- CPU Cooler – Thermaltake Water 3.0 with Gelid GC-Extreme
- Graphics Card – Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 980Ti
- Power Supply – BeQuiet Dark Power Pro 850 Watt
- Main Storage Drive – Toshiba OCZ VX500 500GB
- Chassis – Lian Li T80 Test Bench
- Displays – U2868PQU 4K
- Operating System – Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
X99
- Motherboard – ASUS ROG STRIX X99 GAMING
- RAM – 32GB Crucial Ballistix Sport (4x8GB) 2400MHz (16-16-16-39)
- CPU Cooler – Thermaltake Water 3.0 with Gelid GC-Extreme
- Graphics Card – Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 980Ti
- Power Supply – BeQuiet Dark Power Pro 850 Watt
- Main Storage Drive – Toshiba OCZ VX500 500GB
- Chassis – Lian Li T80 Test Bench
- Displays – U2868PQU 4K
- Operating System – Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Games Used
- Ashes of the Singularity (DirectX 12)
- Dirt Rally
- Rise of the Tomb Raider (DirectX 12)
- Shadow of Mordor
- Tomb Raider
Test Software
- 3DMark – available here
- AIDA64 Engineer – available here
- Cinebench – available here
- CPUID HWMonitor – available here
- CPU-Z – available here
- Handbrake – available here
- Prime95 – available here
- WinRAR – available here
- WPrime – available here
Test Procedure
Here at eTeknix, we endeavour to disclose key information regarding the benchmarking process so that readers can quantify the results and attempt to replicate them using their own hardware. When it comes to CPU reviews, the benchmarks are pretty self-explanatory although there are a few exceptions. Please note, we prefer to re-test each CPU within a product’s performance range to ensure the results are completely accurate and reflect any changes to our samples over time or enhancements via graphics drivers.
This means we now include fewer results, but they are more accurate and easier to decipher. As always, your choice of motherboard, the silicon lottery and other factors can yield different numbers and there’s always a margin for error when using software. Therefore, your experience may vary. Saying that, each benchmark is run at least three times and the average figure is taken to try to reduce the effect of hardware variation. Any important details regarding the benchmarks will be listed below.
Handbrake
To stress processors to their absolute limit and accurately judge performance in video editing workloads, we transcode a 7.7GB compilation of gaming footage. This particular file is freely available from here. The captured footage is 22 minutes and 12 seconds long, has a bit rate of 50.1 Mbps and uses the Advanced Video Codec. Additionally, the video runs at a constant 30 frames-per-second and opts for a 3820×2140 (4K) resolution. Once loaded into Handbrake, we transcode the 4K MP4 to a 1080p MKV file.
Whats frequency of iGpu? Is possible to overclock?
Ps
Very good review!
Hi, thank you so much. I wasn’t able to overclock the iGPU, but I’ll note down the frequency in the next day or so when I do some additional testing.
Great review man.. So 7700K is just a higher clocked 6700K? My current Z170 mobo is dead and i’m considering to upgrade to Kaby Lake.. but seeing this review hold me back. Slightly off topic, but can i use my 6700K with Z270 motherboard? Just curious.. otherwise i’ll buy another Z170.. Thanks
If you want a future proof build then buy a Z270… pure logic here, it will support intel Xpoint Optane SSDs and dimms.
Hum, google it, it takes 5 seconds, it will be released after the CES 2017 the 5th of January, in fact some online retailers already got the Z270 mobos and 7700Ks ready ^^
Thank you 😀 Yep, no real improvements outside of a frequency boost. The 6700K and 7700K both use the same LGA1151 socket so you’ll have no issues doing that!
One of the best conclusions i have seen lately,
unbiased, to the point, and balanced.
Kudos!!!
Thank you 😀
You should think about delidding this supernova, it’s reported you can get 30 degree reductions in temperature. Looks like Intel wanted to limit overclocking thermally again.
http://wccftech.com/intel-core-i7-7700k-delid-performance-tests/
Thank you very much for this. Interesting how the 7700k outperforms a 6700k OC’d 4.8ghz on Ashes of the Singularity. Can you please test Starcraft 2? That game is CPU limited and really shows the strength of a CPU (may it be architecture or IPC or speeds) and I’m really interested how the 7700k perform against the 6700k in that game clock for clock. Thank you.
“AMD’s Zen architecture is just around the corner and looks promising” Are you kidding me? What the hell does AMD have to do with this? You are referring to a product that is not available, and will be a first iteration of a new technology that will need weeks (if not months) of vetting before I will risk my hard earned dollars. For All practical purposes, AMD is dead until it can PROVE it has a product that I should take a look at. Until then….I am completely ignoring them.
“What the hell does AMD have to do with this”, really? They are Intel’s direct competitor, their zen processors do actually look promising and they’ll be coming out shortly. How much vetting do processors need according to you? It’s not like AMD is unexperienced in terms of making processors, it’s just a (very) new architecture. It is completely logical to suggest waiting to see what AMD does before making a purchasing decision.
It has a lot to do with this, because IF the Zen single core performance is within 10-15% of the current Intel offerings, there is virtually no reason to get an Intel CPU, and it becomes well worth getting a much cheaper 4C/8T Zen or a 6 or 8 core version of the Zen for the same price and have those extra cores in case you need them.
For gaming, 6 and 8 core CPU’s add a high cost but essentially no value performance wise. Oh, ok… Ashes of the Singularity shows a little bit of performance increase but it costs a lot to build the system. IMO, it isn’t worth purchasing a 6 or 8 core Intel System at this time for gaming.
Here is the point:
If Zen is close to Core i7 7700k, then why wouldn’t I get the 8 core Zen that could be priced the same as the 7700k, AND add the extra cores “for free”?
Or, if I don’t need 6 or 8 cores, why not get the 4C/8T i7 version of the Zen for a most likely much cheaper price?
It really depends on how good Zen is as to whether these Intel prices are worth it or not.
You’re making a huge presumption that pricing will be low, It’s much more likely that pricing will not be far off Broadwell e pricing, AMD are repeatedly referring to there 8 core alongside the Broadwell 6 core so I’m expecting similar pricing but we’ll see.
I’m a big Intel fan but their insistence to put progress into neutral as often as they can get away with is just crazy. The 7700k could have easily had far more tangible improvements but because the market wasn’t forcing them to compete they just don’t bother. Intel has provided AMD with a generous opportunity here with Zen. I hope rigorous competition gets the innovation train back on the track.
As a Haswell user, I will not have to upgrade my CPU for the next 3 years. Intel is so lazy now. Now AMD has an opportunity to strike back with Zen. I can definitely give a try for a Zen 6 core CPU if it matches with a 6700K. I bet those performance gains are mainly due to clock speed jump, but no IPC improvement. The biggest advantage here is overclocking head room and the new media engine which will useful for multimedia users. BTW, is 5GHZ sustainable for daily using, I mean with a good liquid cooler?
Nice Review !
I’m also on Haswell. I didn’t think I was going to be able to hold onto the same CPU for so long, but I am also planning on holding out for a long time.
Looks like Intel has lost its way… /:
does HD630 support HDMI 2.0?
No. What a disappointment.
Core i5 2500k here (OC’ed to 4.5Ghz).
Debating whether to go for a 7700k or possibly even a Zen, though I use my PC for gaming, so I don’t think Zen gives me anything special, probably detracts since it is rumored to be slower single core.