5 6
85 %^85 %
Processors
GROUP TEST
5
This was because it had two cores, and while
hyperthreading helped, the advantage from
jumping to quad-core processors was plain to see.
This update to the Core i3 part bumps it up to true
quad-core, making it much more of an all-rounder.
However, it doesn’t come without compromises.
While you gain two physical cores, you lose
hyperthreading, so as far as your apps can tell it has
no more cores than the 7350K. Also, it lacks Turbo
Boost so it can’t bump up the frequency of one of
the cores to eke out even more performance – all
four can run at up to 4GHz and that’s your lot.
It holds its own in multithreaded workloads,
doing well with Ashes of the Singularity, which
favours having many cores. It trounces the 7350K,
with the older chip managing 39fps in the 1440p/
Ultra test, compared to 46fps for the 8350K.
You’ll have to stretch your budget further than
for an equivalent AMD chip, but for sheer
gaming performance, the 8350K is a
great option.INTEL CORE i3-8350K
http://www.intel.com £155
Now Intel’s back with the 8600K that, like the
8700K, ups the core count by two while retaining
the high clock speed and overclockability that made
its predecessor so tempting.
The one thing you still miss out on is
hyperthreading, and it’s surprising just how much of
a difference it makes. While the 8700K does have a
clock speed advantage, it’s nonetheless notable
that it’s 50% faster than the 8600K in the
multithread Cinebench test.
As ever, the major caveat here is price, with
AMD’s direct rival, the 1600X, being around £50
cheaper while still having a lead in multithread
performance thanks to its inclusion of SMT.
Take advantage of the 8600K’s overclockability,
though, and it’s able to close most of that gap, and
further extend its lead in other areas.
As such, if your budget can stretch a little
further, the 8600K may be the better bet,
particularly if gaming is your highest
performance priority.INTEL CORE i5-8600K
http://www.intel.com £240
Intel’s multiplier-unlocked Core i3 processor from last
generation, the Core i3-7350K, always felt a bit too
underpowered, despite its impressive clock speed.If the 7700K was always the go-to choice for gamers
with money to burn, the 7600K was the aspirational next
best thing. With its four cores, high clock speed and
overclockability, it was a great all-rounder.