[SOLVED] i7 9700k vs i7 10700f for gaming

ChrisRedfiedl

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Sep 18, 2019
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Hello everyone,

I'm buying new CPU for my PC and I wanted something that will be future proof and have excellent performance in games.
I'm thinking about buying either i7 9700K which have 3,60ghz,8 cores and 8 threads 12mb cache,or i7 10700F that have 2.90ghz 8 cores and 16 threads,16mb cache.

I like that i7 9700k have overclocking option and higher frequency ,but I don't like smaller amount of threads,and I must buy new liquid cooler for it.
I like i7 10700F because of 16 threads,and higher cache and it comes with cooler,but I don't like lower frequency and more expensive MOBOs,and lack of Overclocking.

I would like to know what would be better option and what is better for gaming at this moment and in future.
Kind regards
 
Solution
So you recommend 10700 over 9700K or 10600K?

10600K would be perfect CPU if it only had at least 8 cores.I really wouldn't want to buy new CPU in next 4-5 years,but I'm afraid that 6 cores wouldn't be enough in that period.
I don't have 120 aio liquid cooler,I have LC-CC 120,it's an air cooler.

I can only buy 10700F,not 10700K
I bought the 10600K just a couple months ago and have had 0 problems. Have a ultrawide 1440p monitor ordered and waiting on the MSI RTX 3080 to be released.

EDIT you asked so this is about what I bought my cooler is a bit better so might need to upgrade that if you looking to overclock the processor.

The 32GB of memory might be some overkill for you but I also use some work programs and the reason...

ChrisRedfiedl

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Sep 18, 2019
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Realistically it's not going to matter much either way. Why not save a little more so you don't have to compromise? 10th gen has a newer board and a bit of a future whereas the 9th gen is a dead end. So there's that.

I'm not sure what's more important 8c/16t and higher cache,or 8c/8t,higher frequency and OC-ing?
I want something that will be as much future proof as I can.
I don't see what is 10700F's pros except for higher thread count and higher cache.
I will go to new platform and socket in future,so I don't think it matters wheater is 9th gen or 10th gen,right?
I plan to buy 2080ti in like 3-4 years,so I don't want bottleneck.
What would be your best guess how long would those 2 CPU last until they are obsolete for gaming in recommend configuration?
Look at the i5-10600K.
Here is a review:
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-core-i5-10600k-cpu-review
It outperforms the 9700K.
Yes, you need a cooler, but a decent air cooler will do the job.

I have to buy CPU from one particular store that doesn't have i5 10600,so that CPU is not an option,just those two i7s.
I have LC-CC 120,but I heard it's not good for those two CPUs.
 
If they do not have the i5-10600, do they have a i5-10600K or KF?

A 120 aio has a 120mm sized radiator. That is about the equivalent of a simple tower type air cooler with a 120mm fan.
The 10th gen parts run cooler than the 9700K and will do just fine with your lcc120.

What is your current processor?
Do you have any idea as to how many threads your games actually use?
Most can not effectively use more than 4-6 threads.
The key to good gaming is good single thread performance for the master thread.

What 10th gen processors are available at where you must shop?

10600 and 10700 processors can turbo to 4.8.
The difference is if you need 12 or 16 threads.
The K suffix processors can generally overclock at 5.o on many cores.
 

ChrisRedfiedl

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Sep 18, 2019
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If they do not have the i5-10600, do they have a i5-10600K or KF?

A 120 aio has a 120mm sized radiator. That is about the equivalent of a simple tower type air cooler with a 120mm fan.
The 10th gen parts run cooler than the 9700K and will do just fine with your lcc120.

What is your current processor?
Do you have any idea as to how many threads your games actually use?
Most can not effectively use more than 4-6 threads.
The key to good gaming is good single thread performance for the master thread.

What 10th gen processors are available at where you must shop?

10600 and 10700 processors can turbo to 4.8.
The difference is if you need 12 or 16 threads.
The K suffix processors can generally overclock at 5.o on many cores.

They only have i5 10600K ( K version),I had to use filter to find it.
My current CPU is i5 4670K and I got tons of stuttering in games.
I don't know how many threads my games use,I mostly play Resident Evil series,Witcher 3 and I plan to play Cyberpunk 2077 which is probably be very CPU heavy.
I have i7 10700F and i9 9700K in my shop,rest are either super expensive CPUs or very weak.
I'm not worried about 12-16 threads that much,I'm worried that 10060K have 6 cores.
 

Zerk2012

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Ambassador
Hello everyone,

I'm buying new CPU for my PC and I wanted something that will be future proof and have excellent performance in games.
I'm thinking about buying either i7 9700K which have 3,60ghz,8 cores and 8 threads 12mb cache,or i7 10700F that have 2.90ghz 8 cores and 16 threads,16mb cache.

I like that i7 9700k have overclocking option and higher frequency ,but I don't like smaller amount of threads,and I must buy new liquid cooler for it.
I like i7 10700F because of 16 threads,and higher cache and it comes with cooler,but I don't like lower frequency and more expensive MOBOs,and lack of Overclocking.

I would like to know what would be better option and what is better for gaming at this moment and in future.
Kind regards
The 10700F has a all core boost speed of 4.6 just like the 9700K. No you can't overclock it and it comes with a cooler but don't expect not to need to buy a aftermarket cooler for it.
 

ChrisRedfiedl

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Sep 18, 2019
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The 10700F has a all core boost speed of 4.6 just like the 9700K. No you can't overclock it and it comes with a cooler but don't expect not to need to buy a aftermarket cooler for it.

I never quite understand how boost speed works.If 10700 is rated to have 2.90ghz how can I make it to boost to 4,6 in gaming?
I have aftermarket cooler,LC-CC 120.
Geofelt said it would be enough.

PS
I currently have GTX 1080 Ti,and if I buy i7 10700 will I get bottleneck in 1440p and 4K gaming?
Also,I plan to buy RTX 2080Ti one day,will it bottleneck that GPU too?
 
I never quite understand how boost speed works.If 10700 is rated to have 2.90ghz how can I make it to boost to 4,6 in gaming?
I have aftermarket cooler,LC-CC 120.
Geofelt said it would be enough.

PS
I currently have GTX 1080 Ti,and if I buy i7 10700 will I get bottleneck in 1440p and 4K gaming?
Also,I plan to buy RTX 2080Ti one day,will it bottleneck that GPU too?
It just boosts on its own. You will be GPU bottlenecked.
 

Zerk2012

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I never quite understand how boost speed works.If 10700 is rated to have 2.90ghz how can I make it to boost to 4,6 in gaming?
I have aftermarket cooler,LC-CC 120.
Geofelt said it would be enough.

PS
I currently have GTX 1080 Ti,and if I buy i7 10700 will I get bottleneck in 1440p and 4K gaming?
Also,I plan to buy RTX 2080Ti one day,will it bottleneck that GPU too?
4.8 on a single core but 4.6 using all cores and yes it will boost up without you doing anything the 2.9 is when their no load on the processor to save energy.

 

ChrisRedfiedl

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Sep 18, 2019
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It just boosts on its own. You will be GPU bottlenecked.
I read that boost needs to be enabled in BIOS,is that true?
Since I play in 1440p and 4K,I will have bottleneck.
Should I buy weaker CPU then?
I will struggle to play in 4K with GTX 1080 Ti even without bottlenec and bottleneck will cause even lower framerate.
What CPU should I get then?
I want something that will be future proof and to last as long as possible with newer game titles.

4.8 on a single core but 4.6 using all cores and yes it will boost up without you doing anything the 2.9 is when their no load on the processor to save energy.


So when I'm looking to buy CPU I should really look at Boost speed instead of ''normal no load speed''?
 

Zerk2012

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I read that boost needs to be enabled in BIOS,is that true?
Since I play in 1440p and 4K,I will have bottleneck.
Should I buy weaker CPU then?
I will struggle to play in 4K with GTX 1080 Ti even without bottlenec and bottleneck will cause even lower framerate.
What CPU should I get then?
I want something that will be future proof and to last as long as possible with newer game titles.



So when I'm looking to buy CPU I should really look at Boost speed instead of ''normal no load speed''?
Their a bit more to it than that if your going to overclock get the K model. Since most games can use more than one core the all core boost speed is what I would be looking at.
 
They only have i5 10600K ( K version),I had to use filter to find it.
My current CPU is i5 4670K and I got tons of stuttering in games.
I don't know how many threads my games use,I mostly play Resident Evil series,Witcher 3 and I plan to play Cyberpunk 2077 which is probably be very CPU heavy.
I have i7 10700F and i9 9700K in my shop,rest are either super expensive CPUs or very weak.
I'm not worried about 12-16 threads that much,I'm worried that 10060K have 6 cores.
The 10600K has 6 cores and 12 threads. more than you likely need.
Only if you play multiplayer games with many participants would a 10700 with 16 threads be better.
The 9700K has only 8 threads.
If overclocked, the 10600K competes even with the 20 thread i9-9900K.
look at the last page of the 10600K review I linked earlier.

Max boost clocks apply to only one thread when other usage is light and when thermal limits permit.

For full performance you want to overclock to get the maximum performance out of a chip.
That is what the K suffix processors are designed to do.

Since you already have a 120 aio liquid cooler, start with that.
If it seems, for whatever reason that you need better cooling, a $85 noctua NH-D15s will do the job.
 
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ChrisRedfiedl

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Sep 18, 2019
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Their a bit more to it than that if your going to overclock get the K model. Since most games can use more than one core the all core boost speed is what I would be looking at.
So you recommend 10700 over 9700K or 10600K?
The 10600K has 6 cores and 12 threads. more than you likely need.
Only if you play multiplayer games with many participants would a 10700 with 16 threads be better.
The 9700K has only 8 threads.
If overclocked, the 10600K competes even with the 20 thread i9-9900K.
look at the last page of the 10600K review I linked earlier.

Max boost clocks apply to only one thread when other usage is light and when thermal limits permit.

For full performance you want to overclock to get the maximum performance out of a chip.
That is what the K suffix processors are designed to do.

Since you already have a 120 aio liquid cooler, start with that.
If it seems, for whatever reason that you need better cooling, a $85 noctua NH-D15s will do the job.
10600K would be perfect CPU if it only had at least 8 cores.I really wouldn't want to buy new CPU in next 4-5 years,but I'm afraid that 6 cores wouldn't be enough in that period.
I don't have 120 aio liquid cooler,I have LC-CC 120,it's an air cooler.
Unless you can save a bundle on 9700K, I'd go 10700K, personally....
I can only buy 10700F,not 10700K
 

Zerk2012

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So you recommend 10700 over 9700K or 10600K?

10600K would be perfect CPU if it only had at least 8 cores.I really wouldn't want to buy new CPU in next 4-5 years,but I'm afraid that 6 cores wouldn't be enough in that period.
I don't have 120 aio liquid cooler,I have LC-CC 120,it's an air cooler.

I can only buy 10700F,not 10700K
I bought the 10600K just a couple months ago and have had 0 problems. Have a ultrawide 1440p monitor ordered and waiting on the MSI RTX 3080 to be released.

EDIT you asked so this is about what I bought my cooler is a bit better so might need to upgrade that if you looking to overclock the processor.

The 32GB of memory might be some overkill for you but I also use some work programs and the reason besides that was it's just like 40 bucks more for 32GB instead of 16GB and if you get into VR it could help. For mainly gaming you would never need to add more memory.

PCPartPicker Part List

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-10600K 4.1 GHz 6-Core Processor | $289.99 @ B&H
CPU Cooler | Scythe FUMA 2 51.17 CFM CPU Cooler | $59.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard | MSI MAG Z490 TOMAHAWK ATX LGA1200 Motherboard | $189.99 @ Newegg
Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory | $104.99 @ Newegg
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total | $644.96
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-09-05 20:54 EDT-0400 |

My processor is overclocked to 4.8 all cores and I still have overclocking room with my cooler running OCCT I'm still in the low 70's for the temp.

If your not into overclocking then the regular 10700 would be a bit more but not a lot I would probably pass on the F edition. This is my same pass on AMD no built in graphics if my video card goes out I much rather still be able to remove the card and keep using my PC instead of it just being down (although I do have spare video cards I could use a lot of people don't)

Welcome to the world of building a gaming PC. You can argue the point of the processor pull up benchmarks and still their no 100% answer, if you get a 10600K, 10700, 9700K your going to have a nice gaming PC either way and can be debated to death!

For a more friendly price even the AMD processors look good for higher resolutions like 4K like I said their so many options.

Your processor is going to be able of putting X amount of FPS in any game more or less depends on the game
engine that value really don't change, then you get into the resolution of the monitor and in game settings now that is all up to the video card.
 
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