Intel 7000 Series (Kaby Lake) MegaThread! FAQ & Resources

[TechyInAZ]

Welcome Community, to the Official Intel 7000 Series (Kaby Lake) MegaThread!

This thread serves as the primary discussion thread for ALL Kaby Lake information and resources. It contains a list of the latest Kaby Lake reviews and a list of all compatible motherboards! While discussing, please remember to stay within the guidelines set by Tom's Hardware and above all, DO NOT start a flame war.

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What Is Kaby Lake?

Kaby Lake is the 2nd Optimization of the Skylake architecture when debuted in 2015. Just like Skylake, Kaby Lake is built on the 14nm process, but has been refined and optimized even more by improving the transistor fins and gate pitch. Intel calls this their 14nm+ process. This allows Kaby Lake processors to run at up to 400mhz faster clock speeds than their Skylake brethren.

Intel has also introduced new 200 series chipset motherboards with a few extra features over older 100 series motherboards, including support for Optane and support for native 4k streaming. Connectivity has also gone up, the Z270 chipset now has a maximum total of 24 PCI-E 3.0 lanes and 30 HSIO inputs vs Z170's 20 PCI-E 3.0 lanes and 26 HSIO inputs.
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Intel Core i7-7700K

Flagship of the Kaby Lake lineup, and has the highest stock frequency of any Intel chip.

Cores/Threads = 4/8
Operating Frequency = 4.2Ghz (4.5Ghz Turbo)
L2 Cache = 4x 256KB
L3 Cache = 8MB
TDP = 91W
IGPU = HD 630 Graphics

Reviews:

AnandTech: http://www.anandtech.com/show/10968/the-intel-core-i7-7700k-91w-review-the-new-stock-performance-champion
Tom's Hardware (OC Review) http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-kaby-lake-core-i7-7700k-overclocking-performance-review,4836.html
Tom's Hardware (Main Review) http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-kaby-lake-core-i7-7700k-i7-7700-i5-7600k-i5-7600,4870.html
PC Perspective: https://www.pcper.com/reviews/Processors/Intel-Core-i7-7700K-Review-Kaby-Lake-and-14nm/
Legit Reviews: http://www.legitreviews.com/intel-core-i7-7700k-processor-review_189491
Extreme Tech: https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/241950-intels-core-i7-7700k-reviewed-kaby-lake-debuts-desktop
Hexus: http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/cpu/99820-intel-core-i7-7700k-14nm-kaby-lake/

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Core i5-7600K

Cores/Threads = 4/4
Operating Frequency = 3.8Ghz (4.2Ghz Turbo)
L2 Cache = 4x 256KB
L3 Cache = 6MB
TDP = 91W
IGPU = HD 630 Graphics

Reviews:

AnandTech: http://www.anandtech.com/show/10969/the-intel-core-i57600k-91w-review-the-more-amenable-mainstream-performer
Tom's Hardware: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-kaby-lake-core-i7-7700k-i7-7700-i5-7600k-i5-7600,4870.html
Guru 3D: http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/core-i5-7600k-processor-review-desktop-kaby-lake,1.html
EuroGamer: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-intel-core-i5-7600k-review

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Core i3-7350K

Worlds first i3 with an unlocked multiplier. Reports say that this chip can easily reach the 5Ghz range.

Cores/Threads = 2/4
Operating Frequency = 4.2Ghz
L2 Cache = 2x 256KB
L3 Cache = 4MB
TDP = 60W
IGPU = HD 630 Graphics

Reviews:

Wccftech: http://wccftech.com/intel-core-i3-7350k-cpu-review/
bit-tech: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2017/01/09/intel-core-i3-7350k-review/1
Legit Reviews: http://www.legitreviews.com/intel-core-i3-7350k-processor-review_190299

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Pentium G4560

Worlds first Pentium with HyperThreading. Can compete directly with Core i3-6100 and i5-2500K.

Cores/Threads = 2/4
Operating Frequency = 3.5Ghz
L3 Cache = 3MB
TDP = 54W
IGPU = HD 610 Graphics

Reviews:

wccftech: http://wccftech.com/intel-pentium-g4560-ultimate-budget-cpu-65-usd/

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Motherboards:

Z270:

Spoiler

ASUS:
Prime Series:
PRIME-Z270-A
PRIME-Z270-AR
PRIME-Z270-K
PRIME-Z270-P
PRIME-Z270M-PLUS
ROG:
ROG Maximus IX Formula
ROG Maximus IX Hero
ROG Maximus IX Apex
ROG Maximus IX Code
ROG STRIX Z270F Gaming
ROG STRIX Z270E Gaming
ROG STRIX Z270H Gaming
ROG STRIX Z270G Gaming
ROG STRIX Z270I Gaming
TUF:
Z270 Mark 1
Z270 Mark 2

AsRock:
Extreme:
Z270 SuperCarrier
Z270 Extreme4
Z270M Extreme 4
Z270 Killer SLI
Z270 Killer SLI/ac
Taichi:
Z270 Taichi
Fatal1ty Gaming
Fatal1ty Z270 Professional Gaming i7
Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming K6
Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming K4
Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming-ITX/ac
PRO:
Z270 Pro4
Z270M Pro4

EVGA:
Z270 Classified K
Z270 FTW K
Z270 Stinger

Gigabyte:
Ultra Durable:
GA-Z270X-UD5
GA-Z270X-UD3
GA-Z270-HD3P
GA-Z270-HD3
GA-Z270P-D3
GA-Z270M-D3H
GA-Z270XP-SLI
GA-Z270N-WIFI
Gaming Series:
GA-Z270X-Ultra Gaming
GA-Z270MX-Gaming 5
GA-Z270-Gaming K3
AORUS Gaming Series:
GA-Z270X-Gaming 9
GA-Z270X-Gaming 8
GA-Z270X-Gaming 7
GA-Z270X-Gaming K7
GA-Z270X-Gaming 5
GA-Z270X-Gaming K5

MSI:
PRO Series:
Z270 SLI PLUS
Z270 SLI
Z270-A PRO
Z270 PC MATE
Arsenal Gaming:
Z270 TOMAHAWK
Z270M MORTAR
Performance Gaming:
Z270 GAMING PRO CARBON
Z270 KRAIT GAMING
Z270 GAMING PRO
Z270I GAMING PRO CARBON AC
Enthusiast Gaming:
Z270 XPOWER GAMING TITANIUM
Z270 GAMING M7
Z270 GAMING M5
Z270 GAMING M3

SuperMicro:
C7Z270-PG
C7Z270-CG
C7Z270-CG-L

Biostar:
Z270GT9
Z270GT8
Z270GT6
Z270GT4

H270:

Spoiler

Asus:
Prime Series:
PRIME-H270-PRO
PRIME-H270-PLUS/CSM
PRIME-H270M-PLUS/CSM
ROG:
ROG STRIX H270F GAMING

AsRock:
Fatal1ty Gaming:
Fatal1ty H270 Performance
Fatal1ty H270M Performance
PRO:
H270 Pro4
H270M Pro4
N/A:
H270M-ITX/ac

Gigabyte:
Ultra Durable Series:
GA-H270-HD3
GA-H270M-DS3H
GA-H270M-D3H
GA-H270N-WIFI
Gaming Series:
GA-H270-Gaming 3

MSI:
PRO Series:
H270 PC MATE
Arsenal Gaming:
H270 TOMAHAWK ARTIC
H270M MORTAR ARTIC
H270M BAZOOKA
Performance Gaming:
H270 GAMING PRO CARBON
H270I GAMING PRO AC
Enthusiast Gaming:
H270 GAMING M3

SuperMicro:
C7H270-CG-ML

B250:

Spoiler

Asus:
Prime Series:
PRIME B250-PLUS
PRIME B250M-PLUS
PRIME B250M-A
PRIME B250M-K
PRIME B250M-C/CSM
ROG:
ROG STRIX B250F GAMING

AsRock:
Fatal1ty Gaming:
Fatal1ty B250 Gaming K4
Fatal1ty B250M Performance
PRO:
B250 Pro4
B250M Pro4

Gigabyte:
Ultra Durable:
GA-B250-HD3
GA-B250M-D3H
GA-B250M-DS3H
GA-B250M-HD3
Gaming Series:
GA-Gaming B8

MSI:
PRO Series:
B250M PRO-VDH
B250M PRO-VD
B250 PC MATE
Arsenal GAMING:
B250M MORTAR
Performance GAMING:
B250 GAMING PRO CARBON
B250 KRAIT GAMING
B250M GAMING PRO
B250I GAMING PRO AC
Enthusiast GAMING:
B250 GAMING M3

Biostar:
HI-FI:
Hi-Fi B250S1
PRO:
TB250-BTC
RACING:
B250GT5
B250GT3
B250ET2

SuperMicro:
C7B250-CB-ML

 

[logainofhades]

Is it sad that the most interesting chip, is that Pentium?

 

[TechyInAZ]

Is it sad that the most interesting chip, is that Pentium?

I'd say both the I3 and the Pentium are the most interesting. But I don't think so as Kaby Lake is basically like the Haswell Refresh.

 

[logainofhades]

The i3's price tag is a big turn off.

 

[Martell1977]

I think this is the most uneventful launch in a long time(from Intel). I'm not sure if this is to appease OEM's that want regular refreshes or just a way to release SKU's that will help them fend off AMD's upcoming line. AMD has a habit of making all their SKU's OC'able so adding an unlocked i3 and making the Pentium 2c/4t is a logical choice.

I'm willing to bet that prices will drop a bit when AMD releases Ryzen.

 

[-Fran-]

In all fairness to Intel, they need to sell their products on improved nodes slapping "new" to them even if the actual design is basically the same. Those factories burn a lot of greens, I'd imagine!

Now, I do agree lackluster falls short of a word to describe this. And no, the Pentium is a bad product in this lineup. They switched yet another good niche product of the in-the-know people so they get the more expensive option. I have friends that made some switches and NAS machines using Pentiums that are royally screwed now since they'll have to get the i3s instead. It reminds me of the good old Celeron 300A days and their "modifications" to the next iterations.

Cheers!

 

[logainofhades]

I have been told, by Asus, that the Strix Z270i will be out in February. No firm date, though.

 

[TechyInAZ]

H270 chart is now published. B250 (and H210? maybe?) motherboards coming soon.

 

[logainofhades]

Does not appear there will be an H210.

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-200-series-chipsets,33305.html

Intel opted not to create an H210 SKU, as low-end Skylake chipsets are already filling the market space that H210 would otherwise occupy.

 

[TechyInAZ]

Ah ok that makes sense. Now that I think about it, there was never an H91 chipset for Haswell either.

 

[manleysteele]

http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/intel-delays-skylake-x-and-kaby-lake-x-release-to-august.html

An interesting development, RE: Skylake X and Kaby Lake X release dates.

 

[logainofhades]

Based on that article, Kaby Lake X seems kinda pointless.

 

[Martell1977]

Based on that article, Kaby Lake X seems kinda pointless.

Kaby Lake itself seems kind of pointless. I really think Intel only released it to have a "new" product out when AMD releases Ryzen. There really is nothing brought with Kaby to make it a necessary release.

 

[logainofhades]

I would disagree. The new hyperthread pentiums are a budget builder's dream.

 

[manleysteele]

Based on that article, Kaby Lake X seems kinda pointless.

Pricing will be interesting. Intel has, for a long time, acted as if they were just giving us the iGP on the mainstream chips. $349 to $389 for a high end 4c/8t processor versus $1100 for an 8c/16t processor doesn't add up. In any case, going to the expense of a X-series motherboard for 4 channel memory and little else doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy. I can't help but think Intel has something up their sleeves concerning Kaby Lake X. I have no idea what it would be, though. The leaked Intel slides give no indication of anything interesting other than the possible return of iGP e-dram on the package. While interesting, I'm not sure how much I am willing to pay for the "feature." I suppose, like all the other non-announcements, we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Martell1977]

I would disagree. The new hyperthread pentiums are a budget builder's dream.

They could have done that as a refresh (like Devils Canyon), there was no need for a "new" line or chipset, that I can see.

When they brought DDR4, a new chipset made sense. If they had added PCIE 4 or something significant, I could see the point. But this just seems like a cash grab and a setup for things they have coming in other chipsets.

 

[logainofhades]

The Z270 chipset has more PCI-E lanes, than Z170 does.

 

[Martell1977]

The Z270 chipset has more PCI-E lanes, than Z170 does.

http://www.gamersnexus.net/news-pc/2707-intel-z270-vs-h270-chipset-differences-specs

The biggest difference seems to be in the number of HSIO lanes in the H270 chipset. Even so, does this mostly minor change justify an entire product line? Intel obviously believes so...I'm just not convinced. I know it will be useful for some, but it just feels more like a stop gap measure rather than a launch. The extra lanes almost feels like Intel felt they had to change something and that was it.

 

[logainofhades]

The extra PCI-E lanes allow for boards to have more than a single M.2 connection, so there is that. You no longer have to look @X99, for such a feature.

 

[TechyInAZ]

The extra PCI-E lanes allow for boards to have more than a single M.2 connection, so there is that. You no longer have to look @X99, for such a feature.

That would be nice. PC Perspective covered Gigabyte's overclocking specific Z170 motherboard with three M.2 slots, they said that with all three m.2 slots populated (they even did 3 way RAID 0) none of the sata ports would work.

 

[manleysteele]

The extra PCI-E lanes allow for boards to have more than a single M.2 connection, so there is that. You no longer have to look @X99, for such a feature.

That would be nice. PC Perspective covered Gigabyte's overclocking specific Z170 motherboard with three M.2 slots, they said that with all three m.2 slots populated (they even did 3 way RAID 0) none of the sata ports would work.

This is the "feature" of Intel chipsets that get on my last nerve. I don't understand it. To be honest, I resent having to pay an extra $50-$100 for one or two PEX8747's just to run all of the storage options without disabling slots. At least one can find boards that have them, but a premium chipset shouldn't need them.

 

[-Fran-]

This is the "feature" of Intel chipsets that get on my last nerve. I don't understand it. To be honest, I resent having to pay an extra $50-$100 for one or two PEX8747's just to run all of the storage options without disabling slots. At least one can find boards that have them, but a premium chipset shouldn't need them.

Counter-point: the Z chipsets are just high mid tier. The "good stuff" from Intel is the X chipsets. That can be considered premium and/or high tier.

Plus, they do that to segment the market. They make you jump onto the X platform if you have a slightly higher need than what the Z/H platforms offer.

Not justifying, but that is the nature of the (big) beast.

Cheers!

 

[logainofhades]

The extra PCI-E lanes allow for boards to have more than a single M.2 connection, so there is that. You no longer have to look @X99, for such a feature.

That would be nice. PC Perspective covered Gigabyte's overclocking specific Z170 motherboard with three M.2 slots, they said that with all three m.2 slots populated (they even did 3 way RAID 0) none of the sata ports would work.

Were they using NVME, or sata specced drives though? I think that makes a difference on whether SATA ports become disabled, on some boards.

 

[manleysteele]

This is the "feature" of Intel chipsets that get on my last nerve. I don't understand it. To be honest, I resent having to pay an extra $50-$100 for one or two PEX8747's just to run all of the storage options without disabling slots. At least one can find boards that have them, but a premium chipset shouldn't need them.

Counter-point: the Z chipsets are just high mid tier. The "good stuff" from Intel is the X chipsets. That can be considered premium and/or high tier.

Plus, they do that to segment the market. They make you jump onto the X platform if you have a slightly higher need than what the Z/H platforms offer.

Not justifying, but that is the nature of the (big) beast.

Cheers!

I have 8 SSD's in my system now, plus my spinning drives. I had to pay $100 for an add in card to run them all. I'm waiting for the Asus Z-290 WS to become available in order to move my installation over to a modern board. Even with that board, I'll have to be careful with slot assignments in order to run the drives I already own. If I want more, I'm probably going to need to wait for a $500 dollar X-290 WS. It's disgusting, but as you say, that's the nature of the beast.

I was gooning around Benchlife and it looks like Kaby Lake-X may only support dual channel memory, so there is another rumor/leak that makes me wonder what in the world Intel is thinking.

 

[TechyInAZ]

The extra PCI-E lanes allow for boards to have more than a single M.2 connection, so there is that. You no longer have to look @X99, for such a feature.

That would be nice. PC Perspective covered Gigabyte's overclocking specific Z170 motherboard with three M.2 slots, they said that with all three m.2 slots populated (they even did 3 way RAID 0) none of the sata ports would work.

Were they using NVME, or sata specced drives though? I think that makes a difference on whether SATA ports become disabled, on some boards.

https://www.pcper.com/reviews/Storage/Triple-M2-Samsung-950-Pro-Z170-PCIe-NVMe-RAID-Tested-Why-So-Snappy

[strike]M.2 only. When all three m.2 slots were populated, all SATA slots were disabled.[/strike]

Oh I see what you mean, they were NVME PCIE M.2 SSDs.