Is the i7 7700k worth even if your are not going to overclock?

[Jashim Raswi]

Am stuck in a dilemma here. I currently have a i5-4690 non-k Haswell CPU installed in a H-97 Pro gamer board along with GTX 1080.

I have just recently purchased the Acer Predator XB271HU 165 hz IPS Panel Monitor. I am planning to purchase the ASUS Strix ROG Z270E motherboard.

I heard something interesting, that I can turbo boost an i7-7600 (non-k) to above 4 GHZ, without an Z270 mobo.

I am not an OC-ing gamer. So is it worth it?

 

[captaincharisma]

yes turbo mode is a standard feature on all Intelcore i5 and i7 CPU's whether it is a K or non-K CPU. the turbo boost on a non K core i7 7700 is 4.2 gHz

 

[raisonjohn]

The i7-7700 (not i7-7600) has a base clock speed of 3.60GHz and a turbo boost of up to 4.20GHz without OC'ing. Where the i7-7700 (non-K) ends in turbo speed is where the K-version's base clock speed begins. The i7-7700K has a base clock speed of 4.20GHz and a turbo boost of up to 4.50GHz without OC'ing. The difference, as of current price, is $34.50. Note also that the non-K version has lesser power consumption at only 65W TDP versus the K-version at up to 91W TDP.

If budget and current specs are concerned, it *may* not be worth it to get the i7-7700K if that ~$35 can be put to good use for other purchases and/or savings. However, seeing that you will be purchasing a Z270-chipset motherboard (which allows overclocking), I don't see a point in not taking advantage of the higher clock speed of the K-version (even though you don't plan to overclock). If you will be purchasing a B250 motherboard (which does not allow overclocking), it *may* be a different story, such that purchasing the i7-7700 (non-K) would seem logical. But if you go for the Asus Z270E, I'd suggest you get the i7-7700K instead.

As the saying goes, it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

An i7-7700K when not OC'd on your Z270E motherboard will still be more powerful than an i7-7700 (non-K) on any motherboards.

I'd say it is worth it, based on your current and planned purchases.

 

[Jashim Raswi]

The i7-7700 (not i7-7600) has a base clock speed of 3.60GHz and a turbo boost of up to 4.20GHz without OC'ing. Where the i7-7700 (non-K) ends in turbo speed is where the K-version's base clock speed begins. The i7-7700K has a base clock speed of 4.20GHz and a turbo boost of up to 4.50GHz without OC'ing. The difference, as of current price, is $34.50. Note also that the non-K version has lesser power consumption at only 65W TDP versus the K-version at up to 91W TDP.

If budget and current specs are concerned, it *may* not be worth it to get the i7-7700K if that ~$35 can be put to good use for other purchases and/or savings. However, seeing that you will be purchasing a Z270-chipset motherboard (which allows overclocking), I don't see a point in not taking advantage of the higher clock speed of the K-version (even though you don't plan to overclock). If you will be purchasing a B250 motherboard (which does not allow overclocking), it *may* be a different story, such that purchasing the i7-7700 (non-K) would seem logical. But if you go for the Asus Z270E, I'd suggest you get the i7-7700K instead.

As the saying goes, it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

An i7-7700K when not OC'd on your Z270E motherboard will still be more powerful than an i7-7700 (non-K) on any motherboards.

I'd say it is worth it, based on your current and planned purchases.

Wow. Thanks for that clear answer!

I will go for the 7700K with a H110i Water cooler. Just one more question,

I have a SeaSonic 520W S12II PSU. Will that be adequate enough if or when I OC the CPU?

 

[gasaraki]

No. The 7700k is for overclockers. The regular 7700 should be good enough for general usage.

 

[captaincharisma]

The i7-7700 (not i7-7600) has a base clock speed of 3.60GHz and a turbo boost of up to 4.20GHz without OC'ing. Where the i7-7700 (non-K) ends in turbo speed is where the K-version's base clock speed begins. The i7-7700K has a base clock speed of 4.20GHz and a turbo boost of up to 4.50GHz without OC'ing. The difference, as of current price, is $34.50. Note also that the non-K version has lesser power consumption at only 65W TDP versus the K-version at up to 91W TDP.

If budget and current specs are concerned, it *may* not be worth it to get the i7-7700K if that ~$35 can be put to good use for other purchases and/or savings. However, seeing that you will be purchasing a Z270-chipset motherboard (which allows overclocking), I don't see a point in not taking advantage of the higher clock speed of the K-version (even though you don't plan to overclock). If you will be purchasing a B250 motherboard (which does not allow overclocking), it *may* be a different story, such that purchasing the i7-7700 (non-K) would seem logical. But if you go for the Asus Z270E, I'd suggest you get the i7-7700K instead.

As the saying goes, it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

An i7-7700K when not OC'd on your Z270E motherboard will still be more powerful than an i7-7700 (non-K) on any motherboards.

I'd say it is worth it, based on your current and planned purchases.

Wow. Thanks for that clear answer!

I will go for the 7700K with a H110i Water cooler. Just one more question,

I have a SeaSonic 520W S12II PSU. Will that be adequate enough if or when I OC the CPU?

possibly but it depends on what other parts you have in your PC as well like how many HDD/SSD drives you will be running and what kind of GPU

 

[Jashim Raswi]

The i7-7700 (not i7-7600) has a base clock speed of 3.60GHz and a turbo boost of up to 4.20GHz without OC'ing. Where the i7-7700 (non-K) ends in turbo speed is where the K-version's base clock speed begins. The i7-7700K has a base clock speed of 4.20GHz and a turbo boost of up to 4.50GHz without OC'ing. The difference, as of current price, is $34.50. Note also that the non-K version has lesser power consumption at only 65W TDP versus the K-version at up to 91W TDP.

If budget and current specs are concerned, it *may* not be worth it to get the i7-7700K if that ~$35 can be put to good use for other purchases and/or savings. However, seeing that you will be purchasing a Z270-chipset motherboard (which allows overclocking), I don't see a point in not taking advantage of the higher clock speed of the K-version (even though you don't plan to overclock). If you will be purchasing a B250 motherboard (which does not allow overclocking), it *may* be a different story, such that purchasing the i7-7700 (non-K) would seem logical. But if you go for the Asus Z270E, I'd suggest you get the i7-7700K instead.

As the saying goes, it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

An i7-7700K when not OC'd on your Z270E motherboard will still be more powerful than an i7-7700 (non-K) on any motherboards.

I'd say it is worth it, based on your current and planned purchases.

Wow. Thanks for that clear answer!

I will go for the 7700K with a H110i Water cooler. Just one more question,

I have a SeaSonic 520W S12II PSU. Will that be adequate enough if or when I OC the CPU?

possibly but it depends on what other parts you have in your PC as well like how many HDD/SSD drives you will be running and what kind of GPU

This is my *planned* RIG,

CPU: Intel i7-7700K
RAM: G-Skill Trident 2x8GB 3200 Mhz
Video Card: ASUS Strix GTX 1080 8-GB
Motherboard: Asus Strix ROG Z270E
PSU: SeaSonic S12II 520W
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1 TB (7200 RPM); WD Black 1 TB; Samsung 850 Pro SSD 1 TB
OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit

 

[raisonjohn]

The i7-7700K has a 91W TDP which roughly translates to 91W of power draw, non-OC'd. Pushing the CPU to 4.8GHz would see an increase in power draw to up to 122W (or ~30W over TDP), based on tests.

Your Asus GTX 1080 Strix, based on tests, can draw up to 196W (for the card alone).

So, theoretically, you'd be looking into a 91W + 196W = 287W non-OC'd power draw, up to 122W + 196W = 318W OC'd to 4.8GHz power draw for your rig. Additional headroom for HDDs and other components that may be connected to your PSU, we can estimate that you'll never draw more than ~380W of power from the +12V PSU rail.

A good-quality PSU (such as the Seasonic 520W), would be more than enough to power your rig, non-OC'd or OC'd. That PSU provides a combined 480W max. load power at the +12V rail (having 20A at each of the two +12V rails).

 

[Jashim Raswi]

The i7-7700K has a 91W TDP which roughly translates to 91W of power draw, non-OC'd. Pushing the CPU to 4.8GHz would see an increase in power draw to up to 122W (or ~30W over TDP), based on tests.

Your Asus GTX 1080 Strix, based on tests, can draw up to 196W (for the card alone).

So, theoretically, you'd be looking into a 91W + 196W = 287W non-OC'd power draw, up to 122W + 196W = 318W OC'd to 4.8GHz power draw for your rig. Additional headroom for HDDs and other components that may be connected to your PSU, we can estimate that you'll never draw more than ~380W of power from the +12V PSU rail.

A good-quality PSU (such as the Seasonic 520W), would be more than enough to power your rig, non-OC'd or OC'd. That PSU provides a combined 480W max. load power at the +12V rail (having 20A at each of the two +12V rails).

I've never had a clearer answer than this! Thanks man!

 

[Adrian97c]

The i7-7700K has a 91W TDP which roughly translates to 91W of power draw, non-OC'd. Pushing the CPU to 4.8GHz would see an increase in power draw to up to 122W (or ~30W over TDP), based on tests.

Your Asus GTX 1080 Strix, based on tests, can draw up to 196W (for the card alone).

So, theoretically, you'd be looking into a 91W + 196W = 287W non-OC'd power draw, up to 122W + 196W = 318W OC'd to 4.8GHz power draw for your rig. Additional headroom for HDDs and other components that may be connected to your PSU, we can estimate that you'll never draw more than ~380W of power from the +12V PSU rail.

A good-quality PSU (such as the Seasonic 520W), would be more than enough to power your rig, non-OC'd or OC'd. That PSU provides a combined 480W max. load power at the +12V rail (having 20A at each of the two +12V rails).

I found this thread to have helped me with i'm currently going through.

I have a B250 mobo, thermatake 600w PSU, (about to order a GTX1080), i5-7400... Ive learned from you that if I decide to upgrade my CPU to a i7-7700K (instead of non-k), I will still benefit from higher core & turbo clock speeds... My question then is, could I use the same CPU fan that I currently have installed? the stock fan that comes with i5-7400? I don't want to have to mess with special cooling solutions, just want reg fan. I've never installed or upgraded CPU before.

 

[mdd1963]

I don't understand the folks unwilling to pay $20-$30 more for a cpu clocked 500 MHz faster on base clock, as though the 7700/7700K are the same (they are not) but, to each his/her own purchase dollars.

 

[Adrian97c]

I don't understand the folks unwilling to pay $20-$30 more for a cpu clocked 500 MHz faster on base clock, as though the 7700/7700K are the same (they are not) but, to each his/her own purchase dollars.

I'm going to go from i5-7400 to a i7-7700k on my B250 mobo. I've never installed/swapped CPU's before, but my newb question is could I use the same CPU fan that already came installed on my i5-7400? or does the i7 require a diff kind of fan?

 

[raisonjohn]

The i7-7700K would have higher temps (due to its design, e.g., hyperthreading, higher clock speed, TDP, OC'able, etc.) compared to the i5-7400 you currently have. Though the Intel stock cooler of the i5 is also compatible (physically) with the i7-7700K on the same mobo, you may experience higher temps than usual (even though you won't be OC'ing/can't OC). As such, it is still recommended to get an aftermarket cooler for that high-TDP CPUs (i.e., the K-series) which is the reason why Intel doesn't include their mediocre stock cooler inside the box of the i7-7700K.

Consider looking at CPU coolers such as the Cryorig H7 (or even the Cryorig M9i, if budget is really tight). These types of coolers are significantly better in dissipating heat (and quieter) than Intel's stock cooler.

 

[Adrian97c]

The i7-7700K would have higher temps (due to its design, e.g., hyperthreading, higher clock speed, TDP, OC'able, etc.) compared to the i5-7400 you currently have. Though the Intel stock cooler of the i5 is also compatible (physically) with the i7-7700K on the same mobo, you may experience higher temps than usual (even though you won't be OC'ing/can't OC). As such, it is still recommended to get an aftermarket cooler for that high-TDP CPUs (i.e., the K-series) which is the reason why Intel doesn't include their mediocre stock cooler inside the box of the i7-7700K.

Consider looking at CPU coolers such as the Cryorig H7 (or even the Cryorig M9i, if budget is really tight). These types of coolers are significantly better in dissipating heat (and quieter) than Intel's stock cooler.

awesome, thanks for the reply. In my case, not overclocking, would you suggest the Cryorig H7 over water Corsair H60? not much price diff or would H60 be overkill?

 

[raisonjohn]

H7 would be enough, esp. you won't be OC'ing. Less noise and no chance of pump/leak failure.

 

[Adrian97c]

H7 would be enough, esp. you won't be OC'ing. Less noise and no chance of pump/leak failure.

The install went well, upgraded my i5-7400/stock cooler, to a i7-7700k/H7 Quad Lumi.

Only issue is for some reason, my cool MSI bootlogo doesn't show anymore?! I tried everything resetting CMOS, etc. but nothing works.. all I get is a black screen until windows welcome screen shows up. I had to disable bios setting "Win10 WHQL support" in order to be able to have the option to get to bios to show up during boot. Otherwise, blank screen until welcome screen... weird!

anyone know why?