What's the difference between unlocked and k?

[LIQMAN007]

On intel processors I see some have a K and others say unlocked.
Does the K mean the cpu and turbo can be overclocked or just the cpu?
Does Unlocked with no K mean only the turbo can be overclocked or both the cpu and turbo can be overclocked?

 

[Supahos]

All of them that are unlocked (at least since the lga 1155 days and newer) have either a k or x at the end.

 

[Nerdy Nerd]

Every cpu that is unlocked has a K next to it meaning you can over clock. If it says locked, it means it doesn't have a k next to it and therefor no overclocking.

 

[Supahos]

You're forgetting the x cpu SKUs

 

[Supahos]

Also the 5*** series c chips

 

[Supahos]

And nearly every Pentium prior to kaby lake, which is the most likely place he's seen unlocked on a non k

 

[Nerdy Nerd]

He did not ask about x or c chips so assumed he new. My bad. x means extreme edition. Also, x = Desktop or mobile dual-core extreme performance processors.

 

[k1114]

Got to love marketing and the confusion they cause. To sum it up: K and unlocked are the same but there are just other cpus that are also unlocked without the k.

Unlocked cpus have an unlocked multiplier. There is no difference from "cpu" or "turbo". You are still doing the same thing: raising multi above stock because it's unlocked.

 

[10tacle]

Also, generally K-series chips are default clocked several hundred MHz faster than their non-K siblings of the same line. For example, the i7 7700 is 3.6GHz/4.2GHz turbo to the 7700K's 4.2GHz/4.5GHz. And the i5 7600 vs. 7600K is 3.5/4.1 and 3.8/4.2 respectively.

Even if you are not planning on overclocking and building around a non-Z series motherboard, that 600MHz clock difference with the i7 7700K over the non-K is going to be noticed in performance. That's effectively a 16.7% overclock boost which is nothing to sneeze at.

 

[LIQMAN007]

Thanks for all the answers after weeding through some of the confussion I found the solution that best answered my question.
Thanks again gents and ladies....