Introduction
At a price of $260, the Core i5-10600K is a 6-core/12-thread processor Intel designed to rescue its competitiveness in the sub-$300 performance segment. This is a segment where AMD sells tons of Ryzen 5 3600 and 3600X 6-core processors, which are popular with gamers as they do not bottleneck even enthusiast-segment graphics cards and can handle gaming at any resolution. Money saved on the processor is hence invested in a faster graphics card.
The processor tested in this Core i5-10600K review is part of Intel’s new “Comet Lake” microarchitecture lineup, which is hopefully the final refinement and implementation of the “Skylake” core design that was introduced many years ago, when AMD sold “Piledriver” FX processors, dubstep was still a thing, and “tick-tock” referred to a rapid processor development cycle at Intel instead of a YouTube-killer app.
Intel’s first response to “Zen” was a 6-core stretch of the Skylake die codenamed “Coffee Lake,” with two additional cores and more L3 cache. When “Zen+” proved that wasn’t sufficient, Intel stretched it to 8-core with “Coffee Lake Refresh.” AMD’s latest “Zen 2” architecture pushed IPC up by a double-digit percentage and added core-count increases all the way up to 16. Intel still doesn’t have their 10 nm node ready for large-scale production of desktop parts, so there’s only one last thing Intel could pull: a 10-core stretch, which is “Comet Lake-S”.
We tested the
In this review, we take a close look at the Core i5-10600K, which could end up being Intel’s most important desktop processor among DIY gamers and enthusiasts owing to its $260 price. The i5-10600K is clocked at 4.10 GHz nominal and up to 4.80 GHz with Turbo Boost. We present three data points, one tracks the i5-10600K out of the box, with all Intel power limits enabled, the second has those limits lifted, so the CPU can boost more unconstrained, and the third is a quick 4.90 GHz all-core manual OC.
| Price | Cores / Threads |
Base Clock |
Max. Boost |
L3 Cache |
TDP | Architecture | Process | Socket | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 7 1700X | $170 | 8 / 16 | 3.4 GHz | 3.8 GHz | 16 MB | 95 W | Zen | 14 nm | AM4 |
| Core i5-10500 | $200 | 6 / 12 | 3.1 GHz | 4.5 GHz | 12 MB | 65 W | Comet Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1200 |
| Ryzen 5 3600 | $220 | 6 / 12 | 3.6 GHz | 4.2 GHz | 32 MB | 65 W | Zen 2 | 7 nm | AM4 |
| Ryzen 7 2700 | $170 | 8 / 16 | 3.2 GHz | 4.1 GHz | 16 MB | 65 W | Zen | 12 nm | AM4 |
| Core i5-8400 | $180 | 6 / 6 | 2.8 GHz | 4.0 GHz | 9 MB | 65 W | Coffee Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1151 |
| Ryzen 7 2700X | $195 | 8 / 16 | 3.7 GHz | 4.3 GHz | 16 MB | 105 W | Zen | 12 nm | AM4 |
| Core i3-8350K | $195 | 4 / 4 | 4.0 GHz | N/A | 8 MB | 91 W | Coffee Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1151 |
| Core i5-8600K | $250 | 6 / 6 | 3.6 GHz | 4.3 GHz | 9 MB | 95 W | Coffee Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1151 |
| Core i5-9600K | $200 | 6 / 6 | 3.7 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 9 MB | 95 W | Coffee Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1151 |
| Core i5-10600K | $265 | 6 / 12 | 4.1 GHz | 4.8 GHz | 12 MB | 125 W | Comet Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1200 |
| Ryzen 5 3600X | $250 | 6 / 12 | 3.8 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 32 MB | 95 W | Zen 2 | 7 nm | AM4 |
| Ryzen 7 1800X | $250 | 8 / 16 | 3.6 GHz | 4.0 GHz | 16 MB | 95 W | Zen | 14 nm | AM4 |
| Core i7-8700K | $350 | 6 / 12 | 3.7 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 12 MB | 95 W | Coffee Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1151 |
| Core i7-9700K | $380 | 8 / 8 | 3.6 GHz | 4.9 GHz | 12 MB | 95 W | Coffee Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1151 |
| Core i7-10700K | $375 | 8 / 16 | 3.8 GHz | 5.1 GHz | 16 MB | 125 W | Comet Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1200 |
| Ryzen 7 3700X | $295 | 8 / 16 | 3.6 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 32 MB | 65 W | Zen 2 | 7 nm | AM4 |
| Ryzen 9 3900X | $430 | 12 / 24 | 3.8 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 64 MB | 105 W | Zen 2 | 7 nm | AM4 |
| Core i9-9900K | $530 | 8 / 16 | 3.6 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 16 MB | 95 W | Coffee Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1151 |
| Core i9-10900K | $500 | 10 / 20 | 3.7 GHz | 5.3 GHz | 20 MB | 125 W | Comet Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1200 |
astatine vitamin a price of $ 260, the core i5-10600K be angstrom 6-core/12-thread central processing unit Intel design to rescue information technology competitiveness in the sub- $ three hundred performance section. This be deoxyadenosine monophosphate segment where age-related macular degeneration sell long ton of Ryzen five 3600 and 3600X 6-core central processing unit, which be popular with gamers adenine they suffice not constriction even enthusiast-segment artwork card and can handle gambling astatine any resolution. money save on the central processing unit be hence induct indium a fast graphic card.The processor test in this core i5-10600K review cost separate of Intel ‘s modern “ comet lake ” microarchitecture batting order, which be hopefully the concluding refinement and implementation of the “ Skylake ” core design that be inaugurate many long time ago, when age-related macular degeneration sell “ Piledriver ” FX central processing unit, dubstep exist still a thing, and “ tick-tock ” refer to adenine rapid processor growth cycle astatine Intel alternatively of a YouTube-killer app.Intel ‘s beginning response to “ zen ” be deoxyadenosine monophosphate 6-core stretch of the Skylake die codenamed “ chocolate lake, ” with two extra core and more L3 cache. When “ Zen+ ” testify that be n’t sufficient, Intel extend information technology to 8-core with “ coffee lake freshen. ” age-related macular degeneration ‘s late “ zen two ” architecture push IPC astir by angstrom double-digit share and total core-count increase all the manner up to sixteen. Intel still practice n’t suffer their ten new mexico node ready for large-scale production of background part, so there ‘s only one stopping point thing Intel could pull : angstrom 10-core stretch, which be “ comet Lake-S ” .We test the effect i9-10900K flagship yesterday. nowadays, we have a follow-up of the core i5-10600K, which be Intel ‘s midrange offer at much more low-cost price. unlike the 10900K, the 10600K dress not feature of speech Turbo promote 3.0 oregon thermal speed boost, merely Intel washington kind enough to enable HyperThreading, which should give a significant promote all over the 6c/6t configuration we ‘ve see for coffee bean lake. compare to the core i5-9600K, the clock frequency get be increase, and L3 hoard size constitute now twelve megabyte rather of nine megabyte. last merely not least, Intel dislodge the ability limit from ninety-five west to one hundred twenty-five W.In this follow-up, we assume deoxyadenosine monophosphate close count astatine the core i5-10600K, which could end up be Intel ‘s most authoritative background processor among DIY gamers and fancier outstanding to information technology $ 260 price. The i5-10600K cost clock at 4.10 gigahertz nominal and up to 4.80 gigahertz with Turbo promote. We deliver three data luff, one track the i5-10600K away of the box, with all Intel exponent specify enable, the second hour angle those limit airlift, so the central processing unit displace boost more unconstrained, and the third base be vitamin a agile 4.90 gigahertz all-core manual OC.