Intel Core i7 2700K 

Released October, 2011
  • 3.5 GHz
  • Quad core
  • Unlocked
7.9 Out of 10

The Intel Core i7-2700k is an absolute beast of a processor. Based on the Sandy Bridge architecture, it boasts a base speed of 3.5 GHz with four cores. These hefty specs ensure that no program is safe from its onslaught; it will pounce on the heaviest of applications without even breaking a sweat. It also has a generous 8MB cache, which allows for easy access to often-used data. It gets even better – its unlocked multiplier means that it can overclock easily, perfect for those who would want to squeeze every last drop out of their PC. It’s almost perfect, but if you’re a gamer, just be sure to get a discrete graphics card in order to let this processor do its thing. For the most demanding user, look no further: the Core i7-2700k is here; get ready for the ride of your life.

CPUBoss Review Our evaluation of the Intel Core i7 2700K among desktop CPUs (over 75W)

Performance

Benchmark performance using all cores
Core i7 2700K
7.5
Core i7 3770K
8.1
Core i7 2600K
7.1
PCMark 8 Home 3.0 Accelerated, PassMark and 1 more

Single-core Performance

Individual core benchmark performance
Core i7 2700K
7.5
Core i7 3770K
7.8
Core i7 2600K
7.2
PassMark (Single Core), Geekbench 3 Single Core and 1 more

Integrated Graphics

Integrated GPU performance for graphics
Core i7 2700K
n.d.
Core i7 3770K
6.6
Core i7 2600K
n.d.
Fire Strike

Integrated Graphics (OpenCL)

Integrated GPU performance for parallel computing
Core i7 2700K
5.2
Core i7 3770K
6.9
Core i7 2600K
5.2
CompuBench 1.5 Bitcoin mining and 4 more

Performance per Watt

How efficiently does the processor use electricity?
Core i7 2700K
8.2
Core i7 3770K
9.7
Core i7 2600K
8.1
Fire Strike, CompuBench 1.5 Bitcoin mining and 11 more

Value

Are you paying a premium for performance?
Core i7 2700K
5.5
Core i7 3770K
6.5
Core i7 2600K
6.2
Fire Strike, CompuBench 1.5 Bitcoin mining and 11 more
7.9

CPUBoss Score

Combination of all six facets
Core i7 2700K
7.9
Core i7 3770K
9.0
Core i7 2600K
8.0

Benchmarks Real world tests of the Intel Core i7 2700K

CompuBench 1.5 (Ocean surface simulation) Data courtesy CompuBench

Core i7 2700K
74.43 fps
Core i7 3770K
182.74 fps
Core i7 2600K
77.01 fps

PCMark 8 Home 3.0 Accelerated Data courtesy FutureMark

Core i7 2700K
2,894
Core i7 3770K
3,142
Core i7 2600K
n.d.

GeekBench 3 (Multi-core) Data courtesy Primate Labs

Core i7 2700K
12,182
Core i7 3770K
13,098
Core i7 2600K
11,563

GeekBench 3 (Single core) Data courtesy Primate Labs

Core i7 2700K
3,136
Core i7 3770K
3,304
Core i7 2600K
3,005

GeekBench 3 (AES single core) Data courtesy Primate Labs

Core i7 2700K
2,600,000 MB/s
Core i7 2600K
2,500,000 MB/s
Core i7 3770K
2,620,000 MB/s

GeekBench (32-bit) Data courtesy Primate Labs

Core i7 2700K
13,097
Core i7 3770K
13,703
Core i7 2600K
12,823

PassMark Data courtesy Passmark

Core i7 2700K
8,930
Core i7 3770K
9,544
Core i7 2600K
8,494

PassMark (Single Core)

Core i7 2700K
2,003
Core i7 2600K
1,920
Core i7 3770K
2,084

Reviews Word on the street for the Intel Core i7 2700K

8.0
read review
But all of its other characteristics are identical: 8MB of cache, four cores and eight threads (thanks to Intel’s Hyper-Threading technology), integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000, and the full line of shiny Sandy Bridge features, ranging from Turbo Boost 2.0 (which temporarily increases processing speed when the appropriate head room is available), Quick Sync Video (for faster rendering and conversion of video files), and so on.
8.0
read review
We've transitioned through 90nm, 65nm, 45nm and 32nm silicon, with 22nm CPUs just around the corner.
9.6
read review
it is an awesome processor for folding since it runs cool and is so stable at such high overclocks.

Overall
8.8 Out of 10

What People Are Saying Give it to me straight

Socket Type

Benchmark Results:The AMD FX-8150 was able to out perform the Intel Core i7-2700K in this gaming benchmark, but we did see a 1-2 FPS improvement over the Core i7-2600K.
by Legit Reviews (Oct, 2011)
When it comes to pricing the Intel Core i7-2700K carries a recommended channel price of $332.
by Legit Reviews (Oct, 2011)
Benchmark Results: PCMark 7 showed that the AMD FX-8150 was able to score 4351 points and the Intel Core i7-2700k scored 4333.
by Legit Reviews (Oct, 2011)

Socket

Benchmark Results:The Intel Core i7-2700k uses the same amount of power as the Intel Core i7-2600K at an idle state, but was found to use 4-7 Watts more when run at various load states.
by Legit Reviews (Oct, 2011)
Benchmark Results: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat doesn't exactly scale well across multiple cores and we only could see a difference with the Intel Core i7-2700K when gaming at lower resolutions.
by Legit Reviews (Oct, 2011)
During regular use with all four cores under load the Intel Core i7 2700K can jump up to the rated clock frequency of 3.50GHz or 3.60GHz if Turbo mode is enabled.
by Legit Reviews (Oct, 2011)

Multicore

Yes, it's a very nice little quad-core chip.
by Tech Radar (Dec, 2011)
Suffice to say we view its hidden cores as evidence Intel has taken its foot off the gas.
by Tech Radar (Dec, 2011)
When Intel released its line of second-generation Core processors a year ago (under the “Sandy Bridge” code name), it offered consumers new opportunities in various areas of CPU performance, regardless of how much you wanted to spend.
by PCMag (Apr, 2012)

Performance

Benchmark Results: The x264 HD benchmark is very CPU intensive and it showed the Intel Core i7-2700K beating the AMD FX-8150 Bulldozer on both the first and second passes.
by Legit Reviews (Oct, 2011)
For better integrated graphics at this point, AMD APUs are the preferred way to go—but you’ll sacrifice raw performance as a result.
by PCMag (Apr, 2012)
The Intel Core i7-2700K was able to tie or beat the AMD FX-8150 Bulldozer processor in all of those benchmarks.
by Legit Reviews (Oct, 2011)

Overclocking

Not a bad price considering the performance you get and remember that these are fully unlocked processors and they love to be overclocked.
by Legit Reviews (Oct, 2011)
I have been able to overclock this processor to 5.3ghz @ 1.45v stable with temperatures under 50 degrees under load under water.
by DizZz (Jan, 2013)
This is a fully unlocked processor, so you can manually raise or lower the multiplier if you'd like to overclock the processor.
by Legit Reviews (Oct, 2011)

Specifications Full list of technical specs

summary

Clock speed 3.5 GHz
Turbo clock speed 3.9 GHz
Cores Quad core
Socket type LGA 1155
Is unlocked Yes

features

Has a NX bit Yes
Supports trusted computing No
Has virtualization support Yes
Instruction set extensions
  1. MMX
  2. AES
  3. SSE
  4. SSE2
  5. SSE4.1
  6. SSE3
  7. Supplemental SSE3
  8. SSE4.2
  9. AVX
  10. SSE4
Supports dynamic frequency scaling Yes

power consumption

TDP 95W
Annual home energy cost 22.89 $/year
Annual commercial energy cost 83.22 $/year
Performance per watt 9.28 pt/W
Typical power consumption 77.19W

bus

Architecture DMI
Number of links 1
Transfer rate 5,000 MT/s

details

Architecture x86-64
Threads 8 threads
L2 cache 1 MB
L2 cache per core 0.25 MB/core
L3 cache 8 MB
L3 cache per core 2 MB/core
Manufacture process 32 nm
Max CPUs 1
Clock multiplier 35
Operating temperature Unknown - 72.6°C

overclocking

Overclock popularity 426
Overclocked clock speed 5.12 GHz
Overclocked clock speed (Water) 4.5 GHz
PassMark (Overclocked) 4,204.6
Overclocked clock speed (Air) 5.12 GHz

integrated graphics

GPU GPU
Label Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Latest DirectX 10.1
Number of displays supported 2
GPU clock speed 850 MHz
Turbo clock speed 1,350 MHz

memory controller

Memory controller Built-in
Memory type
  1. DDR3-1333
  2. DDR3-1066
  3. DDR3
Channels Dual Channel
Supports ECC No
Maximum bandwidth 21,333.32 MB/s
Maximum memory size 32,768 MB
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Comments

Showing 1 comment.
Guest (12:46 AM, October 9, 2015)
Wow, this processor handles pretty well against the 3rd and 4th gen variants.
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