The Intel Core i5 10600K processor was first released by Intel on April 30, 2020. In this article, we'll reveal all its specifications. We'll also conduct various tests and comparisons to determine its performance level. Initially, this processor was sold at an MSRP of $262. It is available online, notably on Amazon, for approximately $264.
Introducing the Intel Core i5 10600K processor
Intel Core i5 10600K CPU is based on the Comet Lake 10th-generation processor produced by Intel. It is designed for desktop PCs. This processor has 6 cores and 12 threads . Under normal use, the CPU operates at a base clock speed of 4.1 GHz. In boost mode, it can reach a working frequency of 4.8 GHz with the multiplier unlocked. This CPU consumes 125 watts of TDP.
Advanced features of the Intel Core i5 10600K processor
14-nanometer process It connects to the PC motherboard via the FCLGA1200 socket. The maximum case temperature (TCase) supported by this processor is 72°C . The core itself can withstand up to 100°C. For comparison, the Core i7 5557U processor can operate with a case temperature below 105°C. This Core i5 10600K CPU can drive DDR4-2666 memory with a maximum capacity of 128 GB across two memory channels with a bandwidth of 41.5 Gbps. For further comparison, the Xeon E5 2670 V3 processor can support a maximum memory capacity of 786 GB. The Intel Core i5 10600K processor has three caches. L1 has a capacity of 64KB per core. L2 has 256KB per core. While the L3 cache has 12MB of memory in total.
The Intel Core i5 10600K supports the following technologies: AES-NI, AVX, vPRO, Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST), Hyper-Threading, Idle States, Thermal Monitoring, SIPP, and Turbo Boost 2.0 . This processor does not yet support Turbo Boost 3.0 or Thermal Velocity Boost. The latter is reserved for Core i9 CPUs, and Turbo Boost 3.0 is supported by Core i7 and later versions. For extended instructions, it features Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, and Intel® AVX2. Regarding embedded security technologies, this processor includes the following security systems: TXT, Secure Key, EDB, Identity Protection, SGX (Yes with Intel® ME), and OS Guard. And for Virtualization Technologies, our Core i5 10600K supports AMD-V, VT-d, VT-x and EPT.
The Intel Core i5 10600K processor integrates a dedicated graphics chip: the Intel UHD Graphics 630 with 64 GB of memory. This CPU operates at a base clock speed of 1.2 GHz. The GPU supports Quick Sync, InTru 3D, Clear Video, and Clear Video HD. This graphics card can drive three monitors. It can deliver 4K resolution . On its HDMI 1.4 interface, the resolution can reach up to 4096 x 2160 at 30 Hz. On its eDP and DisplayPort interfaces, it can deliver a resolution of 4096 x 2304 at 60 Hz. This graphics card supports DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.5 .
Regarding supported peripherals, the Intel Core i5 10600K CPU can handle 16 PCIe 3.0 . It does not yet support PCIe 4.0 technology, which is supported by the Rocket Lake processor generation.
K-series processors can be overclocked and offer more control in this area. You can disable hyperthreading and have slightly more control over voltages and frequencies.
Benchmarking of the Intel Core i5 10600K processor
In terms of overall performance, compared to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX, the leading gaming CPU, it scores 16.52%. This places it 227th in our overall ranking. Regarding value for money, we give it a score of 2.3 on a scale of 0 to 100.
In our Core i5 CPU tests, comparing it to competing processors, it matches the performance of the Ryzen 7 2700E. It outperforms the following processors: Core i7 8086K (99.88%), Core i7 9700K (99.64%), and Ryzen 5 2600X (96.07%). It performs slightly less well than the Ryzen 7 1700 (100.06%) and the Core i7 9700KF (100.54%).
When testing the Intel Core i5 10600K CPU on 3DMark , it obtained a score of
8266. Compared to processors with a similar MSRP price, it easily outperforms the following processors: the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 with its MSRP price of $199 (3DMark score 7040), the Intel Core i7-8700K with an MSRP price of $359 (3DMark score 7912) and the Intel Core i7-9700K with an initial suggested retail price of $374 (3DMark score 8063). However, it is less powerful than the following CPUs: the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X with an MSRP of $329 (3DMark score 9673), the Intel Core i9-9900K with an initial suggested retail price of $488 (3DMark score 10958) and the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X with its MSRP of $499 (3DMark score 12213).
When comparing our Intel Core i5 10600K processor on 3DMark with processors achieving similar 3DMark scores, our Core i5 outperforms the Intel Core i7-8086K (3DMark score 8231) and the AMD Ryzen 9 4900H (3DMark score 8241). However, it is slower than the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X (3DMark score 8318) and the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS (3DMark score 8328).
Let's now test our Intel Core i5 10600K processor on CPU Mark . It obtains a score of 14,655 . Comparing this score with those of the 10 most used processors in office applications, our processor is faster than the following processors: Intel Core i7-9700K @ 3.60GHz (CPU Mark score 14604), Intel Core i7-8700K @ 3.70GHz (CPU Mark score 13907), AMD Ryzen 5 2600 (CPU Mark score 13207), Intel Core i7-4790K @ 4.00GHz (CPU Mark score 8058), Intel Core i7-3770 @ 3.40GHz (CPU Mark score 6362). Our processor is, however, less efficient than the following CPUs: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X (CPU Mark score 32864), AMD Ryzen 7 3700X (CPU Mark score 22815), Intel Core i9-9900K @ 3.60GHz (CPU Mark score 18874), AMD Ryzen 5 3600X (CPU Mark score 18334), AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (CPU Mark score 17859).
In short, the Intel Core i5 10600K is a high-end processor. Its defining characteristic is its integrated GPU, eliminating the need for a separate graphics card. This processor delivers good performance in both applications and gaming. It's available online, notably on Amazon, for around $264. This price is slightly higher than AMD processors offering similar performance.
