Intel Core i7-5930K Review

The Core i7-5930K is one of Intel's high-end Desktop processors. It was released in 2014 with 6 cores and 12 threads. With base clock at 3.5GHz, max speed at 3.7GHz, and a 140W power rating. The Core i7-5930K is based on the Haswell-E 22nm family and is part of the Core i7 series.

Core i7-5930K is also the successor of Intel's last gen Core i7-4930K processor that was based on the Ivy Bridge E and 22nm process and was released in 2013.

Now, we're asking ourselves whether or not the Intel Core i7-5930K finally dethrones the FX-9590 as the de facto ruler of the mainstream processors. Ultimately, it depends: the Core i7-5930K doesn't reach the same single-core performance as AMD, but we're starting to see more games adopt multi-threaded CPUs, so that doesn't matter as much.

The Intel Core i7-5930K is an absolute behemoth of a processor, as it absolutely should be with its 6 cores, 12 threads and high price tag. If you’re looking for the absolute best processor money can buy on a mainstream processor, then look no further. Whether you’re playing PC games or even doing hardcore video and 3D work, the Intel Core i7-5930K can handle them with ease.

But we've also found that, after simple push-button overclocking, the Core i7-5820K offers similar performance to the Core i7-5930K, even when it is also overclocked. But for $70 less. The Core i7-5930K is an impressive chip and offers a better mixture of performance than AMD's FX-9590, no doubt, but in this case, value seekers might opt for its less expensive sibling.

As the higher-priced version of the Core i7-5820K, the Core i7-5930K has higher base and Boost frequencies of 3.5 and 3.7 GHz, respectively. That's an increase in base frequency and a bump to boost clocks, but the real advantage should lay in the higher Package Power Tracking (PPT) envelope, which is a measurement of the maximum amount of power delivered to the socket. The Core i7-5820K's PPT tops out at 140W, while the motherboard can pump up to 142W to the Core i7-5930K at peak performance. That opens up much more aggressive boost behavior, on both single and multiple cores, that could widen the performance gap beyond what we see on the spec sheet.

The Intel Core i7-5930K was rolled out on Aug 2014 for $613, which puts it in the same general price range as the last-generation Core i7-4930K. This means that at least we're not seeing any considerable price jumps from generation to generation.

What this all means is that the Intel Core i7-5930K is an absolute beast when it comes to multi-threaded workloads, especially at this price point. If you're counting on doing some video editing or compiling one hell of an Excel spreadsheet, you're going to see firsthand a performance boost with the Core i7-5930K.

The Intel Graphics have been disabled and therefore the Core i7-5930K has no form of integrated graphics -- just like the FX-9590. This is meant to make the Core i7-5930K cheaper than the Core i7-4930K, even though AMD's list pricing doesn't make this apparent, in practice the Core i7-5930K can be had for $613 while the Core i7-4930K is still $670, making the newer chip 9% cheaper. It also means it’s cheaper than the FX-9590 which is currently retailing for $495.92.

Today we’ll be taking a closer look at the Intel Core i7-5930K 6-core desktop processor that was released in Aug 2014. Intel offers the Core i7-5930K without integrated graphics. It runs $613 shipped and is ideal for those that plan on using it a system with a dedicated graphics card.

If extended overclocking and boost frequencies are trivial matters to you, Intel also offers the Core i7-5820K at $410. It’s still outfitted with 6-cores and 12-threads, but clocks in at a slower 3.3GHz and maxes out at only 3.6GHz.

Now the biggest question is can Intel’s Core i7 processor play games? The answer is simply yes as it got a respectable gaming score of 79% in our benchmarks.

Regardless of those external factors, the Core i7-5930K proves it has the chops to be your main gaming system and a just as effective media creation platform – two things that are becoming intrinsically connected in this age of live-streaming, eSports and uploading gameplay videos.

That said, to squeeze out all the potential of this surprisingly potent high-end chip, you’ll want (and need) to splurge on an enthusiast-grade C602J, C606, X79 motherboard.

Fresh from a successful roll-out of mainstream Core i7 CPUs, Intel's attack on AMD now extends down into the high-end with its Core i7-5930K processors, which the company is making available as of Aug 2014.