Intel Core i7-7740X ‘Kaby Lake-X’ 4C8T CPU Review (inc. 5.1GHz OC)

1. Introducing Kaby Lake-X: Core i7-7740X2. Overclocking the Core i7-7740X3. Testing Methodology4. CPU Tests 1: Cinebench, Handbrake, x265 Encoding5. CPU & Memory Tests: 7-Zip, Kraken, Sandra6. Gaming Tests 1: 3DMark, GTA V, Metro LL7. Gaming Tests 2: Ashes, GRW, Total War8. 1440P & 4K Gaming Tests: GRW & GTA V9. Technical: Power Draw, Efficiency, Temperatures10. Closing Thoughts11. View All Pages

3DMark

3DMark is a multi-platform hardware benchmark designed to test varying resolutions and detail levels of 3D gaming performance. We run the Windows platform test and in particular the Fire Strike benchmark, which is indicative of high-end 1080p PC Gaming. We also test using the Time Spy benchmark which gives an indication of DirectX 12 performance.

Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V remains an immensely popular game for PC gamers and as such retains its place in our test suite. The well-designed game engine is capable of providing heavy stress to a number of system components, including the GPU, CPU, and Memory, and can highlight performance differences between motherboards.

We run the built-in benchmark using a 1080p resolution and generally Maximum quality settings (including Advanced Graphics).

Metro: Last Light Redux

Despite its age, Metro: Last Light Redux remains a punishing title for modern computer hardware. We use the game's built-in benchmark with quality set to Very High, SSAA enabled, AF 16X, and High tessellation.

Gaming Performance Overview:

Gaming performance is where the Core i7-7740X sets the playing field alight, just as its mainstream 7700K cousin did. Kaby Lake with high clock speeds is the recipe for chart-topping gaming performance numbers.

3DMark is well multi-threaded and therefore does not reward the 7740X's significant clock speed. GTA V and Metro: Last Light, both of which like clock frequency and, especially in GTA's case, core count, show superb performance with the Kaby Lake-X Core i7. Overclocking to 5.1GHz firmly positions the 7740X at the top of both gaming charts, with the next closest competitor being our lower-clocked 7700K.

Compared to the Ryzen 7 offerings, the Core i7-7740X destroys all of AMD's options when it comes to performance in GTA V (which is known to favour Intel hardware) in a way that will be important to high refresh rate gamers. Of course, the trade-off is a severely diminished amount of spare CPU resources for operations such as streaming whilst gaming, if that is important to you.

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