Intel Core i7-6700K And Z170 Chipset Review: Skylake For Enthusiasts
Closing Thoughts On Skylake
Performance Summary: Summarizing the Core i7-6700K’s performance is going to be relatively easy—it is the fastest, quad-core desktop processor Intel has released to date. Across the board, the Core i7-6700K offered strong performance that outpaced the other quad-cores we tested. The DX12-class HD 530 graphics core is also an upgrade over the previous generation HD-series integrated GPU, but it can’t keep pace with the Iris Pro 6200 found in the Broadwell-based Core i7-5775C.
Intel Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K Packaging
We will have more information about Skylake’s inner-workings, graphics core, and the rest of the new line-up during the Intel Developers Forum, which takes place in a couple of weeks. For now, this taste of what Intel has coming to desktops has left us intrigued. The Skylake architecture offers clear IPC improvements, better latency, and strong performance all around. It’s a more flexible overclocker and power efficiency is good as well. Motherboards like the ASUS Z170-Deluxe we used for testing offer a host of cutting edge features as well. In short, there’s a lot to like about this platform.
The two processors Intel is announcing today consist of the Core i7-6700K we’ve shown you here and a Core i5-6600K that’s clocked somewhat slower, has lass cache, and loses support for HyperThreading. Pricing for the i7-6700K is set for $350 (recommended price) and i5-6600K at $243, which is right about in-line with Devil’s Canyon. The total cost for the platform will be somewhat higher due to its use of DDR4 memory, but that will eventually even out as well—DDR4 pricing has been steadily coming down since its initial release.
Although Intel hasn’t revealed all of Skylake’s juicy details, it appears to be a strong product based on our initial look. The Core i7-6700K in particular is fast, easy to tweak, and doesn’t use much power. Factor in its more flexible overclocking and the new features offered in the Z170 chipset and Skylake appears to hit all the right notes in the enthusiast desktop segment.
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