Processor : Intel Core i7-2600K

As of press time, the Intel Core i7-
2600K was the fastest Sandy Bridge desktop
processor available. It offers 8-way
processing (four physical cores with Hyper-
Threading) at a standard clock speed of
3.4GHz. The “K” designation also means
that the processor and the integrated
graphics core is fully unlocked, so you can
set the multiplier and base clock as high as
the cooling in your system allows you to go.
The Core i7-2600K includes all of Intel’s
newest goodies. For example, Intel Turbo
Boost 2.0 technology automatically pushes
the chip’s performance to 3.8GHz when the
processor is under load, as long as the CPU
stays within thermal limits. You’ll also find
Intel’s Hyper-Threading, a feature that isn’t
included on the Intel Core i5-2500K.
There are built-in instruction sets for
SSE 4.1/4.2 and AVX (a 256-bit instruction
set extension to SSE for floating
point-intensive applications). The Core
i7-2600K also offers 8MB of shared
Intel Smart Cache for fast access to data.
The memory controller integrated
into the Core i7-2600K supports dualchannel
DDR3 clocked up to 1,333MHz
for a maximum memory bandwidth
of 21GBps. Maximum memory size
is 32GB.
The base clock speed of the i7-2600K
is 100MHz, while the multiplier is 34.
When overclocking, we like that you
can change the base clock and/or the
multiplier, so you can tinker with the
settings to find the best speed. Of course,
you can also boost the CPU’s voltage to
push the limits even further.
Most overclocking experts have found
that you can hit clock frequencies around
4.4GHz without making any adjustments
to the Intel Core i7-2600K’s voltage, and
the 1GHz jump in speed is a good amount
of headroom when compared to other 
high-end processors. In our build, we were
able to hit 4.7GHz with minimal effort.
Pairing the Intel Core i7-2600K with
MSI’s P67-GD80 (B3) disables the chip’s
integrated graphics core, but we’d be remiss if
we didn’t mention the i7-2600K’s integrated
graphics capabilities. Those who picked a
motherboard with an Intel H67 chipset will
be able to harness Intel HD 3000 graphics,
which are capable of playing some of today’s
games at basic image quality settings. You’ll
also enjoy Intel’s Quick Sync Video (hardware
acceleration for image and video editing),
Intel’s InTRU 3D Technology (supports 3D
playback), and dual-display capability.
We also like that the Core i7-2600K is
comparably affordable with the rest of
Intel’s high-end lineup. The ease and
headroom for overclocking makes the
Core i7-2600K an even better value.

Core i7-2600K
$329
Intel
Add to cart

Specs: Socket: LGA1155; Clock speed: 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo); 8MB L3 Smart
Cache; 95W max TDP; Hyper-Threading enabled; Turbo Boost enabled 









Article From Computer Power User  Magazine