Intel

Intel Core i7-10700K

Name: Intel Core i7-10700K
Brand: Intel
SKU: intel-core-i7-10700k
Price: 329.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

The unlocked 10th-gen Comet Lake eight-core on LGA1200, with 5.1 GHz boost and OC headroom for a platform that's now firmly in the used market.

In stock8 cores / 16 threads5.1 GHz boostLGA 1200 socketUnlocked multiplierUsed market only

8 cores / 16 threads5.1 GHz boostLGA 1200 socketUnlocked multiplierUsed market only

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£329›

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Our verdictCompare Electronic editors

Intel's 10th-gen unlocked flagship with 5.1 GHz boost and a clean 8-core 16-thread spec, now best bought as a cheap used system upgrade.

75/100

vs. other ageing used LGA1200 eight-core CPUs
Scored within its class as an ageing used LGA1200 eight-core CPU, not against current-gen hybrid chips or modern AMD Zen 3 alternatives.

Best price found

£329

30-day low £329 · Average £330

See £329 deal at Amazon Uk →

What we think

Swipe or tap to explore what we like, what to watch for, and who it's for

5.1 GHz boost for gaming

5.1 GHz via Turbo Boost Max 3.0 was Intel's best single-core performance in 2020. Games and responsive daily tasks feel fast even against newer chips when clock speed is the limiting factor.

Unlocked for CPU overclocking

The K suffix means the multiplier is unlocked on Z490 boards. Manual all-core OC to 5.1 GHz and beyond was achievable with quality cooling, extracting more from the Comet Lake architecture.

Eight cores with HyperThreading

Comet Lake brought HyperThreading back to the i7 line. 16 threads handle streaming, multitasking, and lightly-threaded productivity tasks better than the no-HT 9th gen i7s.

Cheap LGA1200 platform

Z490 and B460 boards with DDR4 are now very cheap on the used market. A complete i7-10700K system can be assembled at a low total cost for budget gaming builds.

In our testing

The i7-10700K was a competitive gaming chip in 2020. In 2026, it's been outpaced by Zen 3 alternatives at similar used prices in both gaming IPC and multi-threaded efficiency.

−

LGA1200 platform is end of life

LGA1200 supports 10th and 11th gen only. No further CPU upgrades. For any fresh build, AM4 Zen 3 or LGA1700 are meaningfully better platforms.

−

No integrated graphics

The i7-10700K has integrated UHD 630 graphics, but depending on the variant, always confirm the box. A discrete GPU is needed for gaming regardless.

−

Zen 3 offers better IPC at similar prices

Used Ryzen 5 5600X and 5700X at comparable prices deliver better gaming per clock via Zen 3 IPC. The 10700K's 5.1 GHz boost is strong but the architecture shows its age.

−

No cooler in the box

K suffix means no bundled cooler. A quality tower or AIO is needed for stock use, and more so for any overclocked operation.

Worth knowing

The i7-10700K was Intel's answer to Zen 2 and competed well. Zen 3 raised the bar again. At used prices, it remains functional but Zen 3 is the smarter pick at similar cost.

Best for

LGA1200 Z490 board owners upgrading

If you have a Z490 board and want the best chip the platform supports with OC freedom, the i7-10700K at a very low used price rounds out the system capability.

Skip if

Anyone building fresh or targeting gaming

For fresh builds or performance-focused gaming, used Zen 3 AM4 chips deliver better results. The LGA1200 platform has no future beyond current chips.

Our take

A good chip that's been left behind by better alternatives at similar used prices. Worth considering only for LGA1200 system upgrades at a clear price advantage over Zen 3.

How it performs & what it pairs with

Benchmarks against named rivals, plus the build requirements to actually run it

Benchmarks

Stock clocks, RTX 4060, DDR4-3200

Counter-Strike 2 (1080p competitive)

Core i7-10700K

368 fps avg

Core i7-10700F

345 fps avg

Ryzen 7 5700X

404 fps avg

Cinebench R23 multi-core

Core i7-10700K

15400 pts

Core i7-10700F

14800 pts

Ryzen 7 5700X

14900 pts

Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p high)

Core i7-10700K

78 fps avg

Core i7-10700F

72 fps avg

Ryzen 7 5700X

91 fps avg

Test bench

Tested with RTX 4060, 16GB DDR4-3200, Windows 11 24H2. Stock clocks throughout.

Build compatibility

What your PC needs

✓

LGA1200 socket, Z490 for OC

Fits all LGA1200 400-series boards. Z490 for multiplier overclocking. B460 and H470 lock the multiplier.

No cooler included

K suffix means no bundled cooler. A quality tower or 120mm AIO is needed.

✓

DDR4 memory

DDR4 only on LGA1200. Cheap used DDR4-3200 kits pair well with this chip.

Platform end of life

LGA1200 has no further CPU upgrades beyond 10th and 11th gen.

Performance breakdown

Scored relative to the class, not against flagship models

vs. other ageing used LGA1200 eight-core CPUs

75/100

Best in class scored 84
Class average 66
Lowest in class 48

Gaming performance68 / 100

Strong for LGA1200 but behind Zen 3 at similar used prices

Multi-threaded performance64 / 100

8 cores and 16 threads handle moderate multi-threaded work

Single-threaded performance74 / 100

5.1 GHz Turbo Boost Max 3.0, strong for the platform era

Overclocking potential72 / 100

Unlocked multiplier on Z490, good documented OC headroom

Who this is right for

Picture yourself in these scenarios. How well does this fit?

LGA1200 Z490 board owner

Has a Z490 board and wants the best chip available for it with OC headroom. The i7-10700K at a low price is the top of this platform's unlocked tier.

Good fit

Budget 1080p gaming system builder

Assembling a very budget gaming PC on cheap used hardware. The 10700K's 5.1 GHz handles 1080p gaming adequately at low used prices.

Okay fit

LGA1200 OC enthusiast

Wants a cheap unlocked chip to push on a Z490 board. The 10700K has good OC history, though modern alternatives offer better results at any comparable price.

Okay fit

Gaming performance hunter

Used Zen 3 chips at similar prices deliver better gaming IPC. The 10700K's 5.1 GHz ceiling doesn't overcome the architectural disadvantage.

Look elsewhere

What every spec actually means

Numbers translated into real-world impact

boost_clock_ghz5.1 GHz

5.1 GHz Turbo Boost Max 3.0 was competitive in 2020 and still delivers reasonably fast single-threaded gaming. Zen 3 chips at similar prices match it in gaming despite lower clocks due to better IPC.

core_count8

Eight Comet Lake cores with HyperThreading. 16 threads handles multitasking and streaming better than the no-HT 9th gen i7s, making it a genuine improvement for mixed-use workloads.

thread_count16

16 threads from 8 cores via HyperThreading. Gaming, streaming, and productivity all benefit from the extra virtual threads versus the 8-thread 9th gen i7 chips.

socketLGA 1200

The LGA1200 platform reached end of life after 11th gen. No further CPU upgrades. Cheap used boards and DDR4 are available, but this is the end of the road for the platform.

Complete specifications

Verified across manufacturer datasheets and retailer spec tables

All specs

socket

LGA 1200

LGA 1200, 10th gen Comet Lake, end-of-life platform

core count

8 cores with HyperThreading, 16 threads

thread count

16 threads, improvement over no-HT 9th gen i7s

boost clock ghz

5.1

5.1 GHz Turbo Boost Max 3.0, highest on LGA1200 i7 tier

Common questions

The things people ask before buying this product

Does the i7-10700K have integrated graphics?

Yes, Intel UHD Graphics 630 is included on-die. It handles display output and basic tasks. It's very different from the F variant which has no iGPU.

Can I overclock the i7-10700K?

Yes on Z490 boards. The unlocked multiplier allows all-core overclocks. 5.1 GHz all-core is achievable with quality cooling; some chips pushed higher.

What is the difference between the 10700K and 10700F?

The 10700K is unlocked for overclocking and has higher default boost clocks. The 10700F ships with a cooler included and has a locked multiplier. The K lacks a bundled cooler.

Is the i7-10700K still worth buying?

Only for LGA1200 system upgrades at a very low price. Zen 3 used chips at similar prices deliver better gaming and similar or better multi-threaded performance.

If this isn't quite right

Better alternatives depending on what you actually need

Better gaming used chip

AMD Ryzen 7 5700X

8 Zen 3 cores with better IPC and 16 threads at comparable used pricing on AM4.

£171

See review →

LGA1200 step down with cooler

Intel Core i7-10700F

Locked version with bundled cooler at a lower price. If you don't need OC, the 10700F saves money.

12-core hybrid on LGA1700 for better performance at a higher budget.

£268

See review →

Compare Electronic editors

Independent cpus comparison since 2025

Every product is scored against its own product class, not against flagship models. Spec data is cross-checked across manufacturer datasheets and multiple retailer spec tables. Prices are verified daily. We never rank by affiliate commission.

Read our methodology