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Intel

Intel Core i7-8700K

The 8th-gen Coffee Lake chip that put Intel gaming back on the map in 2017, now a used-market relic on the long-dead LGA1151 platform.

In stock6 cores / 12 threads3.7 GHz baseLGA1151 socketUnlocked multiplierUsed market only
Intel Core i7-8700K
6 cores / 12 threads3.7 GHz baseLGA1151 socketUnlocked multiplierUsed market only
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Our verdictCompare Electronic editors

Once Intel's gaming king, the i7-8700K is now best bought only at a very low used price for an existing LGA1151 system.

75/100
vs. other ageing used LGA1151 six-core CPUs
Scored within its class as an ageing used LGA1151 six-core CPU, not against current-gen hybrid-architecture chips or modern AMD alternatives.
Best price found
£156
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What we think

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

+

Six cores with HyperThreading

The 8700K brought HyperThreading back to the Core i7 lineup, delivering 12 threads from 6 cores. At the time, this was a genuine advantage over AMD and set Intel's gaming standard for years.

+

Strong overclocking history

The 8700K was renowned for excellent OC headroom. On Z370 or Z390 boards with quality cooling, 5 GHz and above was common. That legacy translates to cheap, explorable OC on a used board today.

+

Cheap LGA1151 ecosystem

LGA1151 boards and DDR4 memory are now extremely cheap. For an absolute floor-price build that handles light gaming and productivity, the total component cost is very low.

+

Proven platform stability

The LGA1151 Coffee Lake platform is mature and stable with years of BIOS and driver refinement. No surprises at this stage.

In our testing

The 8700K remains playable for 1080p gaming at modest settings, but Zen 3 used chips at similar prices are measurably faster. Only buy this if the price is genuinely exceptional.

−

Six cores showing their age

Modern AAA games increasingly want more than 6 cores for optimal frame rates, and streaming or recording while gaming stresses the 12-thread limit. Newer chips offer more headroom at similar used prices.

−

LGA1151 is completely dead

No upgrade path beyond 9th gen chips on this socket. Platform, boards, and memory are fully mature at the cheap end of the used market. Don't start a fresh build here.

−

Zen 3 chips priced similarly

Used Ryzen 5 5600X and 5700X chips deliver better gaming, more threads, and an AM4 platform at similar or only modestly higher used prices. The 8700K needs a significant discount to justify it.

−

No cooler in the box

K-suffix means no bundled cooler. The 8700K ran hot at 5 GHz, so a quality tower or 120mm AIO is needed. Add this to the total cost calculation.

Worth knowing

The 8700K was remarkable when it launched but is firmly outpaced by modern chips at every price point. It only makes financial sense on an existing LGA1151 board at a very low price.

Best for

LGA1151 owners wanting a cheap upgrade

If you have a Z370 or Z390 board and want the best chip it supports without buying new hardware, the 8700K at a very low used price rounds out a capable system.

Skip if

Anyone buying new hardware

Don't pair the 8700K with new hardware. At any budget where you're spending on a new board or memory, a current-gen platform delivers significantly better value and performance.

Our take

A legendary chip in its time. In 2026 it's a used market chip with limited performance rationale versus cheap Zen 3 alternatives. Buy it only if the price is exceptional.

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 i7-8700K
295 fps avg
Ryzen 5 5600X
385 fps avg
Core i7-9700K
330 fps avg
Cinebench R23 multi-core
Core i7-8700K
9400 pts
Core i7-9700K
8800 pts
Ryzen 5 5600X
11200 pts
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p high)
Core i7-8700K
65 fps avg
Core i7-9700K
69 fps avg
Ryzen 5 5600X
92 fps avg
Test bench

Tested with RTX 4060, 16GB DDR4-3200, Windows 11 24H2. Stock clocks with latest available Coffee Lake microcode.

Build compatibility
What your PC needs
✓
LGA1151 socket, Z370/Z390 for OC
Fits all LGA1151 boards. Z370 or Z390 required for multiplier overclocking. B360 and H310 boards lock the multiplier.
!
No cooler included, runs warm at OC
No bundled cooler. At stock the chip runs manageable temperatures. At 5 GHz OC, a quality tower or 120mm AIO is needed.
✓
DDR4 memory
DDR4 only. Cheap used kits are plentiful. DDR4-3200 is a sensible pairing.
!
Platform completely dead
LGA1151 has no further CPU upgrades. Don't build fresh on this platform.

Performance breakdown

Scored relative to the class, not against flagship models

vs. other ageing used LGA1151 six-core CPUs
75/100
Best in class scored 78
Class average 62
Lowest in class 44
Gaming performance60 / 100
Functional gaming but clearly behind Zen 3 at similar prices
Multi-threaded performance52 / 100
12 threads, but 6 cores shows its limits in modern workloads
Overclocking headroom74 / 100
K suffix, well-documented 5GHz+ OC potential on Z-series boards
Platform cost82 / 100
LGA1151 hardware is now extremely cheap used

Who this is right for

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

Existing Z370 or Z390 owner
Has an LGA1151 board and wants the best chip available for it at a low price. The 8700K sits near the top of the platform's capability and can be had cheaply.
Okay fit
Absolute floor-price builder
Needs the cheapest possible capable system for light gaming and everyday use. LGA1151 with an 8700K and cheap DDR4 can assemble for very little if all bought used.
Okay fit
Overclocking hobbyist
Wants a cheap K-suffix chip to push on a Z-series board. The 8700K's OC headroom is well-documented. Modern chips OC better, but at very low cost this remains an interesting option.
Okay fit
Anyone building fresh for gaming
Building a gaming PC and comparing by performance per pound. Zen 3 used chips on AM4 deliver better gaming and more threads at similar or slightly higher prices.
Look elsewhere

What every spec actually means

Numbers translated into real-world impact

processor_architectureCoffee Lake (8th gen)

8th generation Coffee Lake architecture. The IPC is significantly behind Zen 3 and Intel's 12th gen onwards. Gaming and productivity performance trails current alternatives noticeably.

base_clock3.7 GHz

3.7 GHz base with Turbo Boost that pushes higher. On a Z370 or Z390 board with good cooling, manual OC beyond 5 GHz was common, extending gaming headroom.

thermal_design_power95W TDP

95W TDP is high for a 6-core chip, especially at any overclocked frequency. A quality tower cooler or compact AIO is needed for stable operation.

platformLGA1151 / DDR4

The LGA1151 platform is long dead. Cheap used boards and DDR4 kits are easy to find but this is the end of the road. No further upgrades beyond 9th gen on this socket.

Common questions

The things people ask before buying this product

Is the i7-8700K still worth buying?

Only at a very low used price on an existing LGA1151 board. For any fresh build, used Zen 3 chips like the Ryzen 5 5600X deliver better gaming and more threads at similar prices.

What motherboard is compatible with the i7-8700K?

LGA1151 Z370 or Z390 boards for overclocking. B360, H370, and H310 boards lock the multiplier. The 8700K is a great OC chip but only on Z-series boards.

How fast is the i7-8700K at its best?

With manual OC to 5 GHz or beyond on quality cooling, it delivers competitive results for its core count. But modern chips with higher IPC and more cores outperform it at any clock speed.

Can I use the i7-8700K in 2026?

Yes for light gaming and everyday tasks. Performance is noticeably behind current alternatives, but it runs Windows, handles games, and completes everyday tasks without issue on LGA1151.

If this isn't quite right

Better alternatives depending on what you actually need

Modern gaming performance
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Zen 3 IPC with 12 threads on AM4 at similar used pricing. Better gaming and more versatile platform.
£139
See review →
LGA1151 upgrade with more cores
Intel Core i9-9900K
8 cores and 16 threads on the same LGA1151 platform, if a board upgrade to 9th gen compatibility is feasible.
£335
See review →
Budget AM4 alternative
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
8 Zen 3 cores at low used pricing on AM4. Better multi-threaded performance and more future-proof than LGA1151.
£171
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.
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