IntelCore i7-8700K Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.7GHz Turbo Unlocked LGA1151 300 Series 95W

Got this for a new gaming rig I was setting up. The first Amazon package came as an empty box. The CPU box had clearly been compromised at some point at the Amazon Warehouse (I'd have to assume) and it had no CPU inside, only the documentation. Amazon was quick to send me a new one, and it wasn't a huge setback since I was still awaiting the motherboard and case. Second package arrived just fine.You know what you're paying for here. This is a really high performance CPU with the capability to be overclocked to your heart's content, and (while nothing is "future-proof") it should stay relevant for a few years to come. Paired with a nice GPU (1070 GTX in my case) it's able to run literally anything I throw at it. Shadow of the Tomb Raider can run with nearly all settings maxed out/at high. It blasted through most stress tests I threw at it, and managed to score a 1456 on Cinebench's CPU test, hitting only 71 deg C at most.This CPU (obviously) comes with no dinky stock Intel cooler, so I'm using a Corsair H100i v2 for cooling here, and it pays off in BOUNDS. I can OC stable to 4.9GHz (what I have it running at now) and it runs cooler, both at idle and under load, than my last CPU did with its beefy Coolermaster heatsink/fan. Albeit, the radiator fans can get a bit noisy at times, but I've been tweaking my OC profiles to reduce noise and I've gotten the noise factor down a bit.Overall, I'm immensely satisfied. This is the first time (since the days of the 8800 GTX) that I've had a "relevant" gaming PC, something that can actually run modern AAA titles, and my quality of life has improved drastically as a result. No more FPS drops when I try and watch Twitch while playing Overwatch. No more stuttering and lagging when the OS decides to run some CPU-intensive garbage in the background while I'm gaming. It's pretty amazing.Here's the full build, for anyone interested. I wholeheartedly recommend this build to anyone looking to upgrade or build their first gaming PC, and it's relatively budget friendly compared to pre-built options, especially if you can snag some or all the parts on sale:Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7 GHz 6-Core ProcessorCorsair - H100i v2 70.69 CFM Liquid CPU CoolerAsus - PRIME Z390-A ATX LGA1151 MotherboardCorsair - Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 MemoryKingston - A400 120 GB 2.5" Solid State DriveEVGA - GeForce GTX 1070 8 GB SC Gaming ACX 3.0 Video CardNZXT - H500 (White) ATX Mid Tower CaseCorsair - 850 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power SupplyWhole build totaled out to about $1,300 after mail-in rebates.

Pros:-Outstanding gaming performance.-Just about the fastest single threaded performance you can get.-Over-clocks fairly well w/o deliding. (A good quality cooler is a must).-6 cores/12 threads is no slouch for content creators & productivity either.-Will be a viable CPU for many years to come.Cons:-Difficult to acquire.-A little pricey due to scarcity. (I paid $419 which I think is reasonable).-Non-soldered integrated heat-sink...they used thermal paste instead so depending on your situation it can run warm.-To really push the limits of over-clocking, deliding is recommended, along with water cooling.Other Thoughts:I bought this CPU in order to finally make a leap up from my trusty i5 2500k Sandybridge that I'd been using since 2011. I have zero regrets. This thing is super fast. DO NOT buy from greedy scalpers. Just be patient and diligent and you can snag one for a reasonable price.***My build:***i7 8700k (Mild OC @ 4.8Ghz w/ 1.24 Vcore)Arctic Freezer 240 AIO water coolerMSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon16Gb DDR4 3200 Corsair Vengeance RGBSamsung 960 Evo M.2 250gbPowercolor Vega 56 (Do not overpay for these either. At $450 or less, there is no better value, especially for free-sync).EVGA SuperNOVA 750 Gold 80+Phanteks Enthoo Luxe Full Tower (Fantastic, roomy case)"New Pixio" 27" 1440p 144Hz Free-sync IPS panel monitor (Sexy monitor and perfect companion for Vega 56/64).

Pros:-Easy with either Intel XTU or programs that supports overclocking. Motherboards with overclocking support and UEFI also easy.-Wide stable clock range, like advertised: 3.7 Ghz to 4.8 Ghz. IMO, a future-proof consumer CPU- 6 Cores 12 threads. Multitasking is ever more easy peasy. Although there are several CPUs that has more core and threads, but those prices are for business purposes, I believe.Cons:-Just like other testers have found out, temps can be crazy. At idle, without any tampering/delidding of the CPU, it runs at 27 centigrade even with MSI Frozr Core L (Air cooler) and Gelid Xtreme thermal compound. Running Prime95 for 15 minutes, full load went close up to 80 centigrade. Heat is death for every computer component. Some CPUs previous to this one can run idle temps lower than ambient with just an air cooler and decent thermal compound.-Because of the wide clock range, there is little room for going above 4.8 Ghz. However, my current setup cannot fully test the clock ceiling of the component without possibly destroying it. I’ve came to this conclusion based off articles and enthusiast testers.-Price. Maybe. It’s the new hype for many Intel customers. And also availability. This will be remedied soon enough, as Intel plans to make more assembly line in places, which probably lowers the price.Other Thoughts:Upgrading from i7-2600, (non K mind you) this component is the answer for me. It is, as some previous iterations of the 14 nm lithography, as an optimized and core/thread-added CPU. Basically, it is a minor upgrade if you are already within the 14 nm tech.TLDR: I like this CPU coming from a 2nd gen i7.Current rig:Fractal Design Define R5 Windowed, with x2 140mm Case FansMSI Z370 Gaming M5 Motherboard.MSI Core Frozr L Air CoolerNvidia GTX 970 GPUG.Skill DDR4-3600Mhz 16GB Memory ModuleEVGA 600W 80+ Silver PSU non-modularGelid Solutions Xtreme Thermal Compound.