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The i7 series of processors from Intel are a new range from the company which are made on the basis of Penryn manufacturing process. Other than the manufacturing process and some other physical changes, they are quite similar to the Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, and Core 2 Extreme line up from Intel.
But don’t let it fool you. The new pool of processors are definitely more efficient than the predecessors and in this post we will see what changes the different models of Core i7 namely the i7 4770, i7 4770S and i7 4770K have.
Before we start, let me tell you something. The old LGA775 motherboard sockets for processors won’t work with the new Core i7 because now you need a larger socket that is compatible. So yeah, you will need to buy a new Core i7 compatible motherboard if you are thinking of upgrading.
We will take a look at all the variations of the Corei7one by one but first take a look at i7 4770.
Core i7-4770
The Core i7-4770 is clocked at 3.4 GHz and it’s a Quad Core processor. Now since this is a multi-threaded processor, the programs which are able to utilize the multi-threaded processor will work much more efficiently with this processor. You could do excellent computing performance for challenging applications with its 8M L3 Cache.
It’s so efficient that it can make the programs run about 6-8% faster than they do. In turbo mode the processor can clock up to 3.9 GHz and turn into a beast that you’ll be proud of owning and hence it makes the programs work more efficiently than they used to. Moreover, you could get ultimate gaming experience through its Intel HD Graphics 4600 with 1200 MHz speed.
Being a 64-bit processor it can utilize more than 4 GB RAM and this can make a system run faster than it can when compared to a 32-bit system. So, I would say that it is a solid processor to meet your business and gaming needs.
Core i7-4770S
Moving on let’s take a look at another variation of the Core i7-4770 processor that is the Core i7-4770S.Now, this processor has some differences when it is compared to the Core i7-4770 and Core i7-4770K(we’ll take a look later on K version).
The clock speed of this variation is lower than that of Core i7-4770 and it’s clocked at 3.1 GHz. But it has the same number of cores which is 4 cores that makes this a Quad Core processor and the number of threads in 8 threads which again makes it multi-threaded which is same as the Core i7-4770. Besides, you could run all the demanding applications and get best gaming experience with this Intel processor.
The difference here when compared to the Core i7-4770 is that it is clocked at 3.1 GHz. The Core i7-4770S is meant for low power and small form factor devices as the heat sink that will be needed for this will be smaller than that of Core i7-4770 and Core i7-4770K.
The TDP (Thermal Design Power) of the Core i7-4770S is mere 65W when compared to 85W of Core i7-4770. This makes it more power efficient and a good choice for mobile devices which have limited power and space for heat sink.
Other than the above mentioned differences the Core i7-4770 and Core i7-4770S are quite similar.
Core i7-4770K
Out of all the 3 variations of Core-i7 4770 that we are comparing here, this one stands out and proves to be the best choice among the three.
It is clocked at 3.5 GHz by default but the turbo mode can boost it up to 3.9 GHz.
An interesting fact about this CPU is that it is factory unlocked by default. Now, let me explain the meaning of being unlocked and what it means to the end user.
Being unlocked means that the user can freely overclock the CPU in order to get more out of it by increasing the performance after over clocking. But there’s only so much you can do and overclocking can void your warranty.
Tabular Comparison between i7-4770, i7-4770S and i7-4770K
| Model | Cores / Threads | Base Freq. | Max. Turbo | L3 | HD Graphics | Graphics Max Freq. | TDP | Price |
| 4770S | 4/8 | 3.1 GHz | 3.9 GHz | 8 MB | 4600 | 1,200 MHz | 65W | $306.99 |
| 4770 | 4/8 | 3.4 GHz | 3.9 GHz | 8 MB | 4600 | 1,200 MHz | 84W | $319.99 |
| 4770K | 4/8 | 3.5 GHz | 3.9 GHz | 8 MB | 4600 | 1,250 MHz | 84W | $334.99 |
Conclusion
Generally, Intel Core i7 processors are recommended for advanced productivity, multi-tasking and superior 3D Graphics as it has ability to achieve the greatest levels of relative performance. These exceptional processors with notable features are available for all types of PCs.
There’s not much difference between the above three discussed variations but only some. Now the choice you make depends on your purpose. If you want a power efficient processor then you should go with Core i7-4770S. It is currently priced at around $306.99.
If you are going to use the processor to power a normal gaming PC or a normal workstation then you can choose the Core i7-4770. It is priced at $319.99 currently.
But if you want a processor with extensible utility and you might have to overclock it in the future then you should definitely go for the Core i7-4770K. It is available for $334.99 as of today.
Personally I would have chosen the Core i7-4770K as there’s not much difference in their price and my need is fulfilled by the K-series version.
If you have any doubts you can get them cleared in the comments section down below.
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