The i7 6800K from 2021 is a solid choice if you value performance and reliability.
The i7 6800K from 2021 is a solid choice if you value performance and reliability.
Hi everyone. I'm searching for a used CPU to swap in for my Xeon 2640 V3. My idea is to go with the 6800K, which is currently available at 130 euros (the lowest price). I understand that the 2600X is faster, but since I already own an X99 MoBo, switching to Ryzen isn't an option. The 6800K only reaches about 3.8 GHz, so I'm unsure how much of an improvement it would bring compared to my current setup. Also, its high TDP raises concerns about cooling. I was confused by the fact that the 6800K is locked in OC—though I thought K models are unlocked. Should I upgrade my rig or just move on? Thanks.
It relies on the chip's quality, your cooling system, and your motherboard.
It works well with stock clocks, though you won’t gain much real overclocking here. I don’t know which x99 MOBO you’re using, but since x99 is the best chipset, it should have solid VRM cooling and won’t limit your OC chances.
I heard about this a year ago. Intel stopped enabling overclocking on Broadwell-E because of security concerns, and you might encounter this problem. You can still overclock using BIOS versions from early 2018 as well. Also, using an older Windows version from the beginning of 2018 could help.
I had an i7-6800K for about three years with overclocking... until it failed and I returned it to Intel. For the first 1.5 years it ran smoothly with a CoolerMaster Hyper 212 EVO cooler. Under typical use and gaming, plus occasional testing, the cooling system performed well. You should be fine—even if you try overclocking. I used an ASUS X99 Deluxe II board. The ASUS Rampage V Extreme is marketed as a powerful OC board... Can the i7-6800K reach 4.2 to 4.4 GHz all-core? If you're lucky, maybe higher.