Intel Core i7 5820K Review | 78 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£120
  • Avg. price in US: ~$90
  • PassMark benchmark result: 9830
  • N. of physical cores: 6
  • CPU boost clock speed: 3.6 GHz

Intel Core i7 5820K review. Compare 78 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among processors and if it is worth buying.

4.8

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the processor's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best processors on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

4.3

Technical Score

10.0%

9.3

User score

Poor
4.3

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the processor's technical performance, covering key areas such as processing performance, core configuration, efficiency, platform support, integrated features, and thermal behavior.

When it matters: When you want to compare processors based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

60.0%

3.8

Performance

18.0%

4.3

Cache & Architecture

10.0%

6.5

Memory & PCIe

7.0%

3.7

Power & Thermal

4.0%

7.4

Platform

1.0%

3.4

Integrated Graphics

Poor
9.3

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the processor.

When it matters: When you want to know how a processor performs in real workloads and how reliable it is for gaming, productivity, and efficiency according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

9.0

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.5
(628)
amazon
4.2
(7)
amazon
5.0
(4)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Exceptional
  • 3.1
    Gaming

    Score components:

    30.0%

    3.0

    PassMark single-core benchmark score

    25.0%

    3.3

    Geekbench 6 single-core benchmark score

    20.0%

    3.4

    CPU boost clock speed

    17.0%

    3.1

    L3 cache

    8.0%

    2.6

    N. of physical cores

  • 3.1
    Video editing

    Score components:

    45.0%

    3.0

    Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark score

    20.0%

    2.6

    N. of physical cores

    20.0%

    4.0

    CPU threads

    15.0%

    3.1

    L3 cache

  • No image
No image

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Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Intel Core i7-5820K is a high-end desktop processor from the Haswell-E family, featuring 6 cores, 12 threads, and a 140W TDP on the LGA 2011-v3 socket. It operates at a 3.3 GHz base frequency with a 3.6 GHz turbo boost and includes 15 MB of Intel Smart Cache while supporting quad-channel DDR4-2133 memory. Main pros include its significant multi-threaded performance for productivity tasks like video rendering, excellent overclocking potential reaching 4.5 GHz or higher, and 28 PCIe 3.0 lanes for multi-GPU setups. However, it lacks integrated graphics, suffers from high power consumption, and is officially incompatible with modern operating systems like Windows 11.

Technical Specifications of processor Intel Core i7 5820K

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the processor's technical performance, covering key areas such as processing performance, core configuration, efficiency, platform support, integrated features, and thermal behavior.

When it matters: When you want to compare processors based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

60.0%

3.8

Performance

18.0%

4.3

Cache & Architecture

10.0%

6.5

Memory & PCIe

7.0%

3.7

Power & Thermal

4.0%

7.4

Platform

1.0%

3.4

Integrated Graphics

4.3
Intel Core i7 5820K has a technical score of 4.28 points, which is lower than that of 72.1% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the processor.

When it matters: When you want to know how a processor performs in real workloads and how reliable it is for gaming, productivity, and efficiency according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

9.0

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.5
(628)
amazon
4.2
(7)
amazon
5.0
(4)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

9.3
Intel Core i7 5820K has a user score of 9.3 points, which is higher than that of 90.3% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the processor.
When it matters: When you prefer to choose a processor reviewed and selected by many other buyers.
10
Intel Core i7 5820K has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 88.3% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the processor's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a processor with a good balance between performance, efficiency, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

4.8

Overall score

40.0%

9.9

Price

6.3
Intel Core i7 5820K has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.3 points, which is lower than 51% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.
When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel
Processor type
What it is: The kind of system the processor is built for, such as desktop PCs, laptops, workstations, or servers.
When it matters: When you want a processor meant for the kind of machine you are actually building or buying, rather than a chip aimed at a different class of system.

Importance: HIGH

desktop
Intel Core i7 5820K belongs to the desktop processor class, which is more advanced than that of 56% of processors and equal to that of 37.9% of processors.
CPU socket
What it is: The physical socket the processor fits into on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need to make sure the CPU can actually be installed on a specific motherboard.

Importance: HIGH

LGA2011-3
Intel Core i7 5820K uses the LGA2011-3 CPU socket, which is newer than that of 59% of processors and equal to that of 0.4% of processors.
Chipset
What it is: The motherboard chipset families officially meant to work with the processor.
When it matters: When you are checking whether a CPU will work with the motherboard features and platform you plan to use.

Importance: HIGH

X99
CPU architecture
What it is: The processor family or design generation behind the chip, such as Zen 4 or Raptor Lake.
When it matters: When you are comparing CPUs across generations and want a clearer sense of their design age, feature level, and expected performance class.

Importance: HIGH

x86-64
Intel Core i7 5820K uses the x86-64 architecture, which is more advanced than that of 1.7% of processors and equal to that of 98.3% of processors.
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N. of physical cores
What it is: The number of physical CPU cores on the processor.
When it matters: When you run workloads that benefit from more real cores.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 8+

6
Intel Core i7 5820K has 6 CPU cores, which is more than 49.9% of processors and equal to 13.4% of processors.
CPU threads
What it is: The total number of processing threads the CPU can handle at once.
When it matters: When you run heavily threaded workloads or multitask a lot.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 16+

12
Intel Core i7 5820K offers 12 CPU threads, which is more than 55.1% of processors and equal to 14.1% of processors.
Threads per core
What it is: The number of threads each physical core can handle at once.
When it matters: When you want to understand how much thread-level parallelism each core can provide in multitasking or heavily threaded work.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 2

2
Intel Core i7 5820K offers 2 threads per core, which is more than 30.4% of processors and equal to 69.6% of processors.
CPU boost clock speed
What it is: The highest clock speed the processor can reach under boost conditions.
When it matters: When you care about peak speed in short bursts.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >4.7 GHz

3.6 GHz
Intel Core i7 5820K reaches a boost clock of 3.6 GHz which is lower than that of 76.7% of processors and equal to that of 3.6% of processors.
CPU base clock speed
What it is: The processor's normal all-core starting frequency before boost behavior raises clocks temporarily.
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance in longer workloads rather than short burst speed alone.

Importance: MEDIUM

6 x 3.3 GHz
Intel Core i7 5820K has a base clock of 6x3.3 GHz which is equal to that of 100% of processors.
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Semiconductor size
What it is: The manufacturing process node used to produce the processor, usually expressed in nanometers.
When it matters: When efficiency, heat, and the relative modernity of the chip-making process matter to your comparison.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <10 nm

22 nm
Intel Core i7 5820K uses a 22 nm process node, which is older than that of 84.6% of processors and equal to that of 10.1% of processors.
Foundry
What it is: The semiconductor manufacturer that physically fabricates the processor chip.
When it matters: When process source, manufacturing generation, or foundry differences matter to your comparison more than day-to-day performance alone.

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel 22 nm
Intel Core i7 5820K is built on the Intel 22 nm foundry process, which is less advanced than that of 84.6% of processors and equal to that of 10.1% of processors.
L3 cache
What it is: The total amount of L3 cache available on the processor.
When it matters: When you want better performance in cache-sensitive workloads and games.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=16 MB

15 MB
Intel Core i7 5820K has an L3 cache of 15 MB which is larger than that of 63.6% of processors and equal to that of 0.5% of processors.
L2 cache
What it is: The total amount of L2 cache available across the processor.
When it matters: When you want to compare CPU design efficiency and how much fast intermediate cache the cores have available.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6 MB

1.5 MB
Intel Core i7 5820K has an L2 cache of 1.5 MB which is smaller than that of 62.5% of processors and equal to that of 4.6% of processors.
L1 cache
What it is: The total amount of L1 cache built into the processor, which sits closest to the cores.
When it matters: When you are comparing low-level CPU design details rather than the broader performance picture buyers usually notice first.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=512 KB

384 KB
Intel Core i7 5820K has an L1 cache of 384 KB which is larger than that of 45% of processors and equal to that of 15.8% of processors.
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DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the processor is designed to support, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the CPU to match the kind of memory platform you want to buy or reuse.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: DDR5

DDR4
Intel Core i7 5820K supports DDR DDR4, which is newer than that of 26.3% of processors and equal to that of 31.7% of processors.
Maximum memory speed
What it is: The highest official memory speed supported by the processor.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4800 MHz

2,133 MHz
Intel Core i7 5820K supports memory speeds up to 2,133 MHz, which is lower than that of 75.6% of processors and equal to 8.8% of processors.
Max memory speed (JEDEC)
What it is: The highest official RAM speed the processor supports under standard JEDEC settings, before any memory overclocking profiles are applied.
When it matters: When officially supported stock RAM speed matters more than XMP, EXPO, or manual memory tuning.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5600 MHz

DDR4-2133 MHz
Intel Core i7 5820K supports JEDEC memory speeds up to DDR4-2,133 MHz, which is lower than that of 75.9% of processors and equal to 5.3% of processors.
Max memory speed (XMP / EXPO)
What it is: The highest memory speed supported through XMP or EXPO profiles.
When it matters: When you want faster RAM through memory profiles.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5200 MHz

?
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of memory officially supported by the processor.
When it matters: When you plan a system with very large RAM capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

64 GB
Intel Core i7 5820K supports up to 64 GB of memory, which is more than 28.4% of processors and equal to 27.6% of processors.
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Integrated graphics
What it is: Includes built-in graphics, so the system can output video without a separate graphics card.
When it matters: When you want the PC to work without a dedicated GPU, or you are building an office, media, compact, or troubleshooting-friendly system.

Importance: HIGH

no
Intel Core i7 5820K does not include integrated graphics. 87.6% of processors include integrated graphics.
Integrated GPU model
What it is: The model name of the integrated graphics processor, if present.
When it matters: When you plan to use the CPU's built-in graphics.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
Integrated GPU execution units
What it is: The number of execution units available in the integrated graphics part of the processor.
When it matters: When you plan to rely on built-in graphics and want a better sense of its light gaming, display, or media capability.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=24

N/A
Integrated GPU base frequency
What it is: The base operating frequency of the integrated GPU.
When it matters: When integrated graphics performance matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=350 MHz

?
Integrated media encoders/decoders
What it is: The hardware media formats the processor can encode or decode directly.
When it matters: When you stream, edit video, or rely on hardware media acceleration.

Importance: LOW

N/A
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TDP (Thermal design power)
What it is: The rated thermal design power, which gives a general idea of cooling and power needs.
When it matters: When you choose a cooler or build in a tighter case.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <30 W

140 W
Intel Core i7 5820K has a TDP of 140 W which is higher than that of 94.7% of processors and equal to that of 0.8% of processors.
Base power (PL1)
What it is: The sustained power target used for longer CPU loads.
When it matters: When you choose cooling and power delivery for sustained workloads.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <30 W

140 W
Intel Core i7 5820K has a base power of 140 W which is higher than that of 94.7% of processors and equal to that of 0.8% of processors.
Boost power (PL2)
What it is: The short-term boost power limit the processor may draw under heavier turbo loads.
When it matters: When you size cooling and power delivery for peak turbo behavior.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <50 W

140 W
Intel Core i7 5820K has a boost power of 140 W which is higher than that of 82.3% of processors and equal to that of 1.1% of processors.
Tau (power duration limit)
What it is: The time limit the CPU can stay at higher boost power before dropping toward sustained power.
When it matters: When you want to understand turbo behavior under longer loads.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=28 s

?
Configurable TDP
What it is: Allows the processor to run in alternate power modes instead of being fixed to one default TDP target.
When it matters: When you want more control over heat, noise, and power draw in compact systems, quieter builds, or thermally limited machines.

Importance: LOW

no
Intel Core i7 5820K does not support configurable TDP. 52.9% of processors support configurable TDP.
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Intel Core i7 5820K vs the average processor

  • 12 more PCIe lanes
    Intel Core i7 5820K has more PCIe lanes than the average processor (28 vs 16). The average processor offers 16 PCIe lanes.
    What it is: The number of PCIe lanes provided directly by the processor.
    When it matters: When you connect fast GPUs, SSDs, or expansion cards.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=20

    Intel Core i7 5820K has more PCIe lanes than the average processor (28 vs 16). The average processor offers 16 PCIe lanes.28 vs 16
  • Unlocked for overclocking
    Intel Core i7 5820K has an unlocked multiplier, the average processor does not.
    What it is: Has an unlocked CPU multiplier, which makes manual CPU overclocking much easier on supported platforms.
    When it matters: When you plan to push clock speeds beyond stock settings instead of leaving the processor completely at default behavior.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Intel Core i7 5820K has an unlocked multiplier, the average processor does not.
  • Supports memory overclocking
    Intel Core i7 5820K supports memory overclocking, the average processor does not.
    What it is: Allows memory speeds beyond official stock settings through manual tuning or profile-based overclocking.
    When it matters: When you want to push RAM performance higher than stock support allows, especially in enthusiast or gaming builds.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Intel Core i7 5820K supports memory overclocking, the average processor does not.
  • 45.9% more L3 per core
    Intel Core i7 5820K has more L3 cache per core than the average processor (2.5 MB/core vs 1,714 MB/core). The average processor provides 1,714 MB/core of L3 cache per core.
    What it is: The amount of L3 cache effectively available per CPU core.
    When it matters: When you are comparing how much shared cache each core can draw on in deeper technical analysis.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2 MB/core

    Intel Core i7 5820K has more L3 cache per core than the average processor (2.5 MB/core vs 1,714 MB/core). The average processor provides 1,714 MB/core of L3 cache per core.2.5 MB/core vs 1,714 MB/core
  • 5 °C higher TJ Max
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher TJ Max than the average processor (105 °C vs 100 °C). The average processor has a TJ Max of 100 °C.
    What it is: The highest safe operating junction temperature before the CPU starts throttling or protecting itself.
    When it matters: When you tune cooling or monitor thermals under load.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=100 °C

    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher TJ Max than the average processor (105 °C vs 100 °C). The average processor has a TJ Max of 100 °C.105 °C vs 100 °C
  • 4 more CPU threads
    Intel Core i7 5820K has more CPU threads than the average processor (12 vs 8). The average processor has 8 CPU threads.
    What it is: The total number of processing threads the CPU can handle at once.
    When it matters: When you run heavily threaded workloads or multitask a lot.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 16+

    Intel Core i7 5820K has more CPU threads than the average processor (12 vs 8). The average processor has 8 CPU threads.12 vs 8
  • 10x more popular
    Intel Core i7 5820K is more popular than the average processor (10.00 vs 1,000).
    What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the processor.
    When it matters: When you prefer to choose a processor reviewed and selected by many other buyers.
    Intel Core i7 5820K is more popular than the average processor (10.00 vs 1,000).10 vs 1
  • 87.5% larger L3 cache
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher L3 cache than the average processor (15 MB vs 8 MB). The average processor has L3 cache of 8 MB.
    What it is: The total amount of L3 cache available on the processor.
    When it matters: When you want better performance in cache-sensitive workloads and games.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=16 MB

    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher L3 cache than the average processor (15 MB vs 8 MB). The average processor has L3 cache of 8 MB.15 MB vs 8 MB
  • Unlocked for overclocking
    Intel Core i7 5820K has an unlocked multiplier, the average processor does not.
  • 4 more CPU threads
    Intel Core i7 5820K has more CPU threads than the average processor (12 vs 8). The average processor has 8 CPU threads.
  • 45.9% more L3 per core
    Intel Core i7 5820K has more L3 cache per core than the average processor (2.5 MB/core vs 1,714 MB/core). The average processor provides 1,714 MB/core of L3 cache per core.
  • 87.5% larger L3 cache
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher L3 cache than the average processor (15 MB vs 8 MB). The average processor has L3 cache of 8 MB.
  • 12 more PCIe lanes
    Intel Core i7 5820K has more PCIe lanes than the average processor (28 vs 16). The average processor offers 16 PCIe lanes.
  • Supports memory overclocking
    Intel Core i7 5820K supports memory overclocking, the average processor does not.
  • 48.5% higher memory bandwidth
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher memory bandwidth than the average processor (68 GB/s vs 45.8 GB/s). The average processor offers memory bandwidth of 45.8 GB/s.
  • 5 °C higher TJ Max
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher TJ Max than the average processor (105 °C vs 100 °C). The average processor has a TJ Max of 100 °C.
  • 6 year/s older release date
    Intel Core i7 5820K has an older release date than the average processor (2014 vs 2020).
    August 2,014
  • No crypto acceleration
    Intel Core i7 5820K does not include crypto acceleration, the average processor does.
  • Narrower instruction support
    Intel Core i7 5820K supports a narrower instruction set than the average processor (MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES vs MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA).
  • 16.3% lower boost clock
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a lower boost clock speed than the average processor (3.6 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.
  • 19.8% weaker single-core performance
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a lower PassMark single-core score than the average processor (1,991 vs 2,483). The average processor scores 2,483 in PassMark single-core.
  • 19.7% lower single-core score
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a lower Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (1,181 vs 1,471). The average processor scores 1,471 in Geekbench 6 single-core.
  • 17.9% weaker multi-core performance
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a lower multi-core performance than the average processor (2,284 vs 2,783). The average processor scores 2,783 in Cinebench R20 multi-core.
  • 83.3% larger process node
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher process node than the average processor (22 nm vs 12 nm). The average processor uses a process node of 12 nm.
  • 2x larger die size
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher die size than the average processor (356 mm² vs 178 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 178 mm².
  • 50% less L2 per core
    Intel Core i7 5820K has less L2 cache per core than the average processor (0.3 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core). The average processor provides 0.5 MB/core of L2 cache per core.
  • Less advanced microarchitecture
    Intel Core i7 5820K uses a less advanced microarchitecture than the average processor (Haswell vs Kaby Lake).
  • 40% smaller L2 cache
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a lower L2 cache than the average processor (1.5 MB vs 2.5 MB). The average processor has L2 cache of 2.5 MB.
  • Less advanced foundry
    Intel Core i7 5820K uses a less advanced foundry process than the average processor (Intel 22 nm vs Intel 14 nm).
  • 47.5% fewer transistors
    Intel Core i7 5820K has fewer transistors than the average processor (2.6 billion vs 4.95 billion). The average processor has 4.95 billion transistors.
  • 27.3% lower memory speed
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a lower maximum memory speed than the average processor (2,133 MHz vs 2,933 MHz). The average processor supports memory speed of 2,933 MHz.
  • 2 fewer memory channels
    Intel Core i7 5820K has fewer memory channels than the average processor (4 vs 2). The average processor supports 2 memory channels.
  • No integrated graphics
    Intel Core i7 5820K does not include integrated graphics, the average processor does.
  • 3.11x higher base power
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher base power draw than the average processor (140 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.
  • 2.19x higher boost power
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher boost power draw than the average processor (140 W vs 64 W). The average processor has a boost power draw of 64 W.
  • 3.11x higher TDP
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher TDP than the average processor (140 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a TDP of 45 W.
  • No configurable TDP
    Intel Core i7 5820K does not support configurable TDP, the average processor does.
  • 16.3% lower boost clock
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a lower boost clock speed than the average processor (3.6 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.
    What it is: The highest clock speed the processor can reach under boost conditions.
    When it matters: When you care about peak speed in short bursts.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >4.7 GHz

    Intel Core i7 5820K has a lower boost clock speed than the average processor (3.6 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.3.6 GHz vs 4.3 GHz
  • 83.3% larger process node
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher process node than the average processor (22 nm vs 12 nm). The average processor uses a process node of 12 nm.
    What it is: The manufacturing process node used to produce the processor, usually expressed in nanometers.
    When it matters: When efficiency, heat, and the relative modernity of the chip-making process matter to your comparison.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: <10 nm

    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher process node than the average processor (22 nm vs 12 nm). The average processor uses a process node of 12 nm.22 nm vs 12 nm
  • 19.8% weaker single-core performance
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a lower PassMark single-core score than the average processor (1,991 vs 2,483). The average processor scores 2,483 in PassMark single-core.
    What it is: A benchmark score that reflects single-core CPU performance.
    When it matters: When you care about responsiveness in lighter or older software.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >3200

    Intel Core i7 5820K has a lower PassMark single-core score than the average processor (1,991 vs 2,483). The average processor scores 2,483 in PassMark single-core.1,991 vs 2,483
  • 3.11x higher base power
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher base power draw than the average processor (140 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.
    What it is: The sustained power target used for longer CPU loads.
    When it matters: When you choose cooling and power delivery for sustained workloads.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <30 W

    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher base power draw than the average processor (140 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.140 W vs 45 W
  • 2.19x higher boost power
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher boost power draw than the average processor (140 W vs 64 W). The average processor has a boost power draw of 64 W.
    What it is: The short-term boost power limit the processor may draw under heavier turbo loads.
    When it matters: When you size cooling and power delivery for peak turbo behavior.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <50 W

    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher boost power draw than the average processor (140 W vs 64 W). The average processor has a boost power draw of 64 W.140 W vs 64 W
  • 2x larger die size
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher die size than the average processor (356 mm² vs 178 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 178 mm².
    What it is: The physical area of the processor die, usually measured in square millimeters.
    When it matters: When you are comparing chip scale, packaging density, or broader design differences rather than direct user-visible performance.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: <150 mm²

    Intel Core i7 5820K has a higher die size than the average processor (356 mm² vs 178 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 178 mm².356 mm² vs 178 mm²
  • 19.7% lower single-core score
    Intel Core i7 5820K has a lower Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (1,181 vs 1,471). The average processor scores 1,471 in Geekbench 6 single-core.
    What it is: A Geekbench 6 score that reflects single-core CPU performance in mixed modern workloads.
    When it matters: When you care about snappy everyday performance in lighter apps, browsing, office work, or tasks that do not scale well across many cores.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >2000

    Intel Core i7 5820K has a lower Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (1,181 vs 1,471). The average processor scores 1,471 in Geekbench 6 single-core.1,181 vs 1,471
  • 50% less L2 per core
    Intel Core i7 5820K has less L2 cache per core than the average processor (0.3 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core). The average processor provides 0.5 MB/core of L2 cache per core.
    What it is: The amount of L2 cache available to each CPU core.
    When it matters: When you are comparing per-core cache resources in deeper architectural analysis.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=1 MB/core

    Intel Core i7 5820K has less L2 cache per core than the average processor (0.3 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core). The average processor provides 0.5 MB/core of L2 cache per core.0.25 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core

Graphic comparison of Intel Core i7 5820K and other processors

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Third-party reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about Intel Core i7 5820K?

  • Excellent value for a 6-core/12-thread enthusiast CPU compared to more expensive HEDT models like the 5930K or 5960X
  • Strong multi-core performance for intensive tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and file archiving
  • Supports quad-channel DDR4 memory, providing high memory bandwidth
  • Offers 28 PCIe 3.0 lanes, which is significantly more than standard consumer chips, allowing for better multi-GPU support and NVMe storage
  • The CPU die is soldered, which typically results in better thermal transfer and lower temperatures under load compared to newer 'thermal paste' designs
  • Highly overclockable, with many users easily reaching speeds of 4.4 GHz to 4.5 GHz on all cores

What customers dislike about Intel Core i7 5820K?

  • High power consumption, especially when overclocked, with some users reporting draws up to 175W
  • Generates significant heat, requiring a robust aftermarket cooling solution as it does not include a stock cooler
  • Lower single-core performance compared to newer architectures, which can lead to bottlenecks in modern high-refresh-rate gaming
  • Has fewer PCIe lanes (28) than its higher-end sibling, the 5930K (40), which can limit quad-SLI configurations
  • Lacks integrated graphics, requiring a dedicated GPU even for basic display output
  • Older architecture (Haswell-E) means it is not officially supported by newer operating systems like Windows 11 without workarounds

Expert reviews

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techpowerup.com
16/03/2015

This TechPowerUp review analyzes the Haswell-E platform, comparing the 8-core i7-5960X against 6-core models (i7-5930K, i7-5820K) on the X99 chipset with DDR4. While the 5960X offers top-tier 8-core performance, the 5820K serves as a high-value, overclockable alternative, with differences in PCIe lane counts (40 vs. 28) separating the premium and budget options. Performance testing...Read more

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overclock3d.net
29/10/2014

The Overclock3D review describes the Intel Core i7-5820K as a mixed-bag processor that struggles to justify itself at stock speeds, often underperforming compared to the cheaper, higher-clocked i7-4790K. While it brings six hyperthreaded cores and DDR4 support to a more affordable X99 price point, its "out of the box" performance is underwhelming, and the 28 PCIe lanes are only...Read more

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bit-tech.net
03/09/2014

The Bit-tech review of the Intel Core i7-5930K and i7-5820K highlights significant performance gains over previous generations,, driven by 6-core architecture, quad-channel DDR4 memory, and the X99 chipset. Pros include exceptional multi-threaded performance, with the i7-5930K showing up to 41% faster rendering speeds when overclocked, alongside improved platform features. Cons...Read more

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tomshardware.com
29/08/2014

The Tom's Hardware review highlights the Intel Core i7-5960X as a landmark 22nm Haswell-E processor, representing Intel's first eight-core consumer desktop CPU, featuring 16 threads, 20MB L3 cache, and a shift to the X99 chipset with quad-channel DDR4 memory. While offering immense multi-threaded performance (up to 79% faster in optimized tasks) and 40 PCIe 3.0 lanes, the platform...Read more

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anandtech.com
29/08/2014

AnandTech's review of Intel's Haswell-E lineup highlights the Core i7-5960X as the first consumer 8-core processor, offering immense multi-threaded performance for rendering and video encoding, alongside the 6-core i7-5930K and i7-5820K. Key advantages include the X99 platform's support for DDR4 memory and up to 40 PCIe 3.0 lanes, ideal for high-end, multi-GPU configurations....Read more

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tomshardware.com
07/05/2015

The Tom's Hardware review highlights the MSI X99S SLI Plus as a high-value LGA 2011-v3 motherboard offering premium features, such as three-way SLI support and a PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot, at a budget-friendly price point. It is noted for superior memory stability beyond DDR4-3200, though CPU overclocking fell slightly short of higher-end alternatives, achieving 4.4GHz. Minor compromises...Read more

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bit-tech.net
03/09/2014

The Bit-tech review highlights the Intel Core i7-5930K and i7-5820K as powerful six-core, 12-thread Haswell-E processors offering significant performance gains in multi-threaded tasks, with the 5930K providing 40 PCIe lanes for multi-GPU setups, while the 5820K features 28 lanes, serving as a more cost-effective option. Both chips excel in rendering and media encoding, boasting...Read more

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chip.de
12/01/2015

The Intel Core i7-5820K is a 6-core Haswell-E processor for the LGA 2011-v3 socket, offering high-end performance for the X99 platform at a more accessible price point than its 8-core counterparts. It excels in multi-threaded tasks, content creation, and heavy multitasking, benefiting from 12 threads and DDR4 quad-channel memory support. Key advantages include exceptional raw...Read more

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pcgameshardware.de
30/08/2014

The PC Games Hardware review highlights the Core i7-5960X as a groundbreaking eight-core flagship, offering superior performance in heavily threaded professional applications (32–69% faster than previous-gen) and robust multi-GPU support via 40 PCIe lanes. While featuring advanced X99 platform support for DDR4 memory, the processor carries high entry costs, requires a 140W TDP...Read more

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computerbase.de
29/08/2014

The ComputerBase review of Intel's "Haswell-E" platform highlights a significant leap in high-end computing, introducing the 8-core i7-5960X and 6-core i7-5820K, which provide substantial multi-threaded performance boosts up to 40% in optimized applications. While the i7-5960X excels in workstation tasks, a key drawback is that lower clock speeds can result in lower performance...Read more

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clubic.com
29/08/2014

The Xbitlabs review covers the Haswell-E lineup, focusing on the Core i7-5960X as Intel's first 8-core consumer CPU. Pros include exceptional multi-threaded performance (up to 40% faster) and DDR4 support, while high CPU costs and expensive DDR4 memory act as cons. The i7-5820K is highlighted as the value choice, offering six cores and overclocking capability, though with fewer PCIe...Read more

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hardware.fr
29/08/2014

The Hardware.fr review of Intel’s Haswell-E platform highlights the 8-core Core i7-5960X and 6-core i7-5930K/5820K as the first consumer desktop processors on the X99 platform, introducing quad-channel DDR4 memory. A major advantage is unrivaled performance for heavily threaded applications, such as 3D rendering and 4K video editing, though this requires high-investment, new...Read more

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conseil-config.com
23/11/2020

Conseil Config compares the Intel Core i7-5820K (2014) and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X (2020), highlighting a massive, generational IPC leap where the Zen 3 architecture dominates. The Ryzen 5 5600X provides 60-70% higher performance than the i7-5820K, boasting superior 65W power efficiency, higher clock speeds, and reduced latency for superior gaming performance. While the i7-5820K offers...Read more

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overclocking.com
04/06/2015

The Intel Core i7-5820K review at Overclocking.com highlights the processor as a 6-core/12-thread "Extreme" entry-level CPU for the X99 platform, offering superior multi-threaded performance in rendering and video editing. A notable con is its lower stock clock speed compared to the i7-4790K, which can make it feel underwhelming in single-threaded tasks and gaming at factory...Read more

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tomshardware.fr
29/08/2014

The Tom's Hardware review of Intel’s Haswell-E platform introduces the first 8-core desktop consumer CPU, featuring the Core i7-5960X, i7-5930K, and i7-5820K alongside the X99 chipset, DDR4 support, and up to 40 PCIe 3.0 lanes. While the 8-core i7-5960X dominates in heavy multi-threaded workloads like 3D rendering and video editing, the i7-5820K is highlighted for its excellent...Read more

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cowcotland.com
14/10/2014

The Intel Core i7-5820K review by Cowcotland highlights this Haswell-E processor as a significant, more accessible enthusiast option, bringing six physical cores and Hyper-Threading to the X99/LGA 2011-v3 platform with support for quad-channel DDR4 memory. It delivers excellent production performance in HD encoding and 3D rendering, nearly matching higher-tier models in these tasks....Read more

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profesionalreview.com
11/03/2016

According to Profesional Review, the Core i7-6700K (Skylake) emerges as the top performer for pure gaming, offering superior frame rates and a more accessible Z170 platform, though it is limited by a 4-core/8-thread configuration. While the 6-core i7-5820K offers a great price-to-performance ratio for a workstation, it, along with the 8-core i7-5960X, often shows slightly lower...Read more

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profesionalreview.com
07/09/2014

The Intel Core i7-5820K, based on the Haswell-E architecture, was launched as an accessible six-core, 12-thread enthusiast processor utilizing the LGA 2011-v3 socket and quad-channel DDR4 memory. It excels in heavily multi-threaded workloads, such as rendering and file compression, and is highly regarded for its significant overclocking potential, often reaching 4.3 GHz to 4.7 GHz....Read more

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tomshw.it
01/09/2014

The Intel Haswell-E review highlights the Core i7-5960X, i7-5930K, and i7-5820K as major performance advancements, introducing 8-core processing and DDR4 memory to the desktop market. The flagship 8-core i7-5960X delivers exceptional multi-threaded performance, though at a high cost and lower base clocks that limit its gaming advantage. The i7-5820K is identified as a high-value,...Read more

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