8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
- iGPU:
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
- Boost/Base Clock:
- 4.3 GHz / 3.6 GHz
- Core/Thread Count:
- 6 Core / 6 Thread
- Cache:
- 9MB L3 + 1.5MB L2 + 384KB L1
- TDP:
- 95 W
- CPU Process Node:
- 14 Nanometers
- CPU Socket:
- FCLGA1151
- CPU Series:
- Coffee Lake, 8th Gen Intel Core
- Memory Support:
- DDR4-2666
- Form Factor:
- Desktop
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Manufacturer: Intel Last updated: September 9, 2026
8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K Review
The 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K is an unlocked 6-core desktop processor built on Coffee Lake, running a genuinely high 3.6 GHz base clock that boosts to 4.3 GHz within a 95 Watt TDP on the LGA 1151 socket.
This chip's unlocked multiplier and unusually high base clock made it a genuine enthusiast gaming favorite at launch, appealing to overclockers who wanted 6-core performance without paying for the i7-8700K's hyperthreading.
Intel UHD Graphics 630
A basic integrated GPU intended for display output; enthusiast desktop builds around this chip typically pair it with a discrete GPU.
How Is the Core i5 8600K in Terms of Performance
The unlocked multiplier and unusually high 3.6 GHz base clock give this chip genuinely strong gaming performance, appealing to overclockers who wanted strong per-core performance without paying for the i7-8700K's hyperthreading.
Benchmarks
The benchmarks below are published results for specific applications. They are measured separately and do not feed the two scores above.
Puget Bench for Photoshop v1.0 - points (More is Better)
- Apple M5 Max15043.83 points
- Apple M5 Pro14885.21 points
- Apple M512095.89 points
- AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D12088.31 points
- Intel Core i9-14900KF10029.96 points
- 11th Gen Intel Core i7 11700K7098.88 points
- 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10900KF6892.97 points
- 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K (this product)4831.5 points
Puget Systems runs a fixed set of real Photoshop jobs: opening and saving large files, resizing, content-aware fill, blurs and filters. A higher score means less waiting on the tasks a retoucher repeats all day.
Photoshop is decided mostly by how fast a few cores are, not how many there are, so a chip with fewer but faster cores often beats one with more cores. Treat a gap under about 5 percent as something you would never notice while working.
Puget Bench for DaVinci Resolve v1.0-1.2 - points (More is Better)
- 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K7805.2 points
- 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10980XE7088 points
- 10th Gen Intel Core i9 109006352 points
- 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10850K6101.6 points
- 11th Gen Intel Core i7 11700K6038.67 points
- 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10920X5853.67 points
- 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K5670.25 points
- 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K (this product)3493 points
Grading, effects, AI tools and export in DaVinci Resolve Studio, across the codecs a colourist actually works in.
Resolve leans harder on the graphics card than on the processor, so the CPU difference here is usually smaller than the difference your GPU choice would make. Use it to rule out a bottleneck, not to pick a winner.
Benchmarks
As a 6-core Coffee Lake chip sharing its core silicon with the i5-8400 and i5-8500, this processor's genuine advantage lies in its unlocked multiplier and higher stock clocks, giving enthusiast overclockers real headroom the locked variants don't offer.
Our verdict
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Best for
- Enthusiast gaming desktop builds wanting an unlocked 6-core chip without paying for hyperthreading
Not for
- Buyers needing hyperthreading for lightly multi-threaded work, the i7-8700K offers that alongside similar clocks
Specifications
What these specs meanIdentity
| Brand | Intel |
|---|---|
| Product Line | Core i5 |
| Model Number | 8600K |
| Codename | Coffee Lake |
| Release Year | 2017 |
Segment and platform
| Market Segment | Desktop |
|---|---|
| Microarchitecture | Coffee Lake, 8th Gen Intel Core |
| Socket | FCLGA1151 |
| Socket Status | End of Life |
| Process Node | 14 nm |
Core configuration
| Total Cores | 6 |
|---|---|
| Performance Cores | 6 |
| Efficiency Cores | 0 |
| Total Threads | 6 |
| SMT Enabled | No |
Clock speeds
| P-Core Base Clock | 3.6 GHz |
|---|---|
| P-Core Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz |
Cache
| L2 Cache | 1.5 MB |
|---|---|
| L3 Cache | 9 MB |
Power and thermal
| Base Power | 95 W |
|---|---|
| Max Turbo Power | 95 W |
Memory
| Memory Type | DDR4-2666 |
|---|---|
| Max Memory Speed | 2666 MT/s |
| Memory Channels | 2 |
| ECC Support | No |
Graphics and AI
| Integrated Graphics | Yes |
|---|---|
| iGPU Model | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| Copilot Plus Certified | No |
Expansion
| PCIe Generation | 3.0 |
|---|---|
| PCIe Lanes | 16 |
Commercial
| Launch MSRP | 257 USD |
|---|---|
| Retail Availability | Retail |
| Form Factor | Desktop |
|---|---|
| TDP | 95 W |
| iGPU | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
FAQs
What are the key specifications of the 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K?
The 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K has 6 cores and 6 threads, a 3.6 GHz base and 4.3 GHz boost clock, 9 MB of L3 cache and a 95 W TDP. Integrated graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630. Socket: FCLGA1151.
Will the 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K work with my current setup?
The 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K lists CPU Socket is LGA 1151. Check that against the hardware you already own before buying, since this is the field that most often decides whether a part fits.
Who is the 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K best suited to?
Best suited to: Enthusiast gaming desktop builds wanting an unlocked 6-core chip without paying for hyperthreading.
What are the drawbacks of the 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K?
Not the best fit for: Buyers needing hyperthreading for lightly multi-threaded work, the i7-8700K offers that alongside similar clocks.