Intel Core i5-8600K Processor

The Intel Core i5-8600K Processor — 6 cores and 6 threads, 3.6 GHz base rising to 4.3 GHz with Turbo Boost, 9 MB Intel Smart Cache, 95 W processor base power, LGA1151. Supplied from stock with a 1-year warranty.

The unlocked six-core Coffee Lake

The i5-8600K is the enthusiast Coffee Lake i5: six cores at 3.60 GHz with a 4.30 GHz Turbo, an unlocked multiplier and a 95 W envelope. Launched Q4 2017, it was the gaming CPU of its generation, and good samples commonly held 4.8–5.0 GHz with a soldered heat spreader helping thermals.

Out of the box it is already the fastest 8th Generation i5; overclocking requires a Z370 or Z390 board — H310, B360, H370 and Q370 boards run it at stock clocks. Intel UHD Graphics 630 is on package, though most K-builds used a discrete card.

Technical specifications

Instruction set extensions: Intel SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX and AVX2. Security and virtualisation: AES-NI, Intel VT-x with EPT and VT-d, Intel Boot Guard.

Which systems take this processor

Anything on the FCLGA1151 socket with an Intel 300 series chipset: H310, B360, B365, H370, Q370, Z370 and Z390, plus C246 server boards. The 300 series supports 8th and 9th Generation Core processors; 9th Generation parts require a BIOS from late 2018 or later on the earlier boards.

• Business desktops and SFF machines — Dell OptiPlex 3060 / 5060 / 7060, HP EliteDesk 800 G4 / ProDesk 600 G4, Lenovo ThinkCentre M720 / M920. This generation was the volume corporate platform, so chassis, coolers and replacement boards are widely available.
• Entry workstations — HP Z2 G4, Dell Precision 3630, Lenovo ThinkStation P330, where six cores cover office, light CAD and rendering duty.
• Micro-server and NAS builds — C246 boards such as Supermicro X11SCH and ASUS P11C accept Core i5 parts with ECC UDIMMs, and the 35 W T-variants suit 24/7 enclosures.

One caveat when buying a board separately: C246 boards were sold mainly for Xeon E and may list Core support only from a specific BIOS revision. Tell us the board or the machine model when you enquire and we will check it.

How it compares across the i5 line

The 9600K is the 9th Generation successor: 100 MHz more base and 300 MHz more Turbo, with soldered IHS for better heat transfer — the natural upgrade on the same platform. For a locked-clock build the 8600 gives the same Turbo at 65 W.

How each processor is tested before it ships

1. Visual inspection of the integrated heat spreader, substrate and contact pads; the sSpec laser marking (SR3QU on our i5-8600K stock) is verified against the Intel specification sheet.
2. Burn-in on a matched diagnostic board with a pair of memory modules of the correct type for this platform.
3. All populated memory channels and the primary PCIe lanes are validated, then the processor is identified in the BIOS and in the operating system.
4. A sustained multi-threaded load test at full core count, with the clock and thermal readings recorded.
5. Thermal paste cleaned off, final inspection, then packaging in an anti-static tray with foam — which is how it arrives to you.

Warranty and lead time

Every processor is covered by a 1-year warranty against defects in workmanship and function. If a part fails within the period we replace it or refund it, and we cover return shipping on a verified fault. Stock is held in our own warehouse and normally dispatches within three to seven working days; tracking is issued at dispatch.

Purchasing and volume enquiries

The minimum order quantity for this processor is 2 units. Price is quotation-based rather than listed, because CPU pricing moves with each incoming batch — send us the quantity you need and we will come back with a firm quote and the current lead time. Larger quantities ship from the same production batch so the sSpec and the stepping stay consistent across your order.