Intel Core i7-3770S Review

Get to know the Core i7-3770S! This Desktop processor is a beast in Intel's high-end series. Launched in 2012, it's armed with 4 cores and 8 threads. It runs at a base frequency of 3.1GHz, can boost up to 3.9GHz, and has a power requirement of 65W, ready to power up your gaming rig. The Core i7-3770S is a product of the Ivy Bridge 22nm process and is a part of the acclaimed Core i7 series.

And guess what? The Core i7-3770S is the ultimate successor to Intel's previous-gen gaming champion, the Core i7-2600S. The Core i7-2600S was based on the legendary Sandy Bridge and 32nm process, and it made its grand entrance into the gaming scene back in 2011. But now, it's time for the Core i7-3770S to take the throne and conquer the gaming world!

The Intel Core i7 3rd Generation boasts the Ivy Bridge architecture, which brings 22nm processors to the mainstream for the first time. But there's more to this story than just a smaller size. Get ready for some serious performance upgrades!

The Core i7-3770S takes the best parts of the Ivy Bridge architecture, which gives you 15% more instructions processed per cycle (IPC) on average, and shrinks it down to a 22nm process. This creates a super powerful chip that performs awesome in all our tests, especially considering the competitive price, compatibility with most existing LGA1155 motherboards, ability to overclock, and included cooler. Basically, it's a win-win!

The wait is finally over! The Intel Core i7 3 Gen is here, and the Intel Core i7-3770S might just be the perfect example of what this new generation brings to the table. It keeps the same core and thread count (4 cores and 8 threads) as its predecessor, the Core i7-2600S. But thanks to the new, smaller 22nm manufacturing process, it delivers significantly better performance while using less power.

Shrinking down to a 22nm process gives the Core i7-3770S a whopping 15% boost in IPC (instructions per clock). Basically, compared to a similar CPU from the last generation (Core i7 2 Gen) clocked at the same speed, you'll get 15% better performance. It might not be a huge difference in everyday tasks, but it's still something.

The high number of threads (over 7!) in the Intel Core i7-3770S makes it a monster for tasks that use all the cores at once (multi-threaded workloads), especially for the price. If you edit a lot of videos or work with giant spreadsheets, the Core i7-3770S will give you a noticeable performance boost.

Heads up! If you already have a Core i7-2600S, this new generation doesn't offer a huge jump in performance. You might be better off waiting a year to upgrade or spending more on a higher-end CPU.

Intel has been struggling lately to keep up with the new FX processors. This has forced them to get creative with their existing lineup. The Intel Core i7-3770S isn't exactly new - it's basically a Core i7-2600S with a higher clock speed. But there's one more twist...

One of the best things about the Intel Core i7-3770S is that it comes with a free CPU cooler! You can grab the Core i7-3770S for $330 without having to spend extra on cooling.

The Intel Core i7-3770S comes with a basic heatsink cooler, nothing fancy. But it gets the job done for this low-power CPU (TDP of 65W). You won't need a fancy aftermarket cooler unless you want to overclock it.

Building on the success of mainstream Core i7 CPUs, Intel is now attacking the high-end market with the Core i7-3770S processors, available since May 2012.