Intel Core i7 is a line of Intel CPUs which span eight generations of Intel chipsets. They feature either four or six cores, with stock frequencies between 2.6 and 3.7 GHz. The first i7 processors were released in November 2008 and new generations of the i7 continue to be released (2020).

Variations of the i7 processor are manufactured for a variety of personal computing devices. Some high-performance i7 processors for desktop computers, such as the i7-8700K, are unlocked for overclocking. High-efficiency i7 processors (which conserve energy as much as possible, at the expense of some performance) are manufactured for desktop computers, laptops, and mobile devices.

The i7 processor is marketed primarily to gaming enthusiasts, and digital artists such as filmmakers and animators.

Limited edition i7-8086K

In June 2018, Intel announced a limited edition i7 processor, the i7-8086K, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 8086 CPU. Only 8086 of these processors were produced. It is the first Intel processor to reach speeds of 5 GHz without overclocking (using Intel Turbo Boost technology).

Core i3, Core i5, Core i9, CPU terms

  • CPU help and support.