Intel Core i7 Kaby Lake-X i7-7740X BOX (BX80677I77740X)

Cheap among the expensive

The low end Intel Basin Falls processor is the Core i5-7640X, but it only has four physical cores without Hyper-Threading, meaning it doesn't have twice the number of virtual threads. Buying such a weak processor to build a HEDT computer is clearly not worth it. We consider the quad-core but eight-thread Core i7-7740X to be the minimum justified choice.

twin brothers

It is built on the Kaby Lake-X architecture, similar to processors with the more common LGA1151 socket. As a result, the i7-7740X is almost a complete copy of the i7-7700K: the same TurboBoost 2.0 auto overclocking, the same unlocked multiplier for additional manual overclocking. The only significant difference is the lack of an integrated graphics accelerator. However, it is not needed, because motherboards with an LGA2066 socket still do not have video outputs.

Buying for growth

If the Core i7-7740X is no better, and even worse in small things, than the i7-7700K, then why pay twice for an LGA2066 motherboard? The meaning lies in the prospect of a future upgrade. If you already realize that eight streams will not be enough for you in a year or two, for example, for video editing or 3D modeling, but the low-cost is limited, take the basic kit from the LGA2066 motherboard and inexpensive (compared to other Basin Falls processors) Core i7-7740X processor to replace it in the future.