We finally have something bigger than a quad-core processor on Intel's mainstream platform. Although we have to do with new chips that are based on the same architecture as the processors preceded them, the addition of new cores is always welcome.

Both the Core i7-8700K and the Core i5-8400 processors have been designed offer more performance cores at more mainstream price points. After all, Intel is offering much more expensive chips for more complex platforms.

By moving from 4 cores / 8 threads to the 6 core / 12 threads, Intel Coffee Lake-S chips offer a 1.5 times improvement in the multi-threaded performance compared to the previous generation of Intel chips, at a reasonable cost. And compared with the AMD Ryzen chips, almost the same level of multi-threading gains at the same price range.

The Core i7-8700K mathed the multi-threaded performance of the Ryzen 7 1700, and also offered a little extra strength to the single-threaded performance level of a Core i7-7700K.

Nonetheless, in applications that need to take advantage of the extra cores, the Core i7-8700K will run through at an all-core turbo frequency of 4.3 GHz. The jump up from a quad-core to a hex-core for only a $20 difference cannot be neglected.

In addition, priced at $182 dollars, the Core i5-8400 offers you a performance that is seriously approaching the Core i7-7700K.

The only problem here is that you cannot use your existing LGA1151 motherboards in order to install the new CPUs. But a CPU like the 8700K gets you more performance that justifies the motherboards extra spending.