Conclusion
Now running at 4GHz on all cores, a first for Intel, it opportunistically ramps up to 4.4GHz when executing lighter loads, resulting in performance that is approximately 10 per cent higher than the Core i7-4770K.The Intel Core i7-4790K 'Devil's Canyon' processor is what the top-of-the-range Haswell chip from last year should have been. Now running at 4GHz on all cores, a first for Intel, it opportunistically ramps up to 4.4GHz when executing lighter loads, resulting in performance that is approximately 10 per cent higher than the Core i7-4770K it effectively replaces.
Devil's Canyon is all about CPU frequency; graphics remain the same, which means sub-par gaming for any modern title. Of course, this processor's extra CPU muscle can be replicated easily enough with a regular 4770K, so, really, there's nothing genuinely new a year on after the initial launch.
Understanding the relationship between voltage and frequency means it's doubtful we'll see a significantly faster Haswell processor released. Devil's Canyon feels like an enthusiast-orientated stopgap before the delayed next-generation architecture, dubbed Broadwell, surfaces much later on in the year.
Buying advice is simple enough: if you were in the market for a Core i7-4770K processor, forget it, buy this one instead - it's guaranteed to be faster. Core i7-4790K will grab the headlines today, clearly, but we're actually more interested in the Pentium Anniversary Edition, which is a budget CPU that, for most, is a much more savvy financial bet then the two new Core chips.
Bottom line: the fastest Haswell-based processor to date, the Core i7-4790K 'Devil's Canyon' is now the go-to solution for the enthusiast looking to buy the best mainstream processor.
The Good
Class-leading performance
No price premium over Core i7-4770K
First all-core 4GHz processor from Intel
Should work on most LGA1150 motherboardsThe Bad
No improvements to graphics
HEXUS.awards
Intel Core i7-4790K 'Devil's Canyon'
HEXUS.where2buy
The Intel Core i7-4790K 'Devil's Canyon' CPU will be available to purchase from Scan Computers in June 2014.
The Intel Core i7-4790K 'Devil's Canyon' CPU is available to pre-order from OcUK now.
HEXUS.right2reply
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