As for the Z370 chipset, in terms of features and functionality it appears to be identical to Z270-just with some updated microcode that only recognizes Coffee Lake processors. The net result is that if you want a Coffee Lake processor, you'll also need a new motherboard. I suspect not, and keeping the same socket while changing the pinouts seems like a very bad idea regardless. (I'm not planning on trying it, needless to say.) But the real question is whether Intel actually needed to modify the pinouts in the first place. This is due to modified power requirements on Coffee Lake-and let's be clear, the pin-outs on the Coffee Lake and Kaby Lake processors are different, to the point that if you place a KBL chip in a Z370 board, or a CFL chip in a Z270 board, you could actually fry the chip. But if you want an unlocked Intel, the K-series (or X-series) parts are the only way to get that. But you're not completely blocked from improving performance, as you can raise the uncore clock from the default 2.8GHz to 4.0GHz and it did appear to improve performance a few percent. Nope-nada! Any setting other than 'auto' or 100MHz failed to POST. I tried adjusting the BCLCK in the BIOS to see if I couldn't squeeze a few more percent out of the chip. First, Intel is serious about locking down the clockspeed.

There are a few things you'll need to know before running out and buying a Core i5-8400. That means in addition to 50 percent more cores relative to Kaby Lake, you also get the same or higher clockspeeds.

Rest easy, as the CPU will actually run at 4.0GHz on one core, 3.9GHz with 2-4 cores loaded, and 3.8GHz with all six cores loaded to capacity-and though it might exceed the nominal 65W TDP, it didn't get overly hot. The i5-8400 has an impressively high 4.0GHz turbo, but the base clock of 2.8GHz might scare some away. That's a great start, but what about clockspeeds? If you look back at Kaby Lake's i5-7400, the maximum turbo clock was a tame 3.5GHz, with $20 more getting the i5-7500 and a 3.8GHz turbo. The i5-8400 meanwhile includes an Intel cooler and fan for $190. That chip would require an aftermarket cooling solution, bringing the total price closer to $300. It's telling that Intel didn't even feel the need to send out the unlocked Core i5-8600K this round. And just like AMD's Ryzen 5, Intel has a compelling Core i5 model available for under $200, the i5-8400. If you're still running a 2nd or 3rd-or even 4th-Gen Core processor, it's finally time to upgrade. Core i7 and Core i5 both get 50 percent more cores/threads, without a drop in clockspeeds, and Core i3 basically takes the previous generation Core i5's place as a 4C4T part. I covered more of the details of the Coffee Lake launch in the Core i7-8700K review, but this is the biggest generational improvement in Intel's mainstream CPU line since the mainstream/enthusiast split that occurred with the 1st Gen Core i7 in 2010.

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