Intel Core i3-9100TE vs Intel Core i7-4790K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   If you have difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the detailed tests Intel Core i3-9100TE vs Intel Core i7-4790K and see which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, streaming, programming, video editing, rendering. Here you can find useful information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests like World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PCMark 10, Furmark, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, UserBenchmark, RealBench, 7zip, Gears 5, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Dolphin Emulator, Blender, Prime95, SuperPi, DaVinci Resolve Studio, AIDA64, Handbrake, WPrime, PassMark, MATLAB, 3DMark, VeraCrypt.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Watch Dogs Legion
Valheim
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Last Man Standing
Fallout 76
Overwatch
Red Dead Redemption 2
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Borderlands 3
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Fortnite
Rainbow Six Siege
DOOM: Eternal
Death Stranding
Grand Theft Auto V
Valorant
Halo Infinite
Cyberpunk 2077
Apex Legends

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-4790K or Intel Core i3-9100TE.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i3-9100TE

51%

Core i7-4790K

52%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-4790K is 1% better than Core i3-9100TE. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-9100TE

51%

Core i7-4790K

52%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Hitman 3, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Forza Horizon 4, Metro Exodus, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20, Half-Life: Alyx, Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, League of Legends (LOL), Control, Monster Hunter World, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Battlefield V.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.2	92.8
Valorant	103.6	105.5
Cyberpunk 2077	58.0	59.1
Apex Legends	97.4	99.2
Call of Duty Warzone	77.7	79.1
Overwatch	83.9	85.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.5	72.8
DOOM Eternal	51.8	52.8
Warzone	80.8	82.3
Assassin's Creed	87.0	88.6
Valheim	86.0	87.6

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i3-9100TE

84%

Core i7-4790K

46%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i3-9100TE is more energy efficient than the Core i7-4790K as it consumes less power: 35W vs. 88W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, video rendering or video editing, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i3-9100TE	Intel Core i7-4790K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	140	169
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	551	854
Cinbench 20 Single-core	371	411
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1361	1982
Cinbench 23 Single-core	732	1069
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	2842	4936

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-9100TE	Intel Core i7-4790K
Single-Core	2021	2491
Multi-Core	5687	8030

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-9100TE	Intel Core i7-4790K
Single-Core	887	1230
Multi-Core	3111	4747

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i3-9100TE	Intel Core i7-4790K
Announcement date	October 01, 2020	April 01, 2014
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	LGA1150
Core name	Coffee Lake	Devil's Canyon
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	4
Turbo Frequency	3.2 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	2.2 MHz	4 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	5 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	22 nm
Transistors count	2400 millions	1420 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	35 W	88 W
Memory type	DDR-2400	DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.5V
Max. Memory	64 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	37.5 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 MB	8 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	Yes	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i7-4790K is 44% better than Core i3-9100TE in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-9100TE is better: 9
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-4790K is better: 25
However, it should be realized that all the data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i3-9100TE and Intel Core i7-4790K before deciding which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i3-9100TE specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-4790K specs and review.