Intel Core i5-10600KF vs Intel Core i9-10980HK

Processor comparisons   24-03-2021
   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i5-10600KF vs Intel Core i9-10980HK and understand which is better for games or simple use for streaming, rendering, machine learning, programming, video editing. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or several benchmarks. A careful review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like 3DMark, Blender, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), MATLAB, SuperPi, AIDA64, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Handbrake, UserBenchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 7zip, Gears 5, Blender, PassMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, VeraCrypt, RealBench, WPrime.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10980HK or Intel Core i5-10600KF.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-10600KF

54%

Core i9-10980HK

55%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10980HK is 1% better than Core i5-10600KF. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-10600KF

54%

Core i9-10980HK

55%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	96.5	97.2
Valorant	109.6	110.5
Cyberpunk 2077	61.4	61.9
Apex Legends	103.0	103.9
Call of Duty Warzone	82.2	82.9
Overwatch	88.8	89.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	75.6	76.2
DOOM Eternal	54.8	55.2
Warzone	85.5	86.2
Assassin's Creed	92.1	92.8
Valheim	91.0	91.7

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 participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. So 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 i5-10600KF

38%

Core i9-10980HK

106%

To make a final resolution 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 i9-10980HK is more energy efficient than the Core i5-10600KF as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 45W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, video rendering or video editing, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor uses all threads and cores 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 program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-10600KF	Intel Core i9-10980HK
Cinbench 15 Single-core	215	219
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1615	1627
Cinbench 20 Single-core	501	507
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3629	3643
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1391	1136
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10489	11013

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

	Intel Core i5-10600KF	Intel Core i9-10980HK
Single-Core	2993	2913
Multi-Core	14785	16588

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

	Intel Core i5-10600KF	Intel Core i9-10980HK
Single-Core	1425	1437
Multi-Core	8301	9056

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. 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 benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-10600KF	Intel Core i9-10980HK
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Socket	FCLGA1200	FCBGA1440
Core name	Comet Lake	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	10
Turbo Frequency	4.8 MHz	5.3 MHz
Frequency	4.1 MHz	2.4 MHz
Cores	6	8
Threads	12	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2460 millions	2100 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	45 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	12 MB	16 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-10600KF is 41% better than Core i9-10980HK in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10980HK has 2 more core than Core i5-10600KF. 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 i5-10600KF is better: 4
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10980HK is better: 25
However, it should be realized that all the figures in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-10600KF and Intel Core i9-10980HK before making a choice which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i5-10600KF - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-10600KF specs and review.

Intel Core i9-10980HK - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i9-10980HK specs and review.