Intel Core i7-10700 vs Intel Core i9-10850K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you have difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the detailed tests Intel Core i7-10700 vs Intel Core i9-10850K and understand which is better for games or simple use for streaming, machine learning, programming, video editing, rendering. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or various benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests such as DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender, Blender, 7zip, AIDA64, PCMark 10, RealBench, PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, Prime95, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, WPrime, MATLAB, Furmark, VeraCrypt, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Gears 5, UserBenchmark, 3DMark, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10850K or Intel Core i7-10700.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-10700

55%

Core i9-10850K

57%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10850K is 3% better than Core i7-10700. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-10700

55%

Core i9-10850K

56%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, 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 other games in which processors were compared: Control, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), League of Legends (LOL), Ghostrunner, DOTA 2A, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 4, Metro Exodus, Horizon Zero Dawn, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Battlefield V, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, NBA 2K20, Monster Hunter World.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.3	99.8
Valorant	110.6	113.4
Cyberpunk 2077	61.9	63.5
Apex Legends	104.0	106.6
Call of Duty Warzone	83.0	85.1
Overwatch	89.6	91.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.3	78.3
DOOM Eternal	55.3	56.7
Warzone	86.3	88.5
Assassin's Creed	92.9	95.3
Valheim	91.8	94.1

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: FullHD, 2K or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i7-10700

67%

Core i9-10850K

36%

To make a finishing resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i7-10700 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10850K as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was 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 programming, video rendering or video editing, streaming, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that 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 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 i7-10700	Intel Core i9-10850K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	221	229
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2356	2616
Cinbench 20 Single-core	513	536
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	4971	6318
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1290	1367
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12595	16820

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

	Intel Core i7-10700	Intel Core i9-10850K
Single-Core	3055	3074
Multi-Core	17916	23350

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

	Intel Core i7-10700	Intel Core i9-10850K
Single-Core	1325	1383
Multi-Core	9163	11578

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in new games. It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i7-10700	Intel Core i9-10850K
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	FCLGA1200
Core name	Comet Lake	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	10
Turbo Frequency	4.8 MHz	5.1 MHz
Frequency	2.9 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	8	10
Threads	16	20
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	6800 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	125 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	16 MB	20 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
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 i9-10850K is 19% better than Core i7-10700 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10850K has 2 more core than Core i7-10700. 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 i7-10700 is better: 1
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10850K is better: 27
Although it should be understood that all the number in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i7-10700 and Intel Core i9-10850K before deciding which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i7-10700 specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-10850K specs and review.