Intel Core i7-1255U vs Intel Core i9-9900K

Processor comparisons 10-01-2022

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i7-1255U vs Intel Core i9-9900K and understand which is better for games or normal use for programming, video editing, streaming, rendering, machine learning. Here is all information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software such as 3DMark, PassMark, VeraCrypt, Blender, 7zip, DaVinci Resolve Studio, AIDA64, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, SuperPi, PCMark 10, Dolphin Emulator, Prime95, WPrime, Handbrake, Furmark, UserBenchmark, Gears 5, MATLAB, GeekBench 6, 5.2, RealBench.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

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 i9-9900K or Intel Core i7-1255U.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-1255U

55%

Core i9-9900K

55%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-1255U

54%

Core i9-9900K

55%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that 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 low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Metro Exodus, Control, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Half-Life: Alyx, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, League of Legends (LOL), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Forza Horizon 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator, DOTA 2A, Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, Hitman 3, NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	95.1	98.2
Valorant	108.1	111.6
Cyberpunk 2077	60.5	62.5
Apex Legends	101.6	104.9
Call of Duty Warzone	81.0	83.7
Overwatch	87.5	90.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	74.6	77.0
DOOM Eternal	54.0	55.8
Warzone	84.3	87.0
Assassin's Creed	90.8	93.7
Valheim	89.7	92.6

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, 4K or FullHD. Therefore, 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i7-1255U

278%

Core i9-9900K

45%

To make a finishing 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 i7-1255U is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9900K as it consumes less power: 15W vs. 95W. Power consumption is particularly 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, programming, streaming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the CPU turns on all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account 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. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the benefit 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 i7-1255U	Intel Core i9-9900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	230	219
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1691	2245
Cinbench 20 Single-core	554	518
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3839	4995
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1297	1284
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12654	12450

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

	Intel Core i7-1255U	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	3035	2947
Multi-Core	17715	18753

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

	Intel Core i7-1255U	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	1251	1301
Multi-Core	6947	9986

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 later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i7-1255U	Intel Core i9-9900K
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	October 01, 2018
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	FCBGA1744	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Alder Lake-U	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	9
Turbo Frequency	4.7 MHz	5 MHz
Frequency	1.7 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	10	8
Threads	12	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	10 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	9800 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	95 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5 5200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	64 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	24 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 i9-9900K is 52% better than Core i7-1255U in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-1255U has 2 more core than Core i9-9900K. 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 i7-1255U is better: 13
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9900K is better: 20
Although it should be understood that all the number in the text above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i7-1255U and Intel Core i9-9900K before making a choice which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i7-1255U - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-1255U specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-9900K specs and review.