Intel Core i7-8550U vs Intel Core i7-4790K

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i7-8550U vs Intel Core i7-4790K tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, rendering, video editing, programming, streaming. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like Prime95, Gears 5, Blender, 7zip, MATLAB, AIDA64, VeraCrypt, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Furmark, PassMark, Handbrake, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, RealBench, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 3DMark, UserBenchmark, WPrime.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-4790K or Intel Core i7-8550U.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-8550U

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 i7-8550U. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-8550U

52%

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 play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Metro Exodus, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Control, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Half-Life: Alyx, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, NBA 2K20, Monster Hunter World, Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, League of Legends (LOL), Forza Horizon 4.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.9	92.8
Valorant	104.4	105.5
Cyberpunk 2077	58.5	59.1
Apex Legends	98.1	99.2
Call of Duty Warzone	78.3	79.1
Overwatch	84.6	85.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	72.0	72.8
DOOM Eternal	52.2	52.8
Warzone	81.4	82.3
Assassin's Creed	87.7	88.6
Valheim	86.6	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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i7-8550U

228%

Core i7-4790K

46%

To make a final decision 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 i7-8550U is more energy efficient than the Core i7-4790K since it has less power consumption: 15W vs. 88W. 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

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor 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 make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, 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 i7-8550U	Intel Core i7-4790K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	167	169
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	564	854
Cinbench 20 Single-core	354	411
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1211	1982
Cinbench 23 Single-core	979	1069
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3111	4936

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

	Intel Core i7-8550U	Intel Core i7-4790K
Single-Core	2072	2491
Multi-Core	5970	8030

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

	Intel Core i7-8550U	Intel Core i7-4790K
Single-Core	1027	1230
Multi-Core	3788	4747

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. 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. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i7-8550U	Intel Core i7-4790K
Announcement date	April 01, 2017	April 01, 2014
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	FC-BGA1356	LGA1150
Core name	Kaby Lake R	Devil's Canyon
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	8	4
Turbo Frequency	4 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	1.8 MHz	4 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	8	8
Bus rate	4 GT/s	5 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	22 nm
Transistors count	1820 millions	1420 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	88 W
Memory type	DDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133	DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.5V
Max. Memory	32 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	37.5 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	8 MB	8 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 i7-4790K is 55% better than Core i7-8550U 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 i7-8550U is better: 6
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-4790K is better: 24
However, 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 quantitative comparison. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i7-8550U and Intel Core i7-4790K before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i7-8550U specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-4790K specs and review.