Intel Core i7-9700 vs Intel Core i5-9600K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i7-9700 vs Intel Core i5-9600K and understand which is better for games or normal use for programming, machine learning, streaming, video editing, rendering. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or different benchmarks. A thorough review of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special test applications such as MATLAB, Blender, SuperPi, PCMark 10, Furmark, WPrime, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, AIDA64, Gears 5, UserBenchmark, PassMark, Prime95, RealBench, Handbrake, 7zip, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-9600K or Intel Core i7-9700.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-9700

54%

Core i5-9600K

53%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-9700 is 1% better than Core i5-9600K. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-9700

54%

Core i5-9600K

53%

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. 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: NBA 2K20, Hitman 3, Half-Life: Alyx, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Horizon Zero Dawn, Control, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), League of Legends (LOL), Monster Hunter World, Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, Metro Exodus, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	95.8	94.5
Valorant	108.9	107.4
Cyberpunk 2077	61.0	60.1
Apex Legends	102.3	101.0
Call of Duty Warzone	81.6	80.6
Overwatch	88.2	87.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	75.1	74.1
DOOM Eternal	54.4	53.7
Warzone	84.9	83.8
Assassin's Creed	91.4	90.2
Valheim	90.3	89.1

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 tested computers 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. 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i7-9700

61%

Core i5-9600K

48%

To make a final choice 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 i7-9700 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-9600K as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 95W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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 video editing or video rendering, streaming, programming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU uses 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 check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports 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 are unused.

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

	Intel Core i7-9700	Intel Core i5-9600K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	209	204
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1491	1165
Cinbench 20 Single-core	465	481
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3644	2624
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1181	1276
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	8540	7301

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

	Intel Core i7-9700	Intel Core i5-9600K
Single-Core	2835	2761
Multi-Core	13511	10894

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

	Intel Core i7-9700	Intel Core i5-9600K
Single-Core	1195	1396
Multi-Core	7637	6386

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. 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 in the newest games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i7-9700	Intel Core i5-9600K
Announcement date	April 01, 2019	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Coffee Lake	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	9
Turbo Frequency	4.7 MHz	4.6 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	8	6
Threads	8	6
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	5600 millions	3600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	12 MB	9 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 i5-9600K is 18% better than Core i7-9700 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-9700 has 2 more core than Core i5-9600K. 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 i7-9700 is better: 24
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-9600K is better: 5
All the figures that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i7-9700 and Intel Core i5-9600K before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i7-9700 specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-9600K specs and review.