Intel Core i7-9700 vs Intel Core i7-4790K

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i7-9700 vs Intel Core i7-4790K and understand which is better for games or simple use for rendering, machine learning, video editing, programming, streaming. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests such as Gears 5, MATLAB, VeraCrypt, RealBench, 3DMark, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PCMark 10, 7zip, UserBenchmark, Furmark, WPrime, Dolphin Emulator, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Handbrake, PassMark, Blender, SuperPi, AIDA64, Blender.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-4790K 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 i7-4790K

52%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-9700 is 3% better than Core i7-4790K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-9700

54%

Core i7-4790K

52%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	95.8	92.8
Valorant	108.9	105.5
Cyberpunk 2077	61.0	59.1
Apex Legends	102.3	99.2
Call of Duty Warzone	81.6	79.1
Overwatch	88.2	85.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	75.1	72.8
DOOM Eternal	54.4	52.8
Warzone	84.9	82.3
Assassin's Creed	91.4	88.6
Valheim	90.3	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 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 i7-9700

61%

Core i7-4790K

46%

To make a final decision 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 i7-9700 is more energy efficient than the Core i7-4790K as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 88W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is 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 machine learning, video rendering or video editing, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program 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 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 i7-4790K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	209	169
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1491	854
Cinbench 20 Single-core	465	411
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3644	1982
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1181	1069
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	8540	4936

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

	Intel Core i7-9700	Intel Core i7-4790K
Single-Core	2835	2491
Multi-Core	13511	8030

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

	Intel Core i7-9700	Intel Core i7-4790K
Single-Core	1195	1230
Multi-Core	7637	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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i7-9700	Intel Core i7-4790K
Announcement date	April 01, 2019	April 01, 2014
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	LGA1150
Core name	Coffee Lake	Devil's Canyon
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	4
Turbo Frequency	4.7 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	4 MHz
Cores	8	4
Threads	8	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	5 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	22 nm
Transistors count	5600 millions	1420 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	88 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.5V
Max. Memory	128 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	12 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 25% better than Core i7-9700 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-9700 has 4 more core than Core i7-4790K. 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: 30
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-4790K is better: 3
However, it should be understood that all the number in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i7-9700 and Intel Core i7-4790K before deciding which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i7-9700 specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-4790K specs and review.