Intel Core i7-9800X vs Intel Core i5-10600K

Processor comparisons   24-03-2021
   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i7-9800X vs Intel Core i5-10600K 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 i5-10600K or Intel Core i7-9800X.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-9800X

55%

Core i5-10600K

54%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-9800X is 1% better than Core i5-10600K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-9800X

56%

Core i5-10600K

55%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	99.2	97.0
Valorant	112.7	110.2
Cyberpunk 2077	63.1	61.7
Apex Legends	106.0	103.6
Call of Duty Warzone	84.5	82.7
Overwatch	91.3	89.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	77.8	76.1
DOOM Eternal	56.4	55.1
Warzone	87.9	86.0
Assassin's Creed	94.7	92.6
Valheim	93.6	91.5

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 participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD 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 i7-9800X

28%

Core i5-10600K

39%

To make a finishing choice 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 i5-10600K is more energy efficient than the Core i7-9800X as it consumes less power: 165W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, streaming, video rendering or video editing, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will learn 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. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, 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 i7-9800X	Intel Core i5-10600K
Cinbench 15 Single-core		215
Cinbench 15 Multi-core		1615
Cinbench 20 Single-core		501
Cinbench 20 Multi-core		3629
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1271	1376
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	13067	10379

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

	Intel Core i7-9800X	Intel Core i5-10600K
Single-Core	2664	2967
Multi-Core	18347	14674

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

	Intel Core i7-9800X	Intel Core i5-10600K
Single-Core	1393	1495
Multi-Core	10972	8815

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 i7-9800X	Intel Core i5-10600K
Announcement date	October 01, 2018	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA1200
Core name	Skylake	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	10
Turbo Frequency	4.4 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.8 MHz	4.1 MHz
Cores	8	6
Threads	16	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	5600 millions	4800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	125 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	16.5 MB	12 MB
Overclocking	No	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 i5-10600K is 7% better than Core i7-9800X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-9800X has 2 more core than Core i5-10600K. 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 i7-9800X is better: 19
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-10600K is better: 13
All the number that you have looked at here do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i7-9800X and Intel Core i5-10600K before deciding which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i7-9800X - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-9800X specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-10600K specs and review.