Intel Core i9-10850K vs Intel Core i7-4790

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 i9-10850K vs Intel Core i7-4790 tests and see which is better for games or normal use for streaming, video editing, machine learning, rendering, programming. Here you can find all information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests like SuperPi, AIDA64, 3DMark, Gears 5, RealBench, PassMark, Dolphin Emulator, Furmark, WPrime, Prime95, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), VeraCrypt, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, 7zip, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PCMark 10, UserBenchmark, MATLAB, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, Blender.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-4790 or Intel Core i9-10850K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-10850K

57%

Core i7-4790

52%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10850K is 8% better than Core i7-4790. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10850K

56%

Core i7-4790

52%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	99.8	92.1
Valorant	113.4	104.7
Cyberpunk 2077	63.5	58.6
Apex Legends	106.6	98.4
Call of Duty Warzone	85.1	78.5
Overwatch	91.9	84.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	78.3	72.2
DOOM Eternal	56.7	52.3
Warzone	88.5	81.6
Assassin's Creed	95.3	87.9
Valheim	94.1	86.9

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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. 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 i9-10850K

36%

Core i7-4790

31%

To make a final 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 i9-10850K is more energy efficient than the Core i7-4790 as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 84W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is 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 machine learning, video rendering or video editing, programming, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that 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 i9-10850K	Intel Core i7-4790
Cinbench 15 Single-core	229	145
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2616	728
Cinbench 20 Single-core	536	384
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6318	1819
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1367	974
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	16820	4564

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

	Intel Core i9-10850K	Intel Core i7-4790
Single-Core	3074	2247
Multi-Core	23350	7177

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

	Intel Core i9-10850K	Intel Core i7-4790
Single-Core	1383	785
Multi-Core	11578	4018

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 can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new 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 i9-10850K	Intel Core i7-4790
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	April 01, 2014
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	FCLGA1150
Core name	Comet Lake	Haswell
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	4
Turbo Frequency	5.1 MHz	4 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	10	4
Threads	20	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	5 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	22 nm
Transistors count	9200 millions	1480 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	84 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.5V
Max. Memory	128 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	20 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. Another difference is that Core i9-10850K has 6 more core than Core i7-4790. 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 i9-10850K is better: 31
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-4790 is better: 2
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-10850K and Intel Core i7-4790 before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-10850K specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-4790 specs and review.