Intel Core i9-10900K vs Intel Core i7-4790K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i9-10900K vs Intel Core i7-4790K and understand which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, programming, video editing, streaming, rendering. Here you can find all information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A careful 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 parallel examination in software tests like PassMark, Handbrake, DaVinci Resolve Studio, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 3DMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, WPrime, AIDA64, Blender, SuperPi, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Prime95, 7zip, MATLAB, Gears 5, UserBenchmark, Furmark, Blender, RealBench, Dolphin Emulator.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-4790K or Intel Core i9-10900K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-10900K

57%

Core i7-4790K

52%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10900K is 8% better than Core i7-4790K. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10900K

58%

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 it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run 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, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Horizon Zero Dawn, League of Legends (LOL), Battlefield V, Monster Hunter World, Forza Horizon 4.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	102.7	92.8
Valorant	116.7	105.5
Cyberpunk 2077	65.3	59.1
Apex Legends	109.7	99.2
Call of Duty Warzone	87.5	79.1
Overwatch	94.5	85.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	80.5	72.8
DOOM Eternal	58.3	52.8
Warzone	91.0	82.3
Assassin's Creed	98.0	88.6
Valheim	96.8	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 participating in the comparisons 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. 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 i9-10900K

43%

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 i7-4790K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10900K as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 88W. Power consumption is particularly 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

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor uses all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether 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 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 i9-10900K	Intel Core i7-4790K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	234	169
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2677	854
Cinbench 20 Single-core	539	411
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6399	1982
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1418	1069
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17325	4936

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

	Intel Core i9-10900K	Intel Core i7-4790K
Single-Core	3141	2491
Multi-Core	24010	8030

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

	Intel Core i9-10900K	Intel Core i7-4790K
Single-Core	1617	1230
Multi-Core	14374	4747

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 i9-10900K	Intel Core i7-4790K
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	April 01, 2014
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	LGA1150
Core name	Comet Lake	Devil's Canyon
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	4
Turbo Frequency	5.3 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	3.7 MHz	4 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	1420 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	88 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	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 i7-4790K is 7% better than Core i9-10900K in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10900K has 6 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 i9-10900K is better: 31
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-4790K is better: 4
Although it should be realized that all the data in the article above 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 i9-10900K and Intel Core i7-4790K before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-10900K specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-4790K specs and review.