Intel Core i9-10900X vs Intel Core i9-10850K

Processor comparisons   23-03-2021
   For example you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i9-10900X vs Intel Core i9-10850K tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for video editing, machine learning, streaming, rendering, programming. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A thorough review of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as 7zip, WPrime, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Dolphin Emulator, UserBenchmark, Blender, AIDA64, VeraCrypt, Blender, SuperPi, Gears 5, DaVinci Resolve Studio, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Furmark, 3DMark, PassMark, Prime95, PCMark 10, MATLAB, Handbrake.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10850K or Intel Core i9-10900X.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-10900X

56%

Core i9-10850K

57%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10850K is 1% better than Core i9-10900X. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10900X

57%

Core i9-10850K

56%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, 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 low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Control, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Battlefield V, DOTA 2A, League of Legends (LOL), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Metro Exodus, Hitman 3, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, Monster Hunter World, Forza Horizon 4.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	100.7	99.8
Valorant	114.4	113.4
Cyberpunk 2077	64.1	63.5
Apex Legends	107.5	106.6
Call of Duty Warzone	85.8	85.1
Overwatch	92.7	91.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	78.9	78.3
DOOM Eternal	57.2	56.7
Warzone	89.2	88.5
Assassin's Creed	96.1	95.3
Valheim	95.0	94.1

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 computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-10900X

24%

Core i9-10850K

36%

To make a finishing resolution 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 i9-10850K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10900X as it consumes less power: 165W vs. 125W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, streaming, 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 efficiency. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using 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 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 i9-10900X	Intel Core i9-10850K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	198	229
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2358	2616
Cinbench 20 Single-core	523	536
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6165	6318
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1143	1367
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14301	16820

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

	Intel Core i9-10900X	Intel Core i9-10850K
Single-Core	2745	3074
Multi-Core	22786	23350

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

	Intel Core i9-10900X	Intel Core i9-10850K
Single-Core	1237	1383
Multi-Core	12434	11578

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 i9-10900X	Intel Core i9-10850K
Announcement date	October 01, 2019	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA1200
Core name	Cascade Lake	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	10
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	5.1 MHz
Frequency	3.7 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	10	10
Threads	20	20
Bus rate	8 GT/s DMI3	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	9200 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	125 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	256 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	94 GB/s	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	19.25 MB	20 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 i9-10900X is 2% better than Core i9-10850K in terms of CPU frequency. 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 i9-10900X is better: 16
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10850K is better: 14
However, it should be understood that all the figures in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-10900X and Intel Core i9-10850K before deciding which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i9-10900X - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-10900X specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-10850K specs and review.