Intel Core i9-9900KS vs Intel Core i9-10900X

Processor comparisons 23-03-2021

   For example you have difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i9-9900KS vs Intel Core i9-10900X and see which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, video editing, programming, rendering, streaming. Here is all information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 7zip, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), VeraCrypt, AIDA64, Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, WPrime, MATLAB, Prime95, UserBenchmark, Furmark, Handbrake, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PCMark 10, Blender, RealBench, PassMark, Gears 5.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10900X or Intel Core i9-9900KS.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-9900KS

55%

Core i9-10900X

56%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10900X is 1% better than Core i9-9900KS. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-9900KS

55%

Core i9-10900X

57%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs 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 final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Horizon Zero Dawn, Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Control, Ghostrunner, Hitman 3, NBA 2K20, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Half-Life: Alyx, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Hunter World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, DOTA 2A, League of Legends (LOL), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Forza Horizon 4, Metro Exodus.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.7	100.7
Valorant	111.0	114.4
Cyberpunk 2077	62.2	64.1
Apex Legends	104.4	107.5
Call of Duty Warzone	83.3	85.8
Overwatch	89.9	92.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.6	78.9
DOOM Eternal	55.5	57.2
Warzone	86.6	89.2
Assassin's Creed	93.3	96.1
Valheim	92.1	95.0

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 i9-9900KS

35%

Core i9-10900X

24%

To make a finishing 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 i9-9900KS is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10900X as it consumes less power: 127W vs. 165W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was 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, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the CPU turns on 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 check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the advantages 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 i9-9900KS	Intel Core i9-10900X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	222	198
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2201	2358
Cinbench 20 Single-core	518	523
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5226	6165
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1284	1143
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12704	14301

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

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	Intel Core i9-10900X
Single-Core	3018	2745
Multi-Core	19522	22786

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

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	Intel Core i9-10900X
Single-Core	1368	1237
Multi-Core	9501	12434

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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	Intel Core i9-10900X
Announcement date	October 01, 2019	October 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	FCLGA2066
Core name	Coffee Lake	Cascade Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	10
Turbo Frequency	5 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	4 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	8	10
Threads	16	20
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s DMI3
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	8600 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	127 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	128 Gb	256 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	94 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	16 MB	19.25 MB
Overclocking	No	No
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 i9-9900KS is 7% better than Core i9-10900X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10900X has 2 more core than Core i9-9900KS. 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 i9-9900KS is better: 7
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10900X is better: 25
However, it should be realized that all the data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-9900KS and Intel Core i9-10900X before making a decision which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i9-9900KS - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-9900KS specs and review.

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.