Intel Core i9-9900KS vs Intel Core i9-9900K

Processor comparisons 23-03-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i9-9900KS vs Intel Core i9-9900K tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for video editing, streaming, programming, rendering, machine learning. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software such as Blender, AIDA64, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, 7zip, WPrime, Handbrake, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Gears 5, Prime95, RealBench, Furmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, MATLAB, Blender, UserBenchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, VeraCrypt, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PCMark 10, PassMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9900K 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 i9-9900K

55%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-9900KS

55%

Core i9-9900K

55%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.7	98.2
Valorant	111.0	111.6
Cyberpunk 2077	62.2	62.5
Apex Legends	104.4	104.9
Call of Duty Warzone	83.3	83.7
Overwatch	89.9	90.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.6	77.0
DOOM Eternal	55.5	55.8
Warzone	86.6	87.0
Assassin's Creed	93.3	93.7
Valheim	92.1	92.6

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 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. 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 i9-9900KS

35%

Core i9-9900K

45%

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 i9-9900K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9900KS as it consumes less power: 127W vs. 95W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, video editing or video rendering, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has. You will learn 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. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to work, 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 i9-9900KS	Intel Core i9-9900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	222	219
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2201	2245
Cinbench 20 Single-core	518	518
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5226	4995
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1284	1284
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12704	12450

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

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	3018	2947
Multi-Core	19522	18753

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

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	1368	1301
Multi-Core	9501	9986

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest 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 i9-9900KS	Intel Core i9-9900K
Announcement date	October 01, 2019	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Coffee Lake	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	9
Turbo Frequency	5 MHz	5 MHz
Frequency	4 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	8	8
Threads	16	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	8600 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	127 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	16 MB	16 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 9% better than Core i9-9900K 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 i9-9900KS is better: 8
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9900K is better: 14
Although it should be understood that all the figures that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-9900KS and Intel Core i9-9900K before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

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 i9-9900K specs and review.