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

Processor comparisons 23-03-2021

   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i9-9900KS vs Intel Core i9-9900X and understand which is better for games or normal use for streaming, programming, machine learning, video editing, rendering. Here you can find all information from real video editing and streaming tests or several benchmarks. A careful review of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as PCMark 10, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, SuperPi, Gears 5, Furmark, Prime95, Handbrake, RealBench, 7zip, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, UserBenchmark, MATLAB, VeraCrypt, WPrime, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PassMark, AIDA64, 3DMark.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9900X 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 i9-9900X

56%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-9900X 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 i9-9900X

56%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.7	100.3
Valorant	111.0	114.0
Cyberpunk 2077	62.2	63.8
Apex Legends	104.4	107.2
Call of Duty Warzone	83.3	85.5
Overwatch	89.9	92.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.6	78.7
DOOM Eternal	55.5	57.0
Warzone	86.6	88.9
Assassin's Creed	93.3	95.8
Valheim	92.1	94.6

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 tested computers not only did they have 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. To be sure exactly how much performance 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 i9-9900X

25%

To make a finishing decision 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 i9-9900X since it has less power consumption: 127W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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 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 i9-9900KS	Intel Core i9-9900X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	222	197
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2201	2114
Cinbench 20 Single-core	518	455
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5226	4855
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1284	1092
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12704	13662

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

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	Intel Core i9-9900X
Single-Core	3018	2633
Multi-Core	19522	21769

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

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	Intel Core i9-9900X
Single-Core	1368	1281
Multi-Core	9501	12077

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 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 still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	Intel Core i9-9900X
Announcement date	October 01, 2019	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	FCLGA2066
Core name	Coffee Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	10
Turbo Frequency	5 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	4 MHz	3.5 MHz
Cores	8	10
Threads	16	20
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	165 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	85 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 12% better than Core i9-9900X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9900X 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: 11
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9900X is better: 19
However, it should be understood that all the data that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-9900KS and Intel Core i9-9900X before making a selection which of the CPUs 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 i9-9900X - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-9900X specs and review.