Intel Core i9-9920X vs Intel Core i5-10600K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i9-9920X vs Intel Core i5-10600K tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, machine learning, rendering, programming. Here is useful information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software such as Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, Blender, PCMark 10, AIDA64, Blender, Gears 5, MATLAB, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, PassMark, SuperPi, Prime95, RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 7zip, VeraCrypt, WPrime, Handbrake.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-10600K or Intel Core i9-9920X.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-9920X

57%

Core i5-10600K

54%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-9920X is 5% better than Core i5-10600K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-9920X

58%

Core i5-10600K

55%

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 play games. Because this processor costs 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 final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Forza Horizon 4, Hitman 3, Horizon Zero Dawn, Half-Life: Alyx, DOTA 2A, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), NBA 2K20, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Control, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Monster Hunter World, Metro Exodus, Battlefield V, Ghostrunner, League of Legends (LOL).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	102.9	97.0
Valorant	116.9	110.2
Cyberpunk 2077	65.5	61.7
Apex Legends	109.9	103.6
Call of Duty Warzone	87.7	82.7
Overwatch	94.7	89.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	80.6	76.1
DOOM Eternal	58.4	55.1
Warzone	91.2	86.0
Assassin's Creed	98.2	92.6
Valheim	97.0	91.5

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. So 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 i9-9920X

25%

Core i5-10600K

39%

To make a final 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 i5-10600K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9920X since it has less power consumption: 165W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. You will learn 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. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the advantages 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 i9-9920X	Intel Core i5-10600K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	197	215
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2245	1615
Cinbench 20 Single-core	455	501
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5179	3629
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1484	1376
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14791	10379

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

	Intel Core i9-9920X	Intel Core i5-10600K
Single-Core	2650	2967
Multi-Core	25286	14674

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

	Intel Core i9-9920X	Intel Core i5-10600K
Single-Core	1282	1495
Multi-Core	14563	8815

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 i9-9920X	Intel Core i5-10600K
Announcement date	October 01, 2018	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA1200
Core name	Skylake	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	10
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	4.1 MHz
Cores	12	6
Threads	24	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	8600 millions	4800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	125 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	19.25 MB	12 MB
Overclocking	Yes	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 i5-10600K is 14% better than Core i9-9920X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9920X has 6 more core than Core i5-10600K. 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 i9-9920X is better: 22
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-10600K is better: 9
However, it should be realized that all the figures in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-9920X and Intel Core i5-10600K before making a selection which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i9-9920X specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-10600K specs and review.