Intel Core i5-9600K vs Intel Core i7-990X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-9600K and Intel Core i7-990X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i5-9600K

Intel Core i7-990X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-9600K

CPU is newer: launch date 7 year(s) 7 month(s) later
Around 23% higher clock speed: 4.60 GHz vs 3.73 GHz
Around 47% higher maximum core temperature: 100°C vs 67.9°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 14 nm vs 32 nm
5.3x more maximum memory size: 128 GB vs 24 GB
Around 37% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 130 Watt
Around 74% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2731 vs 1574
Around 50% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 10643 vs 7119
Around 88% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1249 vs 665
Around 55% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 5603 vs 3608

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2018 vs February 2011
Maximum frequency	4.60 GHz vs 3.73 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100°C vs 67.9°C
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm vs 32 nm
Maximum memory size	128 GB vs 24 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2731 vs 1574
PassMark - CPU mark	10643 vs 7119
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1249 vs 665
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	5603 vs 3608

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-990X

6 more threads: 12 vs 6
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later

Number of threads	12 vs 6
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared) vs 9 MB (shared)

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-9600K
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-990X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2731

1574

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

10643

7119

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1249

665

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

5603

3608

Name	Intel Core i5-9600K	Intel Core i7-990X
PassMark - Single thread mark	2731	1574
PassMark - CPU mark	10643	7119
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1249	665
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	5603	3608
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	4240	0
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)	2162
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)	1574
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	2984
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)	2162
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)	1574
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	2984

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-9600K	Intel Core i7-990X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake	Gulftown
Launch date	October 2018	February 2011
Place in performance rating	1198	2174
Price now	$279.99	$349.99
Processor Number	i5-9600K	i7-990X
Series	9th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	14.04	7.65
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$1,104
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.70 GHz	3.46 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s DMI3	6.4 GT/s QPI
L1 cache	64K (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	9 MB (shared)	12288 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C
Maximum core temperature	100°C	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	4.60 GHz	3.73 GHz
Number of cores	6	6
Number of threads	6	12
Unlocked
Die size		239 mm2
Number of QPI Links		1
Transistor count		1170 million
VID voltage range		0.800V-1.375V
Memory
Max memory channels	2	3
Maximum memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB	24 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR3 1066
Graphics
Device ID	0x3E98
Graphics base frequency	350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.15 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Clear Video technology
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory	64 GB
Processor graphics	Intel® UHD Graphics 630
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3
Graphics image quality
4K resolution support
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX	12
OpenGL	4.5
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm	42.5mm X 45.0mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1151	FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	130 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2015D (130W)
Low Halogen Options Available
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	3.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Secure Boot
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)