With the i9 10900K, Intel has released a processor that is set to succeed the i9 9900K. We show you how well the CPU performs in initial tests and present benchmarks. Additionally, there is the strongest competitor to the i9 10900K: the Ryzen 9 3900X.
Since the end of May, the latest processors of Intel’s tenth generation have been available. For many gamers, the i9 10900K is particularly relevant. This CPU is the successor to the very successful i9-9900K.
There are now also the first tests of Intel’s new i9 10900K. We introduce you to the new CPU and look at how well it performs in current tests and what alternatives are available:
- All information about socket, price, and power consumption
- Important facts and technical specifications
- i9 10900K compared to Core i9 10900K, Core i9 9900K, Core i7 8700K, and Ryzen 9 3900X
- What do the first reviews say about the Core i9 10900K?
- The best alternatives up to 250 and up to 600 Euros
i9 10900K: All important information about socket, wattage, and price
What is the i9-10900K? It is the latest processor from Intel, released in mid-May 2020. It belongs to the 10th generation of Intel processors. With its 10 cores and 20 threads, its strongest competitor is AMD’s Ryzen 9 3900X.
What socket does the i9-10900K use? Intel uses the new LGA-1200 socket for its new CPU. This socket replaces the previous LGA 1151, which has been in use for the last four CPU generations.
What do I need to consider when buying? This means that anyone wanting to buy a Core i9-10900K will definitely need a new motherboard that supports the corresponding socket. Existing motherboards will no longer work.
How future-proof the socket is still remains unknown: According to Notebookcheck, the LGA-1200 could be replaced by an LGA 1700 socket in 2021.
What does the new processor cost? The prices for the i9 10900K with ten cores start at 590 Euros and go up to nearly 1000 Euros.
- In comparison, the predecessor CPU, the i9 9900K, costs only 535 Euros, which is not much less.
- The prices for AMD’s Ryzen 9 3900X start at 430 Euros
How much power does the i9 10900K need? On paper, the new CPU requires 125 watts. However, under full load, the processor can consume well over 400 watts. Therefore, you need a suitably powerful power supply.
i9 10900K: Facts and technical specifications
| Codename | Comet Lake-S |
| Socket | 1200 (LGA), desktop processor |
| iGPU | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| TDP | 125W |
| Cores/Threads | 10/20 |
| Base clock/Turbo clock | 3.70GHz / 5.3GHz |
| Memory controller | Dual Channel PC4-23466U (DDR4-2933) |
| Chipset (motherboard) | B460, H410, H470, Q470, W480, Z490 |
| Price (according to Geizhals) | 589 – 1084 Euros |
i9 10990K benchmarks compared
Here we present how Intel’s new CPU performs in benchmarks. Especially compared to other processors, the results are interesting to observe.
The data comes from the i9 10900K test from Intel by our colleagues at GameStar.
i9 10900K performance in gaming
| Processor | Performance in fps (average) |
|---|---|
| Core i9 10900K | 165.5 |
| Core i9 9900K | 160.7 |
| Core i7 8700K | 152.1 |
| Ryzen 9 3900X | 148.3 |
How is the gaming performance? The benchmarks show what many testers attest to Intel’s new CPU: In pure gaming performance, the i9 10900K still stands unchallenged at the top of the CPUs:
- i9 10900K vs 3900X: In comparison, the i9 10900K delivers almost 20 fps more than the Ryzen 9 3900X.
- 10900K vs 9900K: Intel’s latest CPU barely surpasses the older model from 2019 by around 5 fps.
- 10900K vs 8700K: The difference to the Core i7 from 2017 provides the i9 10900K with 13 fps more.
i9 10900K performance in general applications
How is the multi-threading performance? In Cinebench R15, the strength of the Ryzen CPU is evident, as it benefits from better-utilized cores in the Cinebench benchmark.
Here, the Ryzen 9 3900X is clearly ahead with 3058 points compared to the Core i9 10900K, which scores 2654 points.
This difference is also due to the number of cores: While the Core i9 provides 10 cores with 20 threads, the Ryzen 9 comes with 12 cores and a total of 24 threads.
First tests of the i9 10900K – What do the first reviews say?
There are now initial tests regarding the Core i9 10900K from Intel. In the following, we have summarized results for you.
What is the overall impression of the Core i9 10900K? All tests consider Intel’s new CPU to be one of the fastest processors currently available. This also applies particularly to the gaming sector: Here, Intel’s new CPU once again stands unchallenged at the top.
Also, in other respects, all testers agree: AMD has managed to establish a true alternative to Intel processors with Ryzen in recent months. Compared to Ryzen, Intel can scarcely justify the high price, as the alternatives simply offer better value for money.
Computerbase – The biggest problem with the i9-10900K is Ryzen
For the testers at Computerbase, Intel’s new Core i9-10900K has a major problem, and that is Ryzen. Because AMD’s Ryzen processors offer almost the same performance, but for less money and lower consumption. The testers write:
12 cores from AMD cost only 430 Euros in the form of the Ryzen 9 3900X, which is 150 Euros less than the Intel Core i9-10900K. More performance and lower consumption — nothing speaks for Intel. Only in gaming does Intel still remain the benchmark. However, the progress Comet Lake-S offers is minimal at the top. Core i9-9900K(S) owners will find no compelling reason to switch when it comes to gaming.
Source: Computerbase.de
GameStar – very fast CPU, but strong competition with Ryzen
The testers at GameStar note in their tests that the i9 10900K has nothing to fear in terms of gaming competition: Here, Intel’s latest CPU is unbeatable at the top.
In terms of multi-threading, however, the strong competition from AMD shows. Here, the combination of high core count and performance at a fair price presents a true alternative:
The Core i9 10900K [is] once again a very, very fast CPU. On the other hand, the contrast to AMD’s steady progress with the Zen architecture and the very good mix of high core count and performance at a fair price is hard to overlook. (…) However, I am still very glad that AMD has succeeded so well in establishing a true alternative to Intel processors. And the release of the Core i9 10900K changes nothing in that regard.
Source: GameStar.de
Hardwareluxx – Crown in gaming, but no chance against Ryzen in multi-threading
For Hardwareluxx, the Core i9-10900K is still the strongest CPU in gaming. However, as soon as it comes to multi-threading, Intel’s CPU quickly falls short. The testers see great potential in overclocking — provided there is appropriate cooling:
The Core i9-10900K retains the crown in gaming but cannot keep up with Ryzen processors with many cores when those cores need to be utilized.
One point can still be in favor of the Core i9-10900K: It still offers potential for overclocking. While the single-core clock will hardly be pushed much higher than 5.3 GHz, there is still some headroom for all-core turbo — given the right cooling. In any case, the interested buyer can still have some fun here.
Source: Hardwareluxx.de
igorslab – fast, but power-hungry and outdated technology
According to igorslab, Intel’s CPU is extremely fast and delivers very high performance. In terms of gaming, Intel’s CPU is still “the benchmark. That’s something to acknowledge without envy.”
However, the CPU also demands a corresponding amount of power. The testers also criticize the lack of PCIe 4.0 support. Overall, buyers are better off with an 8-core or a Ryzen CPU:
You can certainly find the Intel Core i9-10900K even appealing if you want to squeeze out the last bit of performance from your setup and if the PCIe 3.0 environment doesn’t deter you. Since the Z490 infrastructure is not much more modern than the production process, it is, however, anything but inexpensive. You can certainly enjoy the Core i9-10900K for a long time, with your local or regional power provider as a free rider. Those who prefer to go solo should consider an 8-core or a Ryzen.
Source: igorslab.de
Techradar.com – Worthy successor for i9-9900K, if it weren’t for Ryzen 4000
The testers at Techradar see the Core i9-9900K as a worthy successor to the i9-9900K from 2019. However, with the possible release of Ryzen 4000 and the lack of PCIe 4.0 support, there is no reason to buy Intel’s latest offering:
The Intel Core i9-10900K would be a worthy successor to the Core i9-9900K in 2019, but as the AMD Ryzen 4000 series is rapidly approaching, it makes no sense to use a high-end platform that falls behind in raw performance and lacks PCIe 4.0 support.
Source: Techradar.com
i9 10900K or 3900X? Who should buy Intel’s new CPU?
Our colleagues at GameStar explain that there are hardly any reasons to buy the i9 10900K at this time:
Should I buy the i9 10900K or 3900X? For pure gaming systems, the high price for the i9 is not worth it, because both Intel’s own Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs pose competition to the new processor, and the significantly cheaper AMD models also stand out.
The high costs only make sense if you absolutely want the fastest desktop CPU from Intel. Additionally, you will definitely need a new motherboard.
If you prefer applications and thus multi-threading, the Ryzen 9 3900X is hard to pass up, as it offers two more cores and is also 100 Euros cheaper. In terms of price-performance ratio, AMD still has the upper hand. Additionally, Ryzen offers you the much more modern architecture and PCIe 4.0 support.
What are the advantages of the Intel i9 10900K?
- high all-core boost of 4.9 GHz
- fastest top CPU in terms of gaming performance
What are the advantages of the Ryzen 3900X?
- cheaper price
- more cores
- significantly ahead in multi-threading compared to the i9 10900K
- PCIe 4.0, the i9 10900K only supports PCIe 3.0
- more modern manufacturing
- lower power consumption (in watts) than the i9 10900K
i9 10900K alternatives: Best processor up to 250 Euros in the mid-range
In the mid-range, both the Core i5-9400F from Intel and the Ryzen 5 3600 from AMD are recommended. Both processors are priced between 150 and 200 Euros and offer more than enough performance for most gamers.
Both processors handle all everyday tasks effortlessly, and you will have no issues in games either. However, if you rely on hardware-intensive applications or prefer to render videos, there are faster alternatives available.
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!
i9 10900K alternatives: Best processor up to 600 Euros in the high-end range
If you are looking for a high-end processor with high clock rates and excellent gaming performance, you should consider the i9 9900K: The Core i9 9900K from Intel offers slightly less performance than the new 10900K processor, but you don’t need a new motherboard if you already have an Intel processor. This way, you can save several hundred Euros comfortably.
In the high-end area, the i9 9900K and i9 10900K are still at the top, but for a pure gaming PC, you don’t need that power, as processors like the Core i5-9400F and Ryzen 5 3600 are perfectly sufficient.
The alternative from AMD is the Ryzen 9 3900X. The AMD CPU offers similarly high performance as Intel’s i9 processors but provides more cores and shows its true strength particularly in multi-threading. If you rely heavily on many applications or render videos, go for Ryzen.
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!
MyMMO Hardware Recommendations 2020
Are you looking for other hardware recommendations? In addition to processors, there are also other exciting hardware that can make your gaming everyday life easier:
- We have looked at the best gaming mice 2020 for you. Here, we explain what to consider when buying a gaming mouse and which mice we liked best.
- We have also looked at the best gaming keyboards 2020. MyMMO explains what to consider when buying a keyboard and gives tips for the best mechanical and membrane keyboards. Additionally, we explain the difference between wireless and wired models.
- If you are looking for a great headset, we have also introduced the best gaming headsets 2020. MyMMO explains what to consider when buying and the difference between USB and 3.5mm jack.
