Intel Core i9-10900K (10900KF)
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Product Overview
Intel Core i9-10900K is a high-end desktop PC microprocessor in Intel's 10th-gen Core, Comet Lake family. A K-series processor, it is unlocked and therefore one of the few Intel CPUs that can be overclocked.
The flagship of the Comet Lake lineup, the Core i9-10900K comes with 10 cores and 20 threads and a single-core maximum frequency of 5.3GHz via Intel Thermal Velocity Boost. It sports the same Intel UHD Graphics 630 integrated GPU found in earlier Coffee Lake processors.
The i9-10900K can also run at a TDP-down frequency of 3.3GHz. When configured, it runs at 95W TDP rather than the default 125W, trading some performance for higher efficiency.
Alongside the i9-10900K, Intel also markets the Core i9-10900KF. The "F" designation means the i9-10900KF does not come with the integrated graphics. Intel debuted this concept in 2019 in order to salvage chips with defective GPUs that are otherwise perfect. As a result, the i9-10900KF shares with the i9-10900K all specifications except for the difference in integrated graphics. For desktop users with discrete graphics installed, the F-series chip may be an interesting option, thanks to its lower MSRP.
As a third refinement based on the 14nm Skylake process, the Comet Lake desktop processors offer an increase in core count, clock speed, and cache capacity over its predecessor. All Comet Lake Core processors feature hyperthreading, allowing two threads to run on every core.
Ratings
What we found
Pros
- Top-notch performance for a 10th Generation Core CPU
- Great value for money
- Solid CPU performance for the price
Cons
- Nothing in particular
What external reviewers found
External score 73%
Pros
- Excellent multi-threaded performance
- Good value for money
- Excellent 1080p and 1440p performance
Cons
- Lackluster graphics performance
- No multi-core support
- No PCIe 4.0 support
- Price-per-core could be better
- More expensive than AMD's Ryzen 9 3900X
- No overclocking feature
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Specifications
Related Products
- Four-core/eight-thread AMD Ryzen 3 3300X
- Excellent performance for a four-core CPU
- Integrated UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics processor (IGP)
Related Articles
External Reviews
pcmag[1]
Reviewer score 72% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Intel Core i9-10900K brings, pardon the cliche, evolutionary, not revolutionary, change. The main differences from the previous generation, beyond the new platform and socket, are the two extra cores in this top-end chip. AMD's Ryzens offer a great value for content creators at almost every point in the configuration ladder.
Pros
- Top-end performance for single-threaded tasks, lightly threaded tasks, and hardcore gaming
- Great value for the money
Cons
- No overclocking feature
- Price-per-core could be better
pcworld[2]
Reviewer score 80% (normalized by Neofiliac)Maxon's Cinebench R20 is a 3D modelling test built on the company's Cinema4D engine. The Ryzen 9 3900X's 12 cores prevail over the the Core i9-10900K's 10. Our next test uses Cinegy's Cinescore to assess CPU and GPU performance.
Pros
- Fast CPU and GPU performance
- Compact, lightweight design
- Good value for money
Cons
- Lackluster graphics performance
techradar[3]
Reviewer score 60% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Intel Core i9-10900K doesn't do enough to justify its existence in the current desktop PC market. The processor fares a bit better in single-threaded work, but with just about a 5% single-core increase over the 9900K, it's not enough to hold off AMD. While the $488 (about £400, AU$750) price tag is high enough, the fact that users will have to jump into a whole new motherboard to support the latest technology means it's kind of a dead end.
Pros
- Strong single-core performance
- Solid multi-threaded performance
Cons
- No PCIe 4.0 support
- No multi-core support
tomshardware[4]
Reviewer score 78% (normalized by Neofiliac)Intel has brought support for its Turbo Boost Max 3.0 technology from the high end desktop to its mainstream platforms. Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB) is yet another layer to Intel's boost mechanism, but according to Intel, it only engages if the processor remains below 70C. You'll need a greater-than-280mm AIO cooler or a custom loop to unlock the best of the 10900K.
Pros
- Competitive performance
- Improved Turbo Boost Max 3.0
- Competitively priced
Cons
- More expensive than AMD's Ryzen 9 3900X
trustedreviews[5]
Reviewer score 74% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Intel Core i9-10900K is very quick when it comes to single-threaded tasks and mainstream work applications. Its results in Cinebench, Geekbench and PC Mark 10 prove that it's better than its key AMD rival here. It’s hardly a slouch in games, with a strong result where CPU power is prized and AMD-beating pace in around half the tests. While Comet Lake has a place in the modern computing landscape, it will not open a lead against its cheaper rivals.
Pros
- Excellent 1080p and 1440p performance
- Excellent multi-threaded performance
- Good value for money
Cons
- Lags behind AMD’s Ryzen 9 3900X
References
- ^ Intel Core i9-10900K Review. [pcmag].
- ^ Intel 10th Gen Review: The Core i9-10900K is indeed the world's fastest gaming CPU. [pcworld].
- ^ Intel Core i9-10900K review. [techradar].
- ^ Intel Core i9-10900K Review: Ten Cores, 5.3 GHz, and Excessive Power Draw. [tomshardware].
- ^ Intel Core i9-10900K Review. [trustedreviews].
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