Core i9-9900KF vs Core i5-9600KF

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-9600KF and Core i9-9900KF processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	951	614
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	13.71	15.17
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i5	Intel Core i9
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)
Release date	8 January 2019 (5 years ago)	8 January 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$262	$488
Current price	$188 (0.7x MSRP)	$345 (0.7x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i9-9900KF has 11% better value for money than i5-9600KF.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-9600KF and Core i9-9900KF basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	6 (Hexa-Core)	8 (Octa-Core)
Threads	6	16
Base clock speed	3.7 GHz	3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed	4.6 GHz	5 GHz
Bus support	4 × 8 GT/s	4 × 8 GT/s
L1 cache	64K (per core)	64K (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
L3 cache	9 MB (shared)	16 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Die size	149 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	72 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	+
Unlocked multiplier	Yes	Yes

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-9600KF and Core i9-9900KF compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1151	FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)	95 Watt	95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-9600KF and Core i9-9900KF. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	-	+
TSX	+	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
SIPP	+	-
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Security technologies

Core i5-9600KF and Core i9-9900KF technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	-
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
MPX	+	+
Identity Protection	+	+
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	Yes with Intel® ME
OS Guard	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-9600KF and Core i9-9900KF are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-9600KF and Core i9-9900KF. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	-

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-9600KF and Core i9-9900KF.

PCIe version	3.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	16	16

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Core i9-9900KF outperforms Core i5-9600KF by 71% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	6.92	11.84
Physical cores	6	8
Threads	6	16
Cost	$262	$488

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-9600KF and Core i9-9900KF, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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