Review: Intel Core i7-9700K

Conclusion

Introduction of the mainstream Intel 9th Gen Core processors has shaken up the status quo in no uncertain terms.

Now headed by an eight-core, 16-thread processor going by the name of Core i9-9900K, the traditional x700K champ is demoted to second-in-line status.

And such demotion brings a real change into how Intel sees things. Gone is hyperthreading support, replaced now by more cores, which translates to Core i7-9700K using an 8C8T design instead of the 8700K's 6C12T.

Also imbued with faster speeds, the Core i7-9700K is marginally faster than the last-gen model in most tasks. The differences aren't pronounced, however, and though a perfectly reasonable chip from any which way you care to look at it - single-thread, multi-thread, gaming - the current price inflation, due to stock shortages, does it no favours.

Available at retail for $480/£460 at this moment, we'd urge most readers to hold fire until Intel sorts its supply-chain issues out. AMD's Ryzen 7 2700X is much cheaper and faster in heavy-use cases.

Bottom line: The best mainstream Core i7 chip is the 9700K, even with the change in cores and threads. Perfectly reasonable from most viewpoints, the current price premium inhibits recommendation.

Intel Core i7-9700K

HEXUS.where2buy*

The Intel Core i7-9700K processor is available to purchase from Scan Computers.

HEXUS.right2reply

At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.