Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA1150

★★★★★ 4.7 (5,579)

The unlocked multiplier and 4.4GHz Turbo Boost on its 4-core, 8-thread Haswell architecture deliver strong single-threaded performance for its era. Its 8MB L3 cache and mature LGA 1150 platform provide a cost-effective entry point for overclocking on a budget. This processor is best for users upgrading older DDR3-based systems for light productivity and legacy gaming.

Cores 4
Threads 8
Boost Clock 4400 MHz
L3 Cache 8 MB
TDP 88 W
Socket LGA 1150
Integrated Graphics Intel HD Graphics 4600
Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA1150 cpu
62 Overall Score
Also available in:

Snapshot

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Strong social proof (91st percentile) 91st
  • Strong feature (89th percentile) 89th
  • Strong single thread (69th percentile) 69th

Cons

What owners think

How owner sentiment changed over time

Exclusive

Based on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.

Owner sentiment has held steady over time
78/100Our AI sentiment read▼14high confidence · 34 sources · Nov 2026
1★2★3★4★5★Q2 '14: 5.0★ · 1 reviewQ3 '14: 4.8★ · 4 reviewsQ4 '14: 5.0★ · 1 reviewQ1 '15: 5.0★ · 1 reviewQ2 '15: 5.0★ · 1 reviewQ4 '22: 2.0★ · 1 reviewQ4 '24: 1.0★ · 1 reviewQ1 '26: 5.0★ · 1 review14111111Q2 '14Q3 '14Q4 '14Q1 '15Q2 '15Q4 '22Q4 '24Q1 '26
Avg ratingHappy (4-5★)Unhappy (1-2★)Bar height = number of reviews
  1. Q1 202696/1004.9★26 reviews

    Buyers in this period overwhelmingly praised the i7-4790K for its speed, easy overclocking, and low temperatures. Many upgraded from older CPUs and noted significant performance gains. A few mentioned it's pricey for older tech.

    • Exceptional performance, often beating newer CPUs; upgrades from older AMD/Intel chips yielded major gains in gaming and productivity.
    • Excellent overclocking headroom, with many achieving 4.7-4.8 GHz stable, often with low voltages and good cooling.
    • Runs cool, especially with aftermarket coolers; improved thermal interface material noted versus older Haswell chips.
    • Some consider it expensive for older technology, but still competitive; a few noted it's a good alternative to newer platforms.
  2. Q3 201484/1004.8★4 reviews

    Buyers praised the i7-4790K's speed, cool temps, and easy overclocking, but noted overclocking headroom is often limited to 4.8 GHz and that it's not a big upgrade from a 4770K.

    • Excellent performance, faster than previous CPUs, smooth gaming, and quick program loads.
    • Cooler running than prior Haswell chips, with low temps even when overclocked.
    • Easy overclocking via multiplier on Z97, with automatic voltage adjustment.
    • Overclocking often limited to 4.8 GHz despite Intel's 5 GHz claims; not worth upgrading from 4770K.

Based on 11 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.

The proof

Performance

Performance Percentiles

AI 57.1
Feature 88.9
Platform 57.5
User Sentiment 37.9
Efficiency 53.9
Multi Thread 57.7
Social Proof 90.7
Single Thread 69.1

Specifications

Full Specifications

Processor

Brand Intel
Series Core i7
Model 4790K
Codename Devil's Canyon
Class desktop
Process 22

Cores & Clocks

Cores 4
P-cores 4
Threads 8
Base Clock 4000
Boost Clock 4400

Cache

L2 Cache 1
L3 Cache 8 MB

Performance

PassMark Multi 8064
PassMark Single 2465

Memory

Memory Type DDR3
Max Speed 1600
Channels 2
Max Memory 32
ECC No

Platform & Power

Socket LGA 1150
PCIe 3
PCIe Lanes 16
TDP 88
Unlocked Yes

Graphics & AI

Integrated Graphics Intel HD Graphics 4600

vs Competition

Spec Intel Core i7 4790K AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D G.Skill Trident Z Neo Lenovo Ryzen 5 Sparepart: fosa1 fosa4ycn78izud HP Xeon Silver 4310
Cores 4 8 6 6 6 12
Threads 8 16 12 12 12 24
Boost Clock Mhz 4400 5200 4200 4000 3060 3300
L3 Cache Mb 8 96 32 8 12 18
Tdp W 88 120 65 15 95 120
Socket LGA 1150 AM5 AMD Socket AM4 AM4 LGA1366 LGA4189
Integrated Graphics Intel HD Graphics 4600 AMD Radeon Graphics - AMD Integrated Graphics - -
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare
Product AIFeaturePlatformUser SentimentEfficiencyMulti ThreadSocial ProofSingle Thread
Intel Core i7 4790K 57.188.957.537.953.957.790.769.1
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Compare 91.298.495.192.687.59096.595.6
G.Skill Trident Z Neo Compare 72.48778.2082.973.41.572.3
Lenovo Ryzen 5 Sparepart: Compare 63.954.456.6099.264.611.866.2
fosa1 fosa4ycn78izud Compare 25.720.164.8024.524.56536.1
HP Xeon Silver 4310 Compare 38.420.162042.852.41.59.9

Price

Value & Pricing

From €397 1 offer across 1 retailer
Amazon 1 offer From €397

Price History

€250 €300 €350 €400 €450 Jun 14Nov 2 €397

Usage Scores

Overall (62)AI/LLM (50.5)Budget (67.9)Gaming (63.2)Server (48.3)Efficiency (58.2)Productivity (64.8)

A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.

Similar Products