Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA 1150

The Intel Core i7-4790K is a 4-core, 8-thread Haswell CPU that still holds up for budget 1080p gaming and LGA 1150 upgrades. Single-thread performance is strong for its age, and the unlocked multiplier makes overclocking fun. Just don't pay more than USD 100 for one, and don't expect it to compete with modern chips.

The 4790K posts a PassMark multi-thread score of 8058 and a single-thread score of 2462. In our database, that puts single-thread performance well above average for its class, while multi-thread lands right around the middle of the pack. For a chip from 2014, that's respectable. The 4.4GHz turbo boost does a lot of the heavy lifting here, and the unlocked multiplier means you can push it further if you have decent cooling.

In practice, this translates to smooth 1080p gaming in titles like CS2, Valorant, Fortnite, and older AAA games. Pair it with a GTX 1060 or RX 580 and you've got a solid budget rig. Productivity tasks like video editing and streaming are doable but not spectacular. The 88W TDP is reasonable for the performance, though owners report high temps under synthetic loads like Prime95. A decent aftermarket cooler is basically mandatory if you plan to overclock.

Compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, the 4790K gets absolutely demolished. The 9600X is a modern 6-core chip with DDR5 support and vastly better efficiency. No contest there. The Dell Xeon E5-2637 V2 is an interesting alternative if you're on a server or workstation budget, but it's locked and runs on a different socket entirely. The ADVB3 Phenom II X6 is older and slower, so the 4790K beats it handily. The be quiet! Ryzen 3 Dark Rock Pro 5 isn't even a CPU, it's a cooler, so that's a weird comparison. The DAKboard CPU v4 is a niche embedded part, not a desktop chip.

For most people, the real comparison is between the 4790K and the 4770K. If you already own a 4770K, don't bother upgrading. The gains are marginal. If you're coming from an i5-4460 or similar, the jump to 8 threads is noticeable and worth it at the right price.

Value is where this chip gets interesting. US prices swing from USD 69 to USD 244 across five listings, which is a massive gap. At the low end, from Amazon, this is a steal for anyone stuck on LGA 1150. At the high end, you're paying way too much for a decade-old processor. Canadian buyers see a similar spread, from CAD 129 to CAD 209. If you can snag one under USD 100, it's a solid deal. Above that, you should seriously consider saving for a modern budget platform like a Ryzen 5 or Core i3-12100F, both of which will crush this chip in every metric.

The Intel Core i7-4790K is a 4th gen Haswell chip that still pops up in budget builds and LGA 1150 upgrades. It's a 4-core, 8-thread processor with a 4.0GHz base clock and a 4.4GHz turbo boost, plus an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. You'll find it on the used market and from a few retailers, with US prices ranging from USD 69 to USD 244 depending on condition and seller. That spread is wild, so shop around before you commit.

People searching for this chip usually want to know one thing: is the i7-4790K still good for gaming in 2025? The short answer is yes, for 1080p gaming on a budget. It won't keep up with modern mid-range CPUs, but it handles older titles and esports games without breaking a sweat. The 8MB of L3 cache and Hyper-Threading give it enough headroom for multitasking and light productivity work too.

It sits in a weird spot. If you already have an LGA 1150 motherboard, this is one of the best drop-in upgrades you can make. If you're building from scratch, you're probably better off with something newer. But for the right price, this chip still has life in it.

Skip the 4790K if you're building a new PC from scratch. Modern budget chips like the Ryzen 5 5600 or Core i3-12100F offer better performance, lower power draw, and an actual upgrade path for not much more money. Also skip it if you already own a 4770K, the gains aren't worth the cost. And if you need serious multi-threaded performance for rendering or streaming, this 4-core chip will feel sluggish compared to even entry-level modern 6-core parts.

Should you buy the Intel Core i7-4790K? If you have an LGA 1150 motherboard and can find one for under USD 100, yes. It's a meaningful upgrade from older i5s and i3s, and it still handles 1080p gaming fine. The unlocked multiplier gives you room to tinker, and owners consistently report hitting 4.7GHz or higher with a decent cooler.

But if you're building a new system, skip it. Modern budget CPUs offer better performance, better efficiency, and an upgrade path. The 4790K is a dead-end platform. It's a great chip for what it is, but what it is, is old.