Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA 1150
AMD FX-Series FX-4100 4-core Socket AM3+
What Buyers Say
Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA 1150
The Intel Core i7-4790K is widely praised for its impressive performance, especially in gaming and CPU-intensive tasks, with many users noting significant upgrades from older CPUs. Overclocking is a highlight, with several reviewers achieving stable 4.7 GHz or higher with proper cooling, though some express disappointment at not reaching the advertised 5 GHz on air. The main drawbacks are the lack of an included cooler, potential high temperatures under extreme loads like Prime95, and the need for a compatible motherboard (Z97 recommended). Overall, it's seen as a solid upgrade for existing LGA1150 systems, but not worth it for those with a 4770K.
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Great overclocking potential
- Cooler than previous Haswell
- Good value for LGA1150 upgrade
- Fast turbo boost speeds
Cons
- No cooler included
- High temps under extreme load
- Not worth upgrade from 4770K
- Overclocking limited to 4.8 GHz
- Requires Z97 motherboard for best results
AMD FX-Series FX-4100 4-core Socket AM3+
The AMD FX-4100 is praised for its excellent value, solid gaming performance in DX11 titles, and strong overclocking potential. Users highlight its low power consumption and quiet cooler, though some received damaged units or tray versions instead of boxed ones. Synthetic benchmarks lag behind competitors, but real-world gaming results impress, especially with Radeon 6000 series GPUs.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Strong DX11 gaming performance
- Great overclocking potential
- Low power consumption
- Quiet stock cooler
Cons
- Fragile pins, risk of damage
- Some received tray version instead of boxed
- Synthetic benchmarks lag behind competitors
- New architecture not supported by all apps
- Stock cooler adequate but basic
Scores
Specifications
| Intel Core i7 4790K | AMD FX-Series FX-4100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| Brand | Intel | AMD |
| Series | Core i7 | FX-Series |
| Model | 4790K | 4100 |
| Codename | Devil's Canyon | Zambezi |
| Class | desktop | desktop |
| Process | 22★ | 32 |
| Cores & Clocks | ||
| Cores | 4 | 4 |
| P-cores | 4 | 4 |
| Threads | 8★ | 4 |
| Base Clock | ||
| Boost Clock | ||
| Cache | ||
| L2 Cache | 1 | 4★ |
| L3 Cache | 8 | 8 |
| Performance | ||
| PassMark Multi | ||
| PassMark Single | ||
| Memory | ||
| Memory Type | DDR3 | DDR3 |
| Max Speed | ||
| Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Max Memory | 32★ | — |
| ECC | ✗ | ✗ |
| Platform & Power | ||
| Socket | LGA 1150 | Socket AM3+ |
| PCIe | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| PCIe Lanes | 16★ | 8 |
| TDP | 88★ | 95 |
| Unlocked | ✓ | ✓ |
| Graphics & AI | ||
| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 4600 | — |
Pros & Cons
Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA 1150
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong feature (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong single thread (70th percentile)
AMD FX-Series FX-4100 4-core Socket AM3+
- Strong affordability (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong feature (75th percentile)
- Strong social proof (74th percentile)
- Strong single thread (71st percentile)
Pricing
Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA 1150 offers 6.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 62 overall, wins 2 of 6 usage categories and 7 of 26 specs.