Intel Core i7 9700K 8-core LGA1151

The Intel Core i7-9700K is a 9th gen 8-core desktop CPU that still holds up well for gaming, especially at used prices between USD 140 and USD 211. Single-thread performance is well above average, and it runs cool with a good aftermarket cooler. Just know you'll need a 300 series motherboard and your own cooler, and there's no upgrade path from this platform.

The 9700K posts a PassMark score of 14,402 multi-thread and 2,858 single-thread. In practice, that single-thread number is what matters most for gaming. It's not the absolute best right now, but it's well above average and handles most modern games without breaking a sweat. The 4.9GHz boost clock helps a lot here, especially in titles that lean on one or two cores.

Multi-threaded workloads are a bit more of a mixed bag. Eight cores without hyperthreading means you get eight threads total, which is fine for gaming and light productivity but falls behind chips with SMT or more cores. Our database puts multi-thread performance at the 70th percentile, so it's solid but not a standout. If you're doing heavy video editing or rendering, you'll feel the lack of threads. For gaming and everyday use, it's more than enough. The 12MB of L3 cache helps keep things snappy too.

The most obvious competitor is the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which absolutely crushes the 9700K in gaming and multi-threaded workloads. But it also costs way more and requires a new AM5 motherboard and DDR5 memory. The 9700K is for people who want decent performance without spending a fortune. The Dell Xeon E5-2637 V2 is another option that shows up in our database, but that's a server chip with much lower clock speeds and a completely different use case. It's not really a gaming competitor.

If you're already on an LGA 1151 board with a 300 series chipset, the 9700K is one of the best drop-in upgrades you can make. The i9-9900K adds hyperthreading and a bit more cache, but it usually costs more on the used market. For most gamers, the 9700K is the sweet spot. Just don't expect it to keep up with modern mid-range chips in heavily threaded workloads.

Value is where the 9700K gets interesting. In the US, prices range from USD 140 to USD 211 across six listings. The cheapest option at USD 140 is a solid deal if you can find a compatible motherboard for a reasonable price. In Canada, the spread is even wider, from CAD 192 to CAD 352. That's a CAD 160 gap, so shopping around matters a lot. The best deals tend to be on Newegg's refurbished listings, which often come with fast shipping and decent customer service. Compared to newer chips like the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the 9700K is obviously slower, but it's also a fraction of the price. If you're building a budget gaming rig and already have an LGA 1151 board, this is a no-brainer. If you're starting from scratch, you might want to look at newer platforms.

The Intel Core i7-9700K is a 9th gen desktop processor that still pops up in a lot of used and refurbished listings. It's an 8-core, 8-thread chip with a 4.9GHz boost clock and a 95W TDP, sitting on the LGA 1151 socket. Prices are all over the place depending on where you look, from USD 140 to USD 211 in the US and CAD 192 to CAD 352 in Canada. That's a pretty wide spread for a chip that launched back in 2018.

People searching for this CPU usually want to know one thing: is it still good for gaming in 2025? The short answer is yes, mostly. The single-thread performance lands in the 79th percentile of all CPUs in our database, which is well above average. The multi-thread score sits at the 70th percentile, so it's solid but not spectacular. If you're pairing it with a decent GPU at 1080p or 1440p, you'll get smooth frame rates in most titles.

One thing to keep in mind is that this chip only works with Intel 300 series motherboards. No stock cooler, no thermal paste in the box either. You'll need to budget for a decent aftermarket cooler, which most buyers seem to do anyway.

Skip the 9700K if you're building a new system from scratch. The LGA 1151 platform is dead, DDR4 is aging, and you'll have no upgrade path. If you do heavy video editing, rendering, or streaming, the lack of hyperthreading will hold you back. Look at a used Ryzen 7 3700X or a newer Intel i5 instead. Also skip it if you don't want to deal with buying a separate cooler, since there's no stock cooler in the box. And if you're gaming at 4K, the CPU matters less anyway, so you might be better off putting your money into a GPU.

Should you buy the Intel Core i7-9700K? If you already have a 300 series motherboard and you're looking for a cheap gaming upgrade, yes. The single-thread performance is still well above average, and it runs cool with a decent cooler. The lack of hyperthreading is the biggest limitation, but for gaming at 1080p or 1440p, it's rarely a problem.

If you're building a new system from scratch, it's harder to recommend. The LGA 1151 platform is dead, DDR4 is on the way out, and you'll be stuck with no upgrade path. For a budget build, a used Ryzen 5 5600 or even a newer Intel i5 would give you better long-term options. But for a cheap drop-in upgrade, the 9700K still delivers.