Retailer photo of Intel Core i5-9600K. View this offer in Where to buy
Intel · CPU
Intel Core i5-9600K
The current Intel Core i5-9600K price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 6C / 6T
- Boost clock
- 4600 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- TDP
- 142 W
- Memory support
- DDR4
Move a slider and the page re-scores this product against the same market frame.
What does it cost today, and is that a good price?
Market confidence: LowAt $89 the Intel Core i5-9600K is priced in line with its $89 representative market level. Only one retailer currently backs that price, so the level is a single data point rather than a market.
Limited market: only one retailer currently has a verified offer, so treat this price as a single data point.
Prices & availability
Intel Core i5-9600K: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
1 tracked offers · 1 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-9600K | Newegg | New | $89 | 43 | 2026-10-16 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i5-9600KMultiple variants available | Amazon Affiliate | Varies | Find on Amazon | Not tracked | No price snapshot | Find on Amazon → |
Prices are dated snapshots, not live quotes — confirm the final price at the store. New, refurbished and used offers are listed separately; used offers carry warranty and seller risk.
Performance and where it ranks
Two different questions, side by side. Performance compares what the hardware can do; Value compares what that capability costs at today’s price. A product can rank high on one and low on the other — that gap is the point.
Performance Balanced
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#197 of 264 graded processors
- #194 IntelIntel Xeon E5-2643 v4 7
- #195 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 4100 6
- #196 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 6
- #197 IntelIntel Core i5-9600K 6
- #198 IntelIntel Core i5-9600KF 6
- #199 IntelIntel Core i5-9600 6
- #200 IntelIntel Core i7-8700T 6
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#105 of 264 currently priced processors
- #102 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 5800X 44
- #103 IntelIntel Core i5-11500 44
- #104 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 2400G 44
- #105 IntelIntel Core i5-9600K 43
- #106 IntelIntel Core i7-11700KF 43
- #107 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 3900X 43
- #108 IntelIntel Core i7-12700 43
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#167 of 264 graded processors
- #164 IntelIntel Core i9-10940X 56
- #165 IntelIntel Core i7-8700K 56
- #166 IntelIntel Core i5-10600 56
- #167 IntelIntel Core i5-9600K 56
- #168 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 2600 55
- #169 IntelIntel Core i9-7940X 55
- #170 IntelIntel Core i7-9700F 55
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#153 of 264 currently priced processors
- #150 IntelIntel Core i9-10900 29
- #151 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX 29
- #152 IntelIntel Core i3-10100 29
- #153 IntelIntel Core i5-9600K 29
- #154 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X 28
- #155 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 3200G 28
- #156 IntelIntel Celeron G5900 28
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#197 of 264 graded processors
- #194 IntelIntel Xeon E5-2643 v4 7
- #195 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 4100 6
- #196 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 6
- #197 IntelIntel Core i5-9600K 6
- #198 IntelIntel Core i5-9600KF 6
- #199 IntelIntel Core i5-9600 6
- #200 IntelIntel Core i7-8700T 6
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#174 of 264 currently priced processors
- #171 IntelIntel Core i9-7960X 3
- #172 IntelIntel Core i9-11900KF 3
- #173 IntelIntel Core i9-10900X 3
- #174 IntelIntel Core i5-9600K 3
- #175 IntelIntel Core i3-10105F 2
- #176 IntelIntel Core i9-10900K 2
- #177 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600X 2
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#190 of 264 graded processors
- #187 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 3200G 14
- #188 IntelIntel Core i9-10900X 14
- #189 IntelIntel Core i9-9900X 14
- #190 IntelIntel Core i5-9600K 14
- #191 IntelIntel Core i5-9600KF 14
- #192 IntelIntel Core i3-9300 14
- #193 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 2200G 14
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#158 of 264 currently priced processors
- #155 IntelIntel Core i5-10600KF 15
- #156 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G6400 15
- #157 IntelIntel Core i7-10700K 15
- #158 IntelIntel Core i5-9600K 15
- #159 IntelIntel Core i7-10700F 14
- #160 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 14
- #161 IntelIntel Core i5-10600K 13
These ladders follow the preset scenario shown above. Your own weights re-score this product, not the whole field.
What it is good for
| Scenario | this productCapability grade · Value at current price | Higher capability | Higher Value with current priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value43 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 3800X 41 +116% capability · +13% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 77 +81% capability · +6% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeB Value29 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 5 7500F A 83 +25% capability · +19% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 B 59 +6% capability · +6% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value3 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 3800X C 3 +116% capability · +13% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 7 3700X C 8 +110% capability · +4% price |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value15 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 3700X B 45 +243% capability · +4% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 C 60 +195% capability · +6% price |
Balanced has no letter: it is a weighting preset, not a capability rubric. A grade answers “how well does this handle that job?” — price is never part of it. Relative Value puts the current market price back in.
Compare these grades with the full tier list
Browse shortlists for different uses
Trade-offs
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded B for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value with Balanced priorities specificallyat today's market no realistic price for this model reaches strong value with Balanced priorities — the calculation only gets there near $37, against a cheapest tracked $89
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades only F there
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded B for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value for Gaming specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Gaming per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades only F there
- You are buying for Gaming and want no asterisksthe rubric caps this grade: gaming index estimated from single-thread speed, cache and x3d — not a measured game benchmark for this exact chip
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Productivity is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Productivity, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades F there; AMD Ryzen 7 3800X grades C at $100
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Performance per Watt is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Performance per Watt, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Performance per Watt is what you actually need it forit grades F there; AMD Ryzen 7 3700X grades B at $92
- You want strong value for Performance per Watt specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Performance per Watt per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
Models that suit Performance per Watt better, at this budget
Every line states the fact it was derived from, for the scenario selected above. Thresholds are calculated points on our value curve — information about where the maths turns, not instructions about what to pay.
Similar options to the Intel Core i5-9600K
Chosen for Balanced
Chosen for Gaming
Chosen for Productivity
Chosen for Performance per Watt
Alternatives stay near this product’s price range. Step-up options may exceed the standard budget envelope when the capability gain is meaningful.
More head-to-head comparisons in this category
Upgrade planner
Judge the change in the active scenario, then make the cash gap explicit.
Using page scenarioWhat are you upgrading from? These are the axes we compare on, and where this product stands in the current market.
We rank upgrades by out-of-pocket cost — the new price minus what yours is worth — not by sticker price.
Only candidates that clear the configured meaningful-upgrade gate will be shown; roles are omitted rather than filled.
Capability differences are expressed as tiers and index points, not as benchmark percentages we did not measure.
Specifications and compatibility
What this product is, and what to check before it goes into your build.
Core / Performance
- Cores
- 6
- Threads
- 6
- Performance cores
- 6
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 3700 MHz
- Boost clock
- 4600 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 142 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 142 W
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- Memory support
- DDR4
- Maximum memory
- 128 GB
- Integrated graphics
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
- Process node
- 14 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 1 MB
- L3 cache
- 9 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- Yes
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2018
- Manufacturer part number
- CM8068403874404
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-10-10–2026-10-17
What to check in your build
LGA 1151 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1151. A different socket does not fit — this is a physical constraint, not a preference.
Board BIOS must list this model
A matching socket is necessary but not sufficient — check the vendor CPU support list.
DDR4 memory
This processor takes DDR4. Memory of another generation does not fit the slots, even on a board with the right socket.
Cooler rated for 142 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 142 W on socket LGA 1151.
Found an error? Report this specification Email the field, corrected value and an optional source.
Compatibility guidance is practical help, not a score. Missing data is shown as unknown, never invented.
Summary
Intel Core i5-9600K offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #197 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 300. Intel Core i5-8600K currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i5-9600K offers B-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #167 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 300. Intel Core i5-8600K currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i5-9600K offers F-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #197 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 300. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i5-9600K offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #190 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 300. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
FAQ
Why does Relative Value change when I choose another scenario?
Each scenario changes the weights applied to capability, price and the other published factors. The hardware facts stay fixed, but the value question changes, so its score and rank can change too.
Why can Amazon appear without a tracked price?
Amazon is shown as a discovery link when we do not have a permitted verified price snapshot. It is excluded from price comparisons, rankings and Relative Value until a compliant tracked price exists.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-10-10–2026-10-17 · formula cpu-value-v1.4 · facts facts-2026-10-17 · Relative Value is an estimate from our current dataset, the selected weights and dated market prices — not an official product rating and not a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology We are not a shop. Affiliate links may earn us a commission; they never change the calculations or the ranking.