Intel Core i7-9700K
The current Intel Core i7-9700K price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Intel · CPU
Retailer photo of Intel Core i7-9700K OEM/Tray. View this offer in Where to buy
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 8C / 8T
- Boost clock
- 4900 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- TDP
- 142 W
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: MediumAt $141 the Intel Core i7-9700K is priced in line with its $144 representative market level. Only 2 verified new offers stand behind it, so the level can move quickly.
Consider: Intel Core Ultra 5 225F offers stronger value around $129.Compare
Prices & availability
Intel Core i7-9700K: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
3 tracked offers · 2 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i7-9700K | Newegg | New | $147 | 35 | 2026-10-29 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i7-9700K OEM/Tray | Newegg | New | $141 | 26 | 2026-10-29 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i7-9700K | Amazon | New | Check on Amazon | 26 | 2026-10-29 | View offer → |
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.
#180 of 271 graded processors
- #177 IntelIntel Core i3-14100F 9
- #178 IntelIntel Core i3-14100 9
- #179 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 9
- #180 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 8
- #181 IntelIntel Core i7-9700KF 8
- #182 IntelIntel Core i5-10600K 8
- #183 IntelIntel Core i5-10600KF 8
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#193 of 271 currently priced processors
- #190 IntelIntel Core i9-9900X 26
- #191 IntelIntel Core i9-10980XE 26
- #192 IntelIntel Core i7-10700KF 26
- #193 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 26
- #194 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 2200G 25
- #195 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 2700 25
- #196 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX 25
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#162 of 271 graded processors
- #159 IntelIntel Core i9-10900X 57
- #160 IntelIntel Core i7-8086K 56
- #161 IntelIntel Core i7-10700F 56
- #162 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 56
- #163 IntelIntel Core i7-10700 56
- #164 IntelIntel Core i7-9700KF 56
- #165 IntelIntel Core i5-10600K 56
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#218 of 271 currently priced processors
- #215 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 12
- #216 IntelIntel Core i5-9500F 12
- #217 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 12
- #218 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 12
- #219 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 12
- #220 IntelIntel Core i7-8086K 12
- #221 IntelIntel Core i3-10300 12
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#180 of 271 graded processors
- #177 IntelIntel Core i3-14100F 9
- #178 IntelIntel Core i3-14100 9
- #179 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 9
- #180 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 8
- #181 IntelIntel Core i7-9700KF 8
- #182 IntelIntel Core i5-10600K 8
- #183 IntelIntel Core i5-10600KF 8
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#199 of 271 currently priced processors
- #196 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 2700 2
- #197 IntelIntel Core i7-8700 2
- #198 IntelIntel Core i5-9400 2
- #199 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 2
- #200 IntelIntel Core i7-7820X 2
- #201 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 2
- #202 IntelIntel Xeon E5-2650 v4 2
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#160 of 271 graded processors
- #157 IntelIntel Core i9-9900 19
- #158 AMDAMD Threadripper 2920X 19
- #159 IntelIntel Core i7-10700 19
- #160 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 19
- #161 IntelIntel Core i9-9960X 18
- #162 IntelIntel Core i9-7980XE 18
- #163 IntelIntel Core i9-10900K 18
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#207 of 271 currently priced processors
- #204 IntelIntel Core i7-9800X 8
- #205 IntelIntel Core i9-9980XE 8
- #206 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 8
- #207 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 8
- #208 IntelIntel Core i7-7740X 8
- #209 IntelIntel Core i5-9500T 8
- #210 IntelIntel Core i7-8086K 8
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 Value26 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 39 +125% capability · +2% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 225F 99 +115% capability |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeB Value12 | Higher capability Ryzen 5 9600X A 89 +29% capability · +16% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 225F A 87 +22% capability |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeD Value2 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 9 3900X C 5 +125% capability · +2% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 225F B 20 +115% capability |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value8 | Higher capability Ryzen 5 9600X A 94 +231% capability · +16% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 7500F B 75 +145% capability · -20% 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 specificallycompeting products deliver so much more per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 225F holds Relative Value 99 against its 26 with Balanced priorities. Check on Amazon.
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit 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
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 225F holds Relative Value 87 against its 12 for Gaming. Check on Amazon.
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit grades only F there
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 D for Productivity, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useit grades D there; AMD Ryzen 9 3900X grades C at $144
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 225F holds Relative Value 20 against its 2 for Productivity. Check on Amazon.
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
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit grades F there; Ryzen 5 9600X grades A at $164
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 7500F holds Relative Value 75 against its 8 for Performance per Watt, at $113
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 i7-9700K
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
- 8
- Threads
- 8
- Performance cores
- 8
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 3600 MHz
- Boost clock
- 4900 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 142 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 142 W
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- Maximum memory
- 128 GB
- Integrated graphics
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
- Process node
- 14 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 2 MB
- L3 cache
- 12 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- Yes
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2014
- Manufacturer part number
- CM8068403874212
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-10-23–2026-10-29
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.
Unknown
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 i7-9700K offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #180 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 406. Intel Core Ultra 5 225F currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i7-9700K offers B-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #162 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 406. Intel Core Ultra 5 225F currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i7-9700K offers D-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #180 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 406. The D grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i7-9700K offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #160 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 406. 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 listing snapshots can participate in Value while fresh. We show Check on Amazon instead of its price; confirm the current price and availability at the store. When no current listing snapshot exists, Amazon is a search link only.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-10-23–2026-10-29 · formula cpu-value-v1.4 · facts facts-2026-10-29 · 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.