Retailer photo of Intel Core i9-10850K. View this offer in Where to buy
Intel · CPU
Intel Core i9-10850K
The current Intel Core i9-10850K 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
- 10C / 20T
- Boost clock
- 5200 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1200
- TDP
- 225 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 $275 the Intel Core i9-10850K is priced in line with its $275 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 i9-10850K: 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 i9-10850K | Newegg | New | $275 | 33 | 2026-10-16 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i9-10850KMultiple 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.
#131 of 264 graded processors
- #128 IntelIntel Core i9-10900K 13
- #129 IntelIntel Core i9-10900KF 13
- #130 IntelIntel Core i9-11900F 13
- #131 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 13
- #132 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600X 13
- #133 IntelIntel Core i9-9900X 13
- #134 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600 13
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#151 of 264 currently priced processors
- #148 IntelIntel Core i3-9350K 33
- #149 IntelIntel Core i5-4690K 33
- #150 IntelIntel Core i9-9920X 33
- #151 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 33
- #152 IntelIntel Core i9-9900KF 33
- #153 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 7960X 33
- #154 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 32
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#142 of 264 graded processors
- #139 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 3700X 58
- #140 IntelIntel Core i5-14400 58
- #141 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600X 58
- #142 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 58
- #143 IntelIntel Core i9-9900KS 58
- #144 IntelIntel Core i9-10900 58
- #145 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600 58
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#139 of 264 currently priced processors
- #136 IntelIntel Core i5-10400 33
- #137 IntelIntel Core i7-9700KF 32
- #138 IntelIntel Core i7-10700 32
- #139 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 32
- #140 IntelIntel Core i9-10900F 32
- #141 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX 32
- #142 IntelIntel Core i7-10700K 32
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#131 of 264 graded processors
- #128 IntelIntel Core i9-10900K 13
- #129 IntelIntel Core i9-10900KF 13
- #130 IntelIntel Core i9-11900F 13
- #131 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 13
- #132 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600X 13
- #133 IntelIntel Core i9-9900X 13
- #134 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600 13
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#124 of 264 currently priced processors
- #121 IntelIntel Core i9-9940X 7
- #122 IntelIntel Core i9-10920X 7
- #123 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600X 7
- #124 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 7
- #125 IntelIntel Core i5-12400 7
- #126 IntelIntel Core i9-10900KF 7
- #127 IntelIntel Core i9-9980XE 7
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#164 of 264 graded processors
- #161 IntelIntel Core i3-10300 18
- #162 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 2400G 18
- #163 IntelIntel Core i9-9940X 18
- #164 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 18
- #165 IntelIntel Core i7-8700K 18
- #166 IntelIntel Core i5-10500 18
- #167 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G7400 18
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#150 of 264 currently priced processors
- #147 IntelIntel Core i5-9600KF 18
- #148 IntelIntel Core i7-9700 17
- #149 IntelIntel Core i3-10100F 17
- #150 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 16
- #151 IntelIntel Core i9-10900KF 16
- #152 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 16
- #153 IntelIntel Core i3-10105 16
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 Value33 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF 71 +168% capability · +17% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus 100 +120% capability · -27% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeB Value32 | Higher capability Ryzen 7 7800X3D S 73 +48% capability · +15% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus A 89 +26% capability · -27% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeC Value7 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF S 38 +168% capability · +17% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus A 41 +139% capability · -20% price |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value16 | Higher capability Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 7 9700X S 100 +337% capability · -9% 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 $76, against a cheapest tracked $275
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus holds Relative Value 100 against its 33 with Balanced priorities, at $200
- Performance per Watt 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
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus holds Relative Value 89 against its 32 for Gaming, at $200
- Performance per Watt is what you actually need it forit 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 C for Productivity, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades C there; Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF grades S at $322
- You want strong value for Productivity specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Productivity 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 250K Plus holds Relative Value 41 against its 7 for Productivity, at $220
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 9700X grades S at $250
- 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
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 7 9700X holds Relative Value 100 against its 16 for Performance per Watt, at $250
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 i9-10850K
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
- 10
- Threads
- 20
- Performance cores
- 10
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 3600 MHz
- Boost clock
- 5200 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 225 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 225 W
- Socket
- LGA 1200
- Memory support
- DDR4
- 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
- 20 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- Yes
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2020
- Manufacturer part number
- CM8070104608302
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 1200 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1200. 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 225 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 225 W on socket LGA 1200.
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 i9-10850K offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #131 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 616. Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i9-10850K offers B-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #142 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 616. Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i9-10850K offers C-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #131 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 616. The C grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i9-10850K offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #164 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 616. 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.