Intel Core i7-4790K
The current Intel Core i7-4790K price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Intel · CPU
Retailer photo of Intel Core i7-4790K. View this offer in Where to buy
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 4C / 8T
- Boost clock
- 4400 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1150
- TDP
- 132 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: LowAt CAD 125 the Intel Core i7-4790K is priced in line with its CAD 125 representative market level. Only one verified new offer stands behind it, so the level can move quickly.
Consider: Intel Core i5-8400 offers stronger value around CAD 99.Compare
Prices & availability
Intel Core i7-4790K: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
2 tracked offers · 2 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i7-4790K | Newegg | New | CAD 125 | 26 | 2026-10-29 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | Amazon | New | Check on Amazon | 18 | 2026-10-29 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i7-4790KMultiple 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.
#202 of 232 graded processors
- #199 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 5
- #200 IntelIntel Core i3-10100 5
- #201 IntelIntel Core i3-10105 5
- #202 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 5
- #203 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1230 V5 5
- #204 IntelIntel Core i3-9350K 4
- #205 IntelIntel Core i3-9350KF 4
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#153 of 232 currently priced processors
- #150 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 7960X 27
- #151 IntelIntel Core i5-8600 26
- #152 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 26
- #153 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 26
- #154 IntelIntel Core i9-9900X 26
- #155 IntelIntel Core i9-10940X 26
- #156 IntelIntel Core i3-8350K 26
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#196 of 232 graded processors
- #193 IntelIntel Core i3-10105 53
- #194 IntelIntel Core i5-8400 52
- #195 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 52
- #196 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 52
- #197 IntelIntel Core i3-10100F 52
- #198 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 2600X 52
- #199 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 52
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#190 of 232 currently priced processors
- #187 IntelIntel Core i5-4690K 13
- #188 IntelIntel Core i7-7700K 12
- #189 IntelIntel Core i7-7800X 12
- #190 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 12
- #191 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 12
- #192 IntelIntel Core i3-9300 12
- #193 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1230 V5 12
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#202 of 232 graded processors
- #199 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 5
- #200 IntelIntel Core i3-10100 5
- #201 IntelIntel Core i3-10105 5
- #202 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 5
- #203 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1230 V5 5
- #204 IntelIntel Core i3-9350K 4
- #205 IntelIntel Core i3-9350KF 4
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#206 of 232 currently priced processors
- #203 IntelIntel Core i7-5930K 1
- #204 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V2 1
- #205 IntelIntel Core i7-6700K 1
- #206 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 1
- #207 IntelIntel Core i5-7600K 1
- #208 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 4960X 1
- #209 IntelIntel Core i3-9350KF 1
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#192 of 232 graded processors
- #189 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 11
- #190 IntelIntel Core i5-9400 11
- #191 IntelIntel Core i5-8400 11
- #192 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 11
- #193 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 10
- #194 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 5960X 10
- #195 IntelIntel Core i7-7740X 10
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#190 of 232 currently priced processors
- #187 IntelIntel Core i9-7900X 7
- #188 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1230 V5 7
- #189 IntelIntel Core i5-11600KF 7
- #190 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 6
- #191 IntelIntel Core i9-11900KF 6
- #192 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 6
- #193 IntelIntel Core i3-9350KF 6
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 Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 84 +139% capability | |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeC Value12 | Higher capability Intel Core i3-14100F C 78 +21% capability · +12% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 B 60 +12% capability |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value1 | Higher capability Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 D 8 +139% capability | |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value6 | Higher capability Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 C 61 +265% capability | |
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 C 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
- Not the pick if Productivity 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.
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Gaming is your main useit grades C there; Intel Core i3-14100F grades C at CAD 140
- 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 modelAMD Ryzen 5 5500 holds Relative Value 60 against its 12 for Gaming. 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
- Productivity is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Productivity, but C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useGraded F; AMD Ryzen 5 5500 reaches D. Check on Amazon.
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 5500 holds Relative Value 8 against its 1 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 C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useGraded F; AMD Ryzen 5 5500 reaches C. Check on Amazon.
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 5500 holds Relative Value 61 against its 6 for Performance per Watt. Check on Amazon.
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 i7-4790K
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
- 4
- Threads
- 8
- Performance cores
- 4
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 4000 MHz
- Boost clock
- 4400 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 132 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 132 W
- Socket
- LGA 1150
- Integrated graphics
- Intel HD Graphics 4600
- Process node
- 22 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 1 MB
- L3 cache
- 8 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- Yes
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2014
- Manufacturer part number
- BXF80646I74790K
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-10-24–2026-10-29
What to check in your build
LGA 1150 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1150. 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 132 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 132 W on socket LGA 1150.
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 i7-4790K offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #202 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 227. Intel Core i5-8400 currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i7-4790K offers C-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #196 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 227. The C grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i7-4790K offers F-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #202 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 227. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i7-4790K offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #192 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 227. 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 2026-10-24–2026-10-29 · 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.