Athlon 5350 vs Core i7-9700K
Athlon 5350
Core i7-9700K
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The Athlon 5350 is positioned at rank #564 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 5350
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 5350 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Kabini (2013−2014) / 28 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 5350 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+66%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon 5350 and Core i7-9700K
Athlon 5350
The Athlon 5350 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.05 GHz, with boost up to 2.05 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,796 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.
Processing Power
The Athlon 5350 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-9700K offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.05 GHz on the Athlon 5350 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 82% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 2.05 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Athlon 5350 uses the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 5350 scores 1,796 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 155.6% lead for the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | Athlon 5350 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 8 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.05 GHz | 4.9 GHz+139% |
| Base Clock | 2.05 GHz | 3.6 GHz+76% |
| L3 Cache | — | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2048 kB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm | 14 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Kabini (2013−2014) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 1,796 | 14,397+702% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 223 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 708 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 5350 uses the AM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-9700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1600 on the Athlon 5350 versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K — the Athlon 5350 supports 199% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-9700K supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Athlon 5350) vs 2 (Core i7-9700K). PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon 5350) vs 16 (Core i7-9700K) — the Core i7-9700K offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM1 (Athlon 5350) and Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K).
| Feature | Athlon 5350 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM1 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1600+39900% | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 128 GB+838860700% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16+100% |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Athlon 5350) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon R3 Graphics (Athlon 5350) and UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon 5350 rivals Pentium J2900.
| Feature | Athlon 5350 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R3 Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 5350 launched at $55 MSRP, while the Core i7-9700K debuted at $385. At current prices ($15 vs $200), the Athlon 5350 is $185 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 5350 delivers 119.7 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700K — making the Athlon 5350 the 49.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 5350 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $55-86% | $385 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-93% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 119.7+66% | 72.0 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2018 |
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