Core i3-9350KF vs Core i7-7700T

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i3-9350KF

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $130 less on MSRP ($173 MSRP vs $303 MSRP).
✅Delivers 77.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 43.9 vs 24.8 PassMark/$ ($173 MSRP vs $303 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌160% higher power demand at 91W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-7700T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-7700T

2017

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 91W, a 56W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 630, while Core i3-9350KF needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,517 vs 7,602).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 24.8 vs 43.9 PassMark/$ ($303 MSRP vs $173 MSRP).

Core i3-9350KF

2019

Core i7-7700T

2017

Why buy it

✅Costs $130 less on MSRP ($173 MSRP vs $303 MSRP).
✅Delivers 77.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 43.9 vs 24.8 PassMark/$ ($173 MSRP vs $303 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 91W, a 56W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 630, while Core i3-9350KF needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌160% higher power demand at 91W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-7700T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,517 vs 7,602).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 24.8 vs 43.9 PassMark/$ ($303 MSRP vs $173 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-9350KF better than Core i7-7700T?

Yes. Core i3-9350KF is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.9% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i3-9350KF is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.9% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-9350KF is the better fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i3-9350KF is the smarter buy today. Core i3-9350KF is $130 cheaper on MSRP at $173 MSRP versus $303 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.9% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 77.1% better value on MSRP (43.9 vs 24.8 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-9350KF is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2017) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i3-9350KF Benchmark Check

Core i7-7700T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-9350KF	Core i7-7700T
1080p
low	190 FPS	176 FPS
medium	164 FPS	139 FPS
high	131 FPS	114 FPS
ultra	94 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	176 FPS	144 FPS
medium	140 FPS	113 FPS
high	111 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	70 FPS
4K
low	90 FPS	67 FPS
medium	77 FPS	56 FPS
high	61 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	47 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i3-9350KF Open Core i7-7700T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-9350KF	Core i7-7700T
1080p
low	190 FPS	188 FPS
medium	190 FPS	188 FPS
high	190 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	133 FPS
1440p
low	190 FPS	188 FPS
medium	190 FPS	165 FPS
high	190 FPS	149 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	120 FPS
4K
low	190 FPS	152 FPS
medium	190 FPS	134 FPS
high	164 FPS	109 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	82 FPS

Open Core i3-9350KF Open Core i7-7700T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-9350KF	Core i7-7700T
1080p
low	190 FPS	188 FPS
medium	190 FPS	188 FPS
high	190 FPS	188 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	188 FPS
1440p
low	190 FPS	188 FPS
medium	190 FPS	188 FPS
high	190 FPS	188 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	188 FPS
4K
low	190 FPS	188 FPS
medium	190 FPS	188 FPS
high	190 FPS	188 FPS
ultra	165 FPS	188 FPS

Open Core i3-9350KF Open Core i7-7700T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-9350KF	Core i7-7700T
1080p
low	190 FPS	188 FPS
medium	190 FPS	188 FPS
high	190 FPS	188 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	188 FPS
1440p
low	190 FPS	188 FPS
medium	190 FPS	188 FPS
high	190 FPS	188 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	188 FPS
4K
low	190 FPS	188 FPS
medium	190 FPS	188 FPS
high	190 FPS	188 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	188 FPS

Open Core i3-9350KF Open Core i7-7700T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-9350KF and Core i7-7700T

Core i3-9350KF

The Core i3-9350KF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 7,602 points. Launch price was $173.

Core i7-7700T

The Core i7-7700T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,517 points. Launch price was $303.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-9350KF packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-7700T's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i3-9350KF versus 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-7700T — a 19% clock advantage for the Core i3-9350KF (base: 4 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i3-9350KF uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-7700T uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-9350KF scores 7,602 against the Core i7-7700T's 7,517 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i3-9350KF. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9350KF vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-7700T.

Feature	Core i3-9350KF	Core i7-7700T
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+21%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	4 GHz+38%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)
PassMark	7,602+1%	7,517
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	5,605
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,066
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	3,643

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1151 socket with PCIe 3.0.

Feature	Core i3-9350KF	Core i7-7700T
Socket	LGA1151	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-2400
Max RAM Capacity	—	64 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-9350KF) / Yes (Core i7-7700T). The Core i7-7700T includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 630), while the Core i3-9350KF requires a dedicated GPU.

Feature	Core i3-9350KF	Core i7-7700T
Integrated GPU	—	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel HD Graphics 630
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	Yes

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-9350KF launched at $173 MSRP, while the Core i7-7700T debuted at $303. On MSRP ($173 vs $303), the Core i3-9350KF is $130 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-9350KF delivers 43.9 pts/$ vs 24.8 pts/$ for the Core i7-7700T — making the Core i3-9350KF the 55.7% better value option.