Core i5-9300HF vs Core i7-4790

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.

Core i5-9300HF vs Core i7-4790 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-9300HF vs Core i7-4790: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-9300HF

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 1W instead of 84W, a 83W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-4790 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,255 vs 7,263).

Core i7-4790

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $339 MSRP, while Core i5-9300HF mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌8300% higher power demand at 84W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-4790 better than Core i5-9300HF?

Yes. Core i7-4790 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 10.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-4790 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 10.5% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-4790 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-4790 is the better buy right now. Core i7-4790 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $339 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 10.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (21.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i5-9300HF makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i5-9300HF vs Core i7-4790 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-9300HF

The Core i5-9300HF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,255 points. Launch price was $250.

Core i7-4790

The Core i7-4790 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,263 points. Launch price was $303.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-9300HF and Core i7-4790 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-9300HF versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-4790 — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-9300HF (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-9300HF uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-4790 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9300HF scores 7,255 against the Core i7-4790's 7,263 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-4790. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i5-9300HF vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4790.

Feature	Core i5-9300HF	Core i7-4790
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz+2%	4 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3.6 GHz+50%
L3 Cache	8 MB	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	7,255	7,263
Geekbench 6 Single	1,288	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-9300HF uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-4790 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-9300HF	Core i7-4790
Socket	BGA1440	LGA1150
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-9300HF) / not specified (Core i7-4790). Primary use case: Core i5-9300HF targets Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-9300HF rivals Ryzen 5 3550H.