Core i5-9500T vs Core i7-4790K

The Core i5-9500T packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Core i7-4790K offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-9500T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-9500T versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i7-4790K — a 17.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-4790K (base: 2.2 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i5-9500T uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-4790K uses Devil's Canyon (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9500T scores 8,095 against the Core i7-4790K's 8,063 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-9500T. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-9500T vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4790K.

The Core i5-9500T uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-4790K uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-9500T versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i7-4790K — the Core i5-9500T supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-9500T supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 300-series (Core i5-9500T) and Intel 8 series,Intel 9 series (Core i7-4790K).

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-9500T) / not specified (Core i7-4790K). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i5-9500T) and Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Core i7-4790K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9500T targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-9500T rivals Ryzen 5 2600.

The Core i5-9500T launched at $192 MSRP, while the Core i7-4790K debuted at $350. At current prices ($132 vs $93), the Core i7-4790K is $39 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-9500T delivers 61.3 pts/$ vs 86.7 pts/$ for the Core i7-4790K — making the Core i7-4790K the 34.3% better value option.