Core i7-4790K vs Core i5-9500T

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

The Core i7-4790K uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-9500T uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Core i7-4790K versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-9500T — 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: Intel 8 series,Intel 9 series (Core i7-4790K) and 300-series (Core i5-9500T).

Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-4790K) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-9500T). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Core i7-4790K) and UHD Graphics 630 (Core i5-9500T) — 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 i7-4790K launched at $350 MSRP, while the Core i5-9500T debuted at $192. At current prices ($93 vs $132), the Core i7-4790K is $39 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-4790K delivers 86.7 pts/$ vs 61.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-9500T — making the Core i7-4790K the 34.3% better value option.