Core i7-4790K vs Ryzen 5 7520C

Core i7-4790K vs Ryzen 5 7520C Performance Spectrum

Core i7-4790K

4 / 8

8,063

0.0%

8,104

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

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.

Core i7-4790K vs Ryzen 5 7520C 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 i7-4790K vs Ryzen 5 7520C: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-4790K

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4600, while Ryzen 5 7520C needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,063 vs 8,104).
❌Launch MSRP is still $350 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 7520C mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌486.7% higher power demand at 88W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1150, while Ryzen 5 7520C moves to FT6 and DDR5.

Ryzen 5 7520C

2023

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 15W instead of 88W, a 73W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FT6 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1150 and older memory support.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-4790K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-4790K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 7520C better than Core i7-4790K?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-4790K is ahead with a 14.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 7520C pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark. Core i7-4790K also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 7520C is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 7520C is still the much better call for a fresh build. Ryzen 5 7520C comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $350 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.5% better PassMark. Core i7-4790K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2014 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (23.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1150.

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

Ryzen 5 7520C makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2014), a healthier platform with FT6 and DDR5 instead of LGA1150, and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i7-4790K vs Ryzen 5 7520C Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-4790K

The Core i7-4790K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Junho 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Devil's Canyon architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 88 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,063 points. Launch price was $339.

Ryzen 5 7520C

The Ryzen 5 7520C is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 May 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FT6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 8,104 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-4790K and Ryzen 5 7520C share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i7-4790K versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7520C — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-4790K (base: 4 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i7-4790K uses the Devil's Canyon architecture (22 nm), while the Ryzen 5 7520C uses Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-4790K scores 8,063 against the Ryzen 5 7520C's 8,104 — a 0.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 7520C. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4790K vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7520C.

Feature	Core i7-4790K	Ryzen 5 7520C
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+2%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	4 GHz+43%	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)+100%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	22 nm	6 nm-73%
Architecture	Devil's Canyon	Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023)
PassMark	8,063	8,104

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-4790K uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 7520C uses FT6 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.