Core i7-5930K vs Core i9-8950HK

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 i7-5930K vs Core i9-8950HK 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 i7-5930K vs Core i9-8950HK: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-5930K

2014

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 12 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-8950HK across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (10,369 vs 10,373).
❌Launch MSRP is still $583 MSRP, while Core i9-8950HK mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌211.1% higher power demand at 140W vs 45W.

Core i9-8950HK

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 140W, a 95W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 15 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-8950HK better than Core i7-5930K?

Yes. Core i9-8950HK is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 15.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-8950HK is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 15.6% 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 i9-8950HK is the stronger fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i9-8950HK is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i9-8950HK comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $583 MSRP, and it still gives you a 15.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-5930K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2014 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (17.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA2011.

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

Core i9-8950HK makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2014) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-5930K vs Core i9-8950HK Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-5930K

The Core i7-5930K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-E (2014) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,369 points. Launch price was $613.

Core i9-8950HK

The Core i9-8950HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,373 points. Launch price was $583.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-5930K and Core i9-8950HK share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i7-5930K versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-8950HK — a 25.9% clock advantage for the Core i9-8950HK (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i7-5930K uses the Haswell-E (2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i9-8950HK uses Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-5930K scores 10,369 against the Core i9-8950HK's 10,373 — a 0% lead for the Core i9-8950HK. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-5930K vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i9-8950HK.

Feature	Core i7-5930K	Core i9-8950HK
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	4.8 GHz+30%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+21%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	15 MB (total)+25%	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Haswell-E (2014)	Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)
PassMark	10,369	10,373
Geekbench 6 Single	1,000	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	6,000	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-5930K uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-8950HK uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-5930K	Core i9-8950HK
Socket	LGA2011	BGA1440
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2133	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	4	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	40	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-5930K) / not specified (Core i9-8950HK). Primary use case: Core i7-5930K targets High End Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-5930K rivals Ryzen 5 1600.