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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +63.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $415 MSRP).
✅Delivers 68.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 22.3 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $415 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌280% higher power demand at 95W vs 25W.

Core i7-10710U

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 25W instead of 95W, a 70W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (9,240 vs 14,397).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 22.3 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($415 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).

Core i7-9700K

2018

Core i7-10710U

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +63.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $415 MSRP).
✅Delivers 68.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 22.3 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $415 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Draws 25W instead of 95W, a 70W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌280% higher power demand at 95W vs 25W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (9,240 vs 14,397).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 22.3 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($415 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-9700K better than Core i7-10710U?

Yes. Core i7-9700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 63.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 55.8% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-9700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 63.3% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-9700K is the better fit. You are getting 55.8% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-9700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-9700K is $30 cheaper on MSRP at $385 MSRP versus $415 MSRP, and it gives you a 63.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 68.0% better value on MSRP (37.4 vs 22.3 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core i7-10710U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2018). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-9700K Benchmark Check

Core i7-10710U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-10710U
1080p
low	308 FPS	189 FPS
medium	278 FPS	154 FPS
high	231 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	103 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	151 FPS
medium	221 FPS	120 FPS
high	178 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	85 FPS
medium	140 FPS	73 FPS
high	108 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i7-10710U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-10710U
1080p
low	360 FPS	217 FPS
medium	321 FPS	180 FPS
high	291 FPS	168 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	146 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	194 FPS
medium	282 FPS	162 FPS
high	258 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	163 FPS
medium	221 FPS	137 FPS
high	208 FPS	130 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	109 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i7-10710U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-10710U
1080p
low	360 FPS	231 FPS
medium	360 FPS	231 FPS
high	360 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	231 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	231 FPS
medium	360 FPS	231 FPS
high	360 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	231 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	231 FPS
medium	360 FPS	231 FPS
high	360 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	231 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i7-10710U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-10710U
1080p
low	360 FPS	231 FPS
medium	360 FPS	231 FPS
high	360 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	231 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	231 FPS
medium	360 FPS	231 FPS
high	360 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	231 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	231 FPS
medium	360 FPS	231 FPS
high	360 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	231 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i7-10710U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Core i7-10710U

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

Core i7-10710U

The Core i7-10710U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-U (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,240 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-10710U offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-10710U — a 4.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-10710U uses Comet Lake-U (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Core i7-10710U's 9,240 — a 43.6% lead for the Core i7-9700K. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-10710U
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+4%	4.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+227%	1.1 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Comet Lake-U (2019−2020)
PassMark	14,397+56%	9,240

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-10710U uses FCBGA1528 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K versus LPDDR3-2133 on the Core i7-10710U — the Core i7-9700K supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-9700K supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-10710U
Socket	LGA1151	FCBGA1528
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666+33%	LPDDR3-2133
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) and UHD Graphics (Core i7-10710U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop, Core i7-10710U targets Mobile.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-10710U
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	UHD Graphics
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	Mobile

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Core i7-10710U debuted at $415. On MSRP ($385 vs $415), the Core i7-9700K is $30 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 22.3 pts/$ for the Core i7-10710U — making the Core i7-9700K the 50.7% better value option.