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

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-14700T across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 31,604).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 33 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 82.3 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.

Core i7-14700T

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +38.7% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+175% larger total L3 cache (33 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $1 less on MSRP ($384 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Delivers 120.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 82.3 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($384 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Core i7-14700T

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +38.7% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+175% larger total L3 cache (33 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $1 less on MSRP ($384 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Delivers 120.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 82.3 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($384 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-14700T across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 31,604).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 33 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 82.3 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-14700T better than Core i7-9700K?

Yes. Core i7-14700T is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 38.7% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 119.5% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-14700T is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 38.7% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-14700T is the better fit. You are getting 119.5% better PassMark, backed by 20 cores and 28 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 175% larger total L3 cache (33 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i7-14700T is the smarter buy today. Core i7-14700T is $1 cheaper on MSRP at $384 MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you a 38.7% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 120.1% better value on MSRP (82.3 vs 37.4 PassMark/$), 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 i7-14700T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2018), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151, 175% larger total L3 cache (33 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 20 cores / 28 threads instead of 8/8. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 i7-14700T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-14700T
1080p
low	308 FPS	315 FPS
medium	278 FPS	306 FPS
high	231 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	204 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	272 FPS
medium	221 FPS	235 FPS
high	178 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	153 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	186 FPS
medium	140 FPS	160 FPS
high	108 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	107 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i7-14700T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-14700T
1080p
low	360 FPS	344 FPS
medium	321 FPS	294 FPS
high	291 FPS	247 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	225 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	299 FPS
medium	282 FPS	265 FPS
high	258 FPS	224 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	193 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	177 FPS
medium	221 FPS	160 FPS
high	208 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	133 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i7-14700T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-14700T
1080p
low	360 FPS	646 FPS
medium	360 FPS	528 FPS
high	360 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	403 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	588 FPS
medium	360 FPS	488 FPS
high	360 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	368 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	431 FPS
medium	360 FPS	371 FPS
high	360 FPS	336 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	288 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i7-14700T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-14700T
1080p
low	360 FPS	790 FPS
medium	360 FPS	790 FPS
high	360 FPS	717 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	644 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	772 FPS
medium	360 FPS	688 FPS
high	360 FPS	592 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	522 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	545 FPS
medium	360 FPS	494 FPS
high	360 FPS	440 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	384 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i7-14700T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Core i7-14700T

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 i7-14700T

The Core i7-14700T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 20 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 33 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 31,604 points. Launch price was $384.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-14700T offers 20 cores / 28 threads — the Core i7-14700T has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 5.2 GHz on the Core i7-14700T — a 5.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-14700T (base: 3.6 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-14700T uses Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Core i7-14700T's 31,604 — a 74.8% lead for the Core i7-14700T. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 33 MB (total) on the Core i7-14700T.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-14700T
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	20 / 28+150%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5.2 GHz+6%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+177%	1.3 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	33 MB (total)+175%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	2 MB (per core)+700%
Process	14 nm	Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)
PassMark	14,397	31,604+120%
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,723
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	18,390

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-14700T uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K versus DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-14700T — the Core i7-14700T supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-14700T supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 20 (Core i7-14700T) — the Core i7-14700T offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and Z790,B760,H770,Z690,B660,H610 (Core i7-14700T).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-14700T
Socket	LGA1151	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-5600+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-14700T). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) and UHD 770 (Core i7-14700T) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop, Core i7-14700T targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i7-14700T rivals Ryzen 7 7700.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-14700T
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	UHD 770
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Desktop	Productivity

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Core i7-14700T debuted at $384. On MSRP ($385 vs $384), the Core i7-14700T is $1 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 82.3 pts/$ for the Core i7-14700T — making the Core i7-14700T the 75% better value option.