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: +55.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 13.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 32.9 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $323 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
19.2% HIGHER MSRP
$385 MSRPvs$323 MSRP
❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.

Core i7-9700T

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $62 less on MSRP ($323 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (10,618 vs 14,397).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.9 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($323 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).

Core i7-9700K

2018

Core i7-9700T

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +55.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 13.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 32.9 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $323 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Costs $62 less on MSRP ($323 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌
19.2% HIGHER MSRP
$385 MSRPvs$323 MSRP
❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (10,618 vs 14,397).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.9 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($323 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).

Quick Answers

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

Yes. Core i7-9700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 55.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 35.6% 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 55.0% 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 35.6% 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 19.2% more expensive on MSRP at $385 MSRP versus $323 MSRP, and it gives you a 55.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 13.8% better value on MSRP (37.4 vs 32.9 PassMark/$), 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 i7-9700T 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 i7-9700T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-9700T
1080p
low	308 FPS	171 FPS
medium	278 FPS	147 FPS
high	231 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	99 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	146 FPS
medium	221 FPS	122 FPS
high	178 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	79 FPS
medium	140 FPS	72 FPS
high	108 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	44 FPS

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

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-9700T
1080p
low	360 FPS	163 FPS
medium	321 FPS	144 FPS
high	291 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	120 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	147 FPS
medium	282 FPS	132 FPS
high	258 FPS	124 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	110 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	119 FPS
medium	221 FPS	109 FPS
high	208 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	91 FPS

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

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-9700T
1080p
low	360 FPS	265 FPS
medium	360 FPS	265 FPS
high	360 FPS	265 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	265 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	265 FPS
medium	360 FPS	265 FPS
high	360 FPS	265 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	265 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	265 FPS
medium	360 FPS	265 FPS
high	360 FPS	265 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	218 FPS

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

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-9700T
1080p
low	360 FPS	265 FPS
medium	360 FPS	265 FPS
high	360 FPS	265 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	265 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	265 FPS
medium	360 FPS	265 FPS
high	360 FPS	265 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	265 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	265 FPS
medium	360 FPS	265 FPS
high	360 FPS	265 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	265 FPS

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

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

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 i7-9700T

The Core i7-9700T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 10,618 points. Launch price was $323.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i7-9700K and Core i7-9700T share an identical 8-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i7-9700T — a 13% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-9700T uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Core i7-9700T's 10,618 — a 30.2% lead for the Core i7-9700K. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-9700T
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	8 / 8
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+14%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+80%	2 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)	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
PassMark	14,397+36%	10,618

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1151 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i7-9700T
Socket	LGA1151	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 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 630 (Core i7-9700T) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop, Core i7-9700T targets Desktop.

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

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Core i7-9700T debuted at $323. On MSRP ($385 vs $323), the Core i7-9700T is $62 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 32.9 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700T — making the Core i7-9700K the 12.9% better value option.