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: +107.7% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 5 1400 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 45.7 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 1400

2017

Why buy it

✅Costs $216 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Delivers 22.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 45.7 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($169 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,731 vs 14,397).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Ryzen 5 1400

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +107.7% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 5 1400 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Costs $216 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Delivers 22.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 45.7 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($169 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 45.7 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,731 vs 14,397).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-9700K better than Ryzen 5 1400?

Yes. Core i7-9700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 107.7% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 86.2% 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 i7-9700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 107.7% more average FPS across 2 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 86.2% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Core i7-9700K is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Core i7-9700K is 127.8% more expensive on MSRP at $385 MSRP versus $169 MSRP, and it gives you a 107.7% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 1400 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the smarter recommendation now. Giving up that much average FPS in the shared benchmark data is simply too much for that budget trade-off.

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

Core i7-9700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2017), 50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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

Ryzen 5 1400 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 5 1400
1080p
low	308 FPS	170 FPS
medium	278 FPS	148 FPS
high	231 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	95 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	141 FPS
medium	221 FPS	118 FPS
high	178 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	65 FPS
medium	140 FPS	58 FPS
high	108 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen 5 1400

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 5 1400
1080p
low	360 FPS	168 FPS
medium	321 FPS	148 FPS
high	291 FPS	139 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	105 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	146 FPS
medium	282 FPS	129 FPS
high	258 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	94 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	114 FPS
medium	221 FPS	103 FPS
high	208 FPS	80 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	58 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen 5 1400

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 5 1400
1080p
low	360 FPS	193 FPS
medium	360 FPS	193 FPS
high	360 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	193 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	193 FPS
medium	360 FPS	193 FPS
high	360 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	193 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	193 FPS
medium	360 FPS	193 FPS
high	360 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	181 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen 5 1400

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 5 1400
1080p
low	360 FPS	193 FPS
medium	360 FPS	193 FPS
high	360 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	193 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	193 FPS
medium	360 FPS	193 FPS
high	360 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	193 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	193 FPS
medium	360 FPS	193 FPS
high	360 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	193 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen 5 1400

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Ryzen 5 1400

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.

Ryzen 5 1400

The Ryzen 5 1400 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,731 points. Launch price was $169.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 1400 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 3.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1400 — a 36.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 1400 uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Ryzen 5 1400's 7,731 — a 60.2% lead for the Core i7-9700K. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1400.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 5 1400
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+100%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+44%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+12%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+50%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Zen (2017−2020)
PassMark	14,397+86%	7,731

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 1400 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. 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. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 1400) — the Ryzen 5 1400 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 1400).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 5 1400
Socket	LGA1151	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) / not specified (Ryzen 5 1400). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 5 1400 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 5 1400
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 1400 debuted at $169. On MSRP ($385 vs $169), the Ryzen 5 1400 is $216 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 45.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 1400 — making the Ryzen 5 1400 the 20.1% better value option.