Ryzen 3 4100 vs Core i7-9700K
Ryzen 3 4100
Core i7-9700K
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 3 4100
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 3 4100 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($75) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Renoir (2020−2023) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 3 4100 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+105%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($75) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 3 4100 and Core i7-9700K
Ryzen 3 4100
The Ryzen 3 4100 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Renoir (2020−2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8.00391 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 11,062 points. Launch price was $149.
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.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 3 4100 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-9700K offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 4100 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 20.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.8 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 3 4100 uses the Renoir (2020−2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 3 4100 scores 11,062 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 26.2% lead for the Core i7-9700K. L3 cache: 8.00391 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 4100 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | Ryzen 3 4100 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4.9 GHz+23% |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+6% | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8.00391 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Renoir (2020−2023) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 11,062 | 14,397+30% |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 3 4100 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-9700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 3 4100 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 3 4100) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 3 4100 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Ryzen 3 4100 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 3 4100 launched at $99 MSRP, while the Core i7-9700K debuted at $385. At current prices ($75 vs $200), the Ryzen 3 4100 is $125 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 3 4100 delivers 147.5 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700K — making the Ryzen 3 4100 the 68.8% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 3 4100 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $99-74% | $385 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $75-63% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 147.5+105% | 72.0 |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2018 |
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