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: +58.7% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Processor U300 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 46.1 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $193 MSRP).
❌533.3% higher power demand at 95W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while Processor U300 moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.

Processor U300

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $192 less on MSRP ($193 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Delivers 23.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 46.1 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($193 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 95W, a 80W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (8,897 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

Processor U300

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +58.7% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Processor U300 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Costs $192 less on MSRP ($193 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Delivers 23.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 46.1 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($193 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 95W, a 80W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 46.1 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $193 MSRP).
❌533.3% higher power demand at 95W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while Processor U300 moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (8,897 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 Processor U300?

Yes. Core i7-9700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 58.7% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data and 61.8% 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 58.7% more average FPS across 6 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 61.8% 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 any fresh desktop build. Core i7-9700K is 99.5% more expensive on MSRP at $385 MSRP versus $193 MSRP, and it gives you a 58.7% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. Processor U300 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games, especially when the gap is already 58.7% in the shared gaming data.

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

Processor U300 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2018) and a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151. 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

Processor U300 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Processor U300
1080p
low	308 FPS	183 FPS
medium	278 FPS	150 FPS
high	231 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	150 FPS
medium	221 FPS	118 FPS
high	178 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	84 FPS
medium	140 FPS	72 FPS
high	108 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Processor U300

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Processor U300
1080p
low	360 FPS	166 FPS
medium	321 FPS	137 FPS
high	291 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	146 FPS
medium	282 FPS	123 FPS
high	258 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	99 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	113 FPS
medium	221 FPS	98 FPS
high	208 FPS	85 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	72 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Processor U300

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Processor U300
1080p
low	360 FPS	222 FPS
medium	360 FPS	222 FPS
high	360 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	222 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	222 FPS
medium	360 FPS	222 FPS
high	360 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	222 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	222 FPS
medium	360 FPS	222 FPS
high	360 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	163 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Processor U300

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Processor U300
1080p
low	360 FPS	222 FPS
medium	360 FPS	222 FPS
high	360 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	222 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	222 FPS
medium	360 FPS	222 FPS
high	360 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	222 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	222 FPS
medium	360 FPS	222 FPS
high	360 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	222 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Processor U300

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Processor U300

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.

Processor U300

The Processor U300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-U (2023) architecture. It features 5 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 8,897 points. Launch price was $193.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Processor U300 offers 5 cores / 6 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 4.4 GHz on the Processor U300 — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Processor U300 uses Raptor Lake-U (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Processor U300's 8,897 — a 47.2% lead for the Core i7-9700K. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 8 MB (total) on the Processor U300.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Processor U300
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+60%	5 / 6
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+11%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+200%	1.2 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+50%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)+400%
Process	14 nm	10 nm-29%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Raptor Lake-U (2023)
PassMark	14,397+62%	8,897

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Processor U300 uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Processor U300
Socket	LGA1151	FCBGA1744
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) / not specified (Processor U300). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Processor U300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Processor U300
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
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 Processor U300 debuted at $193. On MSRP ($385 vs $193), the Processor U300 is $192 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 46.1 pts/$ for the Processor U300 — making the Processor U300 the 20.8% better value option.