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

✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 7 8700F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 8700F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 31,240).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 115.7 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Ryzen 7 8700F

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +64.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $115 less on MSRP ($270 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Delivers 209.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 115.7 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($270 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Ryzen 7 8700F

2024

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 7 8700F needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +64.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $115 less on MSRP ($270 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Delivers 209.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 115.7 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($270 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 8700F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 31,240).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 115.7 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 8700F better than Core i7-9700K?

Yes. Ryzen 7 8700F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 64.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 117% 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, Ryzen 7 8700F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 64.9% 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, Ryzen 7 8700F is the better fit. You are getting 117% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Ryzen 7 8700F is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 8700F is $115 cheaper on MSRP at $270 MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you a 64.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 209.4% better value on MSRP (115.7 vs 37.4 PassMark/$), 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?

Ryzen 7 8700F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2018), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151, 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 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

Ryzen 7 8700F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 8700F
1080p
low	308 FPS	266 FPS
medium	278 FPS	240 FPS
high	231 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	233 FPS
medium	221 FPS	190 FPS
high	178 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	158 FPS
medium	140 FPS	131 FPS
high	108 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen 7 8700F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 8700F
1080p
low	360 FPS	483 FPS
medium	321 FPS	403 FPS
high	291 FPS	347 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	308 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	423 FPS
medium	282 FPS	374 FPS
high	258 FPS	322 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	273 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	283 FPS
medium	221 FPS	259 FPS
high	208 FPS	244 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	209 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen 7 8700F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 8700F
1080p
low	360 FPS	781 FPS
medium	360 FPS	781 FPS
high	360 FPS	767 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	649 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	766 FPS
medium	360 FPS	629 FPS
high	360 FPS	544 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	463 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	530 FPS
medium	360 FPS	457 FPS
high	360 FPS	402 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	338 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen 7 8700F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 8700F
1080p
low	360 FPS	781 FPS
medium	360 FPS	781 FPS
high	360 FPS	781 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	781 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	781 FPS
medium	360 FPS	781 FPS
high	360 FPS	692 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	602 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	615 FPS
medium	360 FPS	553 FPS
high	360 FPS	495 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	431 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen 7 8700F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Ryzen 7 8700F

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 7 8700F

The Ryzen 7 8700F is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.1 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 31,240 points. Launch price was $270.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, matching the Ryzen 7 8700F's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen 7 8700F — a 2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 8700F (base: 3.6 GHz vs 4.1 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 8700F uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Ryzen 7 8700F's 31,240 — a 73.8% lead for the Ryzen 7 8700F. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 8700F.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 8700F
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	4.1 GHz+14%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+300%
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Phoenix (2023−2024)
PassMark	14,397	31,240+117%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	18,040
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,649
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	13,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 8700F uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 7 8700F — the Ryzen 7 8700F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 8700F supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 20 (Ryzen 7 8700F) — the Ryzen 7 8700F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and XB650,B650,A620 (Ryzen 7 8700F).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 8700F
Socket	LGA1151	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-5200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 7 8700F supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 8700F). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 7 8700F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop, Ryzen 7 8700F targets High-performance Gaming w/ dGPU. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 8700F rivals Core i7-14700F.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 8700F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	High-performance Gaming w/ dGPU

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 8700F debuted at $270. On MSRP ($385 vs $270), the Ryzen 7 8700F is $115 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 115.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 8700F — making the Ryzen 7 8700F the 102.3% better value option.