Intel Core i7-9700
Intel's locked 9th-gen eight-core on LGA1151, without HyperThreading, now a used-market chip for very budget system upgrades on existing 300-series boards.
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Why we rate it
- Eight physical cores without threading overhead
- 4.7 GHz boost for the era
- Intel 300-series compatibility
- Cheap used price
- No HyperThreading, only 8 threads
- LGA1151 is completely dead
Where the Intel Core i7-9700 wins and loses
Specifications
General info
Cores and threads
Clocks and cache
Watch it in action
Intel Core i7-9700 vs Intel Intel Core i9-10900K
| IntelIntel Core i7-9700This page | IntelIntel Core i9-10900K | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 75 /100 | 75 /100 |
| Core count | 8 | 10Better |
| Thread count | 8 | 20Better |
| Boost clock | 4.7 GHz | — |
Is the Intel Core i7-9700 right for you?
If you already own an Intel 300-series board and want 8 physical cores for light gaming and everyday use, the i7-9700 at a very low used price is a viable upgrade.
At similar prices, a Ryzen 5 5600X or 5700X offers better gaming, more threads, and a more capable used platform. The i7-9700 needs a meaningful price gap to justify the trade-offs.
Before you buy
Intel removed HyperThreading from most 9th gen i5, i7, and i9 chips following security vulnerability patches. The i7-9700 has 8 physical cores but only 8 threads. The i7-8700K had 6 cores and 12 threads.
The i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking and typically a marginally higher boost clock. Otherwise identical. At similar used prices, the K variant is the better choice.
Intel 300-series boards: Z390, B365, H370, B360, and H310. A BIOS update may be required on some boards. Z390 gives you the most features and best VRM for sustained loads.
For light gaming at 1080p it remains functional. Modern AAA titles and competitive gaming at high frame rates show the platform's age. Zen 3 chips at similar used prices are meaningfully faster.
Alternatives & similar cpus
