Core i9-10850K
Intel's 10-core Comet Lake value chip for enthusiasts, slightly slower than the 10900K at a lower price on the dead LGA1200 platform.
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Why we rate it
- Ten cores at lower used prices
- 5.2 GHz Turbo Boost Max 3.0
- Unlocked for overclocking
- Budget entry to 10-core LGA1200
- LGA1200 is end of life
- Zen 3 competitive at similar prices
Where the Core i9-10850K wins and loses
Specifications
General info
Cores and threads
Clocks and cache
Watch it in action
Core i9-10850K vs Intel Intel Core i9-10850K
| IntelCore i9-10850KThis page | IntelIntel Core i9-10850K | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 75 /100 | 75 /100 |
| Core count | 10 | 10 |
| Thread count | — | 20 |
| Boost clock | 5.2 GHz | 5.2 GHz |
Is the Core i9-10850K right for you?
If you have a Z490 board and want the maximum core count available at the lowest used price, the 10850K delivers 10 Comet Lake cores at a step below the 10900K.
Don't start on LGA1200. LGA1700 with DDR4 or AM4 Zen 3 at similar budgets deliver better performance and platform options.
Before you buy
The 10850K has a slightly lower boost clock (5.2 GHz versus 5.3 GHz) and a typically lower price. The core count and thread count are the same. In practice, gaming and productivity performance are very close.
Only Intel 400-series chipset boards (Z490, B460, H470, H410). Not 500-series boards used for 11th gen. This is specifically noted in the manufacturer specifications.
No. K suffix means no bundled cooler. A quality 240mm AIO or large tower cooler is recommended for 10-core operation.
At similar prices, used Zen 3 chips like the Ryzen 7 5700X typically deliver better gaming and multitasking performance on AM4. The 10850K is best suited for existing LGA1200 board upgrades.
Alternatives & similar cpus
