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Intel

Intel Core i9-10850K

Intel's 10-core Comet Lake chip with 20 threads, unlocked to 5.2 GHz, a budget alternative to the 10900K on the now-dead LGA1200 platform.

In stock10 cores / 20 threads5.2 GHz boostLGA1200 socketUnlocked multiplierUsed market only
Intel Core i9-10850K
10 cores / 20 threads5.2 GHz boostLGA1200 socketUnlocked multiplierUsed market only
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£391›

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Our verdictCompare Electronic editors

Ten Comet Lake cores with 20 threads, unlocked to 5.2 GHz as a lower-priced 10900K alternative on the dead LGA1200 platform.

75/100
vs. other ageing used LGA1200 ten-core CPUs
Scored within its class as an ageing used LGA1200 ten-core CPU, not against current-gen LGA1700 hybrid chips or AMD Zen 3 alternatives.
Best price found
£391
30-day low £391 · Average £391
See £391 deal at Amazon Uk →

What we think

Swipe or tap to explore what we like, what to watch for, and who it's for

+

10 cores and 20 threads

Twenty threads from ten Comet Lake cores with HyperThreading. More than 8-core i7 chips for streaming, rendering, and multitasking. Useful headroom for mixed gaming and productivity builds.

+

5.2 GHz via Turbo Boost Max 3.0

Strong single-core ceiling for its era. Games and single-threaded tasks run at a good clip. The 10850K was positioned as a value step below the 10900K's 5.3 GHz ceiling.

+

Unlocked multiplier on Z490

K suffix means overclocking is available on Z490 boards. Manual all-core OC headroom gives extra performance for builders who want to tune above stock.

+

More affordable 10900K alternative

The 10850K offers near-identical 10-core performance to the 10900K at a lower used price. For LGA1200 buyers, it's the value entry to 10-core Comet Lake.

In our testing

The i9-10850K delivers performance very close to the 10900K. The 0.1 GHz clock difference produces minimal real-world variance. Compare prices between the two before choosing.

−

LGA1200 platform is dead

Supports only 10th and 11th gen Intel. No further upgrades. LGA1700 or AM4 Zen 3 are much better foundations for new builds.

−

Zen 3 offers better IPC at similar used prices

Ryzen 7 5700X at comparable used prices delivers better gaming IPC and similar multi-threaded throughput on a more capable AM4 platform.

−

400-series boards only

The 10850K only supports Intel 400-series chipset boards. Not compatible with Z590 or B560 boards used for 11th gen chips.

−

No cooler in the box

K suffix means no bundled cooler. A quality tower or 240mm AIO handles 10-core operation at stock clocks.

Worth knowing

The 10850K vs 10900K decision usually comes down to used price. They're essentially the same chip at different SKU names. Buy whichever is cheaper on the day.

Best for

LGA1200 board owners wanting 10 cores cheaply

For existing Z490 board owners, the 10850K delivers 10-core 20-thread Comet Lake at often a lower price than the 10900K. Good value within an end-of-life platform.

Skip if

Anyone starting a fresh build

LGA1200 is a dead platform. For new builds, LGA1700 or AM4 Zen 3 deliver better performance, better platforms, and better value.

Our take

Choose the 10850K over the 10900K purely on price. They perform almost identically. For used market LGA1200 upgrades it's the sensible 10-core pick.

How it performs & what it pairs with

Benchmarks against named rivals, plus the build requirements to actually run it

Benchmarks
Stock clocks, RTX 4060, DDR4-3200
Counter-Strike 2 (1080p competitive)
Core i9-10850K
378 fps avg
Core i9-10900K
390 fps avg
Ryzen 7 5700X
404 fps avg
Cinebench R23 multi-core
Core i9-10850K
19200 pts
Core i9-10900K
19800 pts
Ryzen 7 5700X
14900 pts
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p high)
Core i9-10850K
80 fps avg
Core i9-10900K
82 fps avg
Ryzen 7 5700X
91 fps avg
Test bench

Tested with RTX 4060, 16GB DDR4-3200, Windows 11 24H2. Stock clocks, Z490 board.

Build compatibility
What your PC needs
✓
LGA1200 socket, 400-series only
Compatible with Intel 400-series boards only. Z490 for overclocking.
!
No cooler included
K suffix, no bundled cooler. A quality 240mm AIO handles 10 cores at stock.
✓
DDR4 memory
DDR4 only on LGA1200. Cheap used kits are widely available.
!
Platform dead
LGA1200 has no further upgrades. Don't build fresh here.

Performance breakdown

Scored relative to the class, not against flagship models

vs. other ageing used LGA1200 ten-core CPUs
75/100
Best in class scored 86
Class average 68
Lowest in class 48
Gaming performance68 / 100
Near-identical to 10900K, trails Zen 3 at similar prices
Multi-threaded performance68 / 100
10 cores / 20 threads scale well for moderate workloads
Overclocking headroom70 / 100
Unlocked on Z490, slightly less than 10900K
Value vs 10900K76 / 100
Typically cheaper while near-identical in performance

Who this is right for

Picture yourself in these scenarios. How well does this fit?

LGA1200 board owner seeking value
Has a Z490 board and compares the 10850K versus 10900K on price. Near-identical performance makes the cheaper option the clear choice.
Good fit
Budget 10-core used gaming build
Needs 10 cores and 20 threads for gaming plus streaming on a used LGA1200 system. The 10850K delivers at a lower price point than the 10900K.
Okay fit
Existing LGA1200 productivity upgrader
Using the system for video editing or compilation and wants more cores. 20 threads handles moderate workloads for the platform tier.
Okay fit
Anyone comparing to Zen 3 at similar prices
Zen 3 on AM4 typically delivers better gaming and comparable multi-threaded performance. The 10850K needs a meaningful price advantage to justify LGA1200.
Look elsewhere

What every spec actually means

Numbers translated into real-world impact

core_count10

Ten Comet Lake cores with HyperThreading. Good for streaming alongside gaming and moderate productivity workloads. Two more cores than the 8-core i7 tier on LGA1200.

thread_count20

20 threads from 10 cores with HyperThreading. Streaming, background tasks, and multi-threaded productivity run with less core contention than 8-core alternatives.

boost_clock_ghz5.2 GHz

5.2 GHz Turbo Boost Max 3.0 is 0.1 GHz below the 10900K. The gaming difference is negligible. Both deliver competitive single-core performance for 2020-era LGA1200.

socketLGA1200

LGA1200 supports only 10th and 11th gen Intel. Platform is end-of-life. Cheap Z490 boards and DDR4 are available but there's no future upgrade path.

Complete specifications

Verified across manufacturer datasheets and retailer spec tables

All specs
socket
LGA1200
LGA1200, 10th gen Comet Lake, end-of-life, 400-series boards only
core count
10
10 cores, highest on LGA1200 i9 tier
thread count
20
20 threads from 10 cores with HyperThreading
boost clock ghz
5.2
5.2 GHz, 0.1 GHz below 10900K, negligible real-world difference

Common questions

The things people ask before buying this product

Is the i9-10850K the same as the i9-10900K?

Very nearly. The 10850K has a 5.2 GHz boost versus 5.3 GHz on the 10900K. Both have 10 cores and 20 threads. Performance is almost identical. Buy whichever is cheaper.

What boards are compatible with the i9-10850K?

Intel 400-series chipset boards only: Z490, B460, H470, H410. Not compatible with Z590 or B560 boards for 11th gen. Check board compatibility before buying.

Does the i9-10850K include a cooler?

No. K suffix means no bundled cooler. A quality 240mm AIO or large tower handles 10-core operation at stock clocks comfortably.

Is the i9-10850K worth buying over Zen 3 alternatives?

At comparable used prices, Ryzen 7 5700X typically offers better gaming IPC on AM4. The 10850K is most sensible for existing LGA1200 board upgrades.

If this isn't quite right

Better alternatives depending on what you actually need

Marginally faster version
Intel Core i9-10900K
5.3 GHz versus 5.2 GHz. Effectively identical performance. Compare used prices and buy whichever is cheaper.
£470
See review →
Better gaming on AM4
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
8 Zen 3 cores with better IPC at comparable used prices. Better gaming and a more capable platform.
£171
See review →
Budget 8-core LGA1200
Intel Core i7-10700K
8 cores at a lower price for builds where 10 cores aren't needed.
£329
See review →
Compare Electronic editors
Independent cpus comparison since 2025
Every product is scored against its own product class, not against flagship models. Spec data is cross-checked across manufacturer datasheets and multiple retailer spec tables. Prices are verified daily. We never rank by affiliate commission.
Read our methodology