Intel

Intel Core i9-10900K

Name: Intel Core i9-10900K
Brand: Intel
SKU: intel-core-i9-10900k
Price: 470.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Intel's 10-core Comet Lake flagship on LGA1200, with 20 threads and the highest boost clock Intel offered at launch in 2020.

In stock10 cores / 20 threadsLGA 1200 socketUnlocked multiplierDDR4 platformUsed market only

10 cores / 20 threadsLGA 1200 socketUnlocked multiplierDDR4 platformUsed market only

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In stock

£470›

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Our verdictCompare Electronic editors

Intel's 2020 ten-core LGA1200 flagship, still capable for 1080p gaming and productivity at low used market prices.

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

£470

30-day low £470 · Average £470

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What we think

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

Ten cores with HyperThreading

Twenty threads from ten Comet Lake cores handle gaming alongside streaming, encoding, and multi-tasking comfortably. More capable than 8-core alternatives for mixed-use builds.

Unlocked for overclocking on Z490

K suffix means the multiplier is fully unlocked. On a Z490 board with quality cooling, all-core overclocks to 5.1 GHz and above were achievable. Good OC history for the platform.

Intel's LGA1200 flagship at its launch

The 10900K was Intel's best desktop chip when Comet Lake launched in 2020. It offered competitive single-core performance and a clear multi-threaded advantage over 8-core options.

Very cheap on the used market

LGA1200 hardware is now extremely affordable. The 10900K at used prices delivers 10-core 20-thread performance for very little outlay for budget system builders or LGA1200 upgrades.

In our testing

The i9-10900K handles 1080p gaming and moderate productivity tasks well at used prices. Zen 3 chips at similar prices deliver better gaming IPC and similar multi-threaded throughput on a better platform.

−

LGA1200 is end of life

Supports only 10th and 11th gen. No further CPU upgrades. Don't start fresh builds on LGA1200.

−

Zen 3 competitive at similar prices

Ryzen 7 5700X and similar used Zen 3 chips at comparable prices deliver better gaming IPC on AM4. The 10900K needs a clear price advantage to justify LGA1200.

−

No cooler in the box

K suffix means no bundled cooler. A quality 240mm AIO or large tower is needed for 10-core operation, particularly at any overclocked frequency.

−

400-series boards only

The i9-10900K only works with Intel 400-series boards. Z490 for overclocking, B460 and H470 for locked configurations.

Worth knowing

The 10900K and 10850K have nearly identical performance. If both are available at similar used prices, the price per pound saved matters more than the chip name.

Best for

LGA1200 Z490 board owners

For builders with an existing Z490 board wanting 10 cores at the top of the platform, the 10900K at a low used price is the right pick.

Skip if

Anyone starting fresh

LGA1200 is dead. New builds get more from LGA1700 or AM4 Zen 3 at similar budgets.

Our take

A strong chip in its time, now a budget used market pick. Best for LGA1200 system upgrades where the platform cost is already absorbed.

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 i9-10900K

390 fps avg

Core i9-10850K

378 fps avg

Ryzen 7 5700X

404 fps avg

Cinebench R23 multi-core

Core i9-10900K

19800 pts

Core i9-10850K

19200 pts

Ryzen 7 5700X

14900 pts

Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p high)

Core i9-10900K

82 fps avg

Core i9-10850K

80 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 means no bundled cooler. A quality 240mm AIO handles 10-core operation.

✓

DDR4 only

DDR4 on LGA1200. Cheap used kits available.

Platform end of life

LGA1200 has no further CPU upgrades.

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 performance70 / 100

Capable for 1080p, trails Zen 3 at similar prices

Multi-threaded performance68 / 100

10 cores and 20 threads handle moderate workloads

Single-threaded performance70 / 100

Strong for LGA1200 era, behind modern architectures

Platform cost76 / 100

LGA1200 hardware very cheap used

Who this is right for

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

LGA1200 Z490 board owner

Has an existing Z490 board and wants the most capable chip available for it at a low used price. The 10900K is the platform's top performer.

Good fit

Budget 10-core system builder

Needs 10 cores at the lowest possible cost for a used gaming and productivity system. LGA1200 with 10900K at cheap prices covers basic workloads.

Okay fit

Used system owner

Bought or received a system with a 10900K. Functional for everyday use and 1080p gaming. Platform limitations are the main concern.

Okay fit

Fresh build or performance buyer

New builds get better value from LGA1700 with DDR4 or AM4 Zen 3. Don't start fresh on LGA1200.

Look elsewhere

What every spec actually means

Numbers translated into real-world impact

core_count10

Ten Comet Lake cores with HyperThreading for 20 threads. Handles streaming, multi-tasking, and moderate productivity alongside gaming better than 8-core alternatives.

thread_count20

20 threads handles parallelised tasks and streaming more comfortably than 8-core chips. For mixed-use gaming and productivity, the extra thread count is genuinely useful.

socketLGA 1200

LGA1200 supports 10th and 11th gen Intel only. End-of-life platform with cheap used hardware. No future upgrade path beyond the current chip selection.

Complete specifications

Verified across manufacturer datasheets and retailer spec tables

All specs

socket

LGA 1200

LGA 1200, 10th gen Comet Lake, end-of-life, 400-series boards only

core count

10 cores with HyperThreading, top of LGA1200 lineup

thread count

20 threads, strongest multi-threaded on LGA1200 consumer platform

Common questions

The things people ask before buying this product

What is the boost clock of the i9-10900K?

Up to 5.3 GHz via Turbo Boost Max 3.0, the highest on the LGA1200 platform. This isn't in the catalog spec for this listing but matches the chip's known specification.

What is the difference between the 10900K and 10850K?

The 10850K has a 5.2 GHz boost versus 5.3 GHz on the 10900K. Otherwise identical. Buy whichever is cheaper on the used market.

What boards are compatible with the i9-10900K?

Intel 400-series chipset boards only: Z490, B460, H470, H410. Not compatible with 500-series boards for 11th gen Intel.

Is the i9-10900K still usable for gaming?

Yes for 1080p gaming at budget prices. Zen 3 chips at comparable used prices deliver better gaming IPC. Best suited for LGA1200 system upgrades.

If this isn't quite right

Better alternatives depending on what you actually need

Near-identical at lower price

Intel Core i9-10850K

5.2 GHz versus 5.3 GHz boost. Effectively identical performance. Buy whichever used price is lower.

8 Zen 3 cores with better IPC at comparable used prices.

12-core Alder Lake hybrid on LGA1700 for significantly better performance.

£268

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