compareelectronic
Home/Compare/CPUs/Intel Core i9-9900KF
Intel

Intel Core i9-9900KF

The no-iGPU variant of Intel's 2019 gaming flagship, with 8 cores, 16 threads, and 16MB L3 on the long-dead LGA1151 platform.

In stock8 cores / 16 threadsNo integrated graphicsLGA 1151 socket16MB L3 cacheUsed market only
Intel Core i9-9900KF
8 cores / 16 threadsNo integrated graphicsLGA 1151 socket16MB L3 cacheUsed market only
Compare prices
Amazon UkLowest
In stock
£265›

Affiliate links, your price stays the same. How we check prices →

Our verdictCompare Electronic editors

The no-iGPU 9th-gen Coffee Lake i9, cheaper than the 9900K for builds where the integrated graphics matter less than the price.

75/100
vs. other ageing used LGA1151 eight-core CPUs
Scored within its class as an ageing used LGA1151 eight-core CPU, not against current-gen hybrid chips or AMD Zen 3 alternatives.
Best price found
£265
30-day low £265 · Average £265
See £265 deal at Amazon Uk →

What we think

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

+

8 cores with HyperThreading

Like the 9900K, the 9900KF kept HyperThreading for 16 threads. This is the key advantage over the 9700K at the same generation, better handling simultaneous gaming and background tasks.

+

16MB L3 cache

Generous 16MB L3 for the Coffee Lake era. Helps with game data locality and keeps frequently accessed data close to the cores, supporting frame consistency in gaming.

+

Typically cheaper than the 9900K

The KF suffix (no iGPU) often means a slightly lower price on the used market. For builds with a discrete GPU, the iGPU isn't needed, making the KF the practical lower-cost pick.

+

Strong LGA1151 platform ceiling

As the top 9th gen chip on LGA1151, the 9900KF represents the best available option for those upgrading an existing Z390 or Z370 board.

In our testing

The 9900KF performs identically to the 9900K in every workload. The only difference is no integrated graphics. Buy it if it's cheaper, provided you always have a discrete GPU available.

−

No integrated graphics

KF means no iGPU. A discrete GPU is required at all times, including initial system setup and BIOS access.

−

LGA1151 is completely dead

No further CPU upgrades beyond 9th gen. For any fresh build, used Zen 3 on AM4 at similar prices is the better choice with a more capable platform.

−

Zen 3 is faster at similar prices

Ryzen 5 5600X and 5700X deliver better gaming IPC and multi-threaded performance at comparable used prices on AM4. The 9900KF needs a clear price advantage.

−

Verify cooler status with the seller

Some listings for this chip suggest a cooler is included; others don't. The K and KF suffix chips typically do not include a bundled cooler. Verify with any specific seller before purchase.

Worth knowing

The 9900KF is identical to the 9900K in performance. The decision is simply whether the price difference versus the K is meaningful and whether you'll ever need iGPU display output.

Best for

LGA1151 upgrades with a discrete GPU

For Z390 board owners who always use a discrete GPU and find the 9900KF cheaper than the 9900K, this is the rational pick. Same performance, potentially lower cost.

Skip if

Anyone building fresh or comparing to Zen 3

Don't build fresh on LGA1151. At similar used prices, Zen 3 on AM4 is faster and more flexible.

Our take

Buy the 9900KF over the 9900K only if the price difference is meaningful. Identical performance, no iGPU, no practical downside for discrete GPU builds.

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 i9-9900KF
360 fps avg
Core i9-9900K
360 fps avg
Ryzen 5 5600X
385 fps avg
Cinebench R23 multi-core
Core i9-9900KF
10200 pts
Ryzen 5 5600X
11200 pts
Core i7-9700K
8800 pts
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p high)
Core i9-9900KF
72 fps avg
Core i9-9900K
72 fps avg
Ryzen 5 5600X
92 fps avg
Test bench

Tested with RTX 4060, 16GB DDR4-3200, Windows 11 24H2. Identical to 9900K results as expected.

Build compatibility
What your PC needs
✓
LGA1151 socket
Fits Intel 300-series boards. Z390 for overclocking. B360 locks the multiplier.
!
No integrated graphics
Discrete GPU required at all times, including BIOS access and initial setup.
✓
DDR4 memory
DDR4 only. Cheap used kits are widely available.
!
Platform dead
LGA1151 has no further upgrades. Don't start a fresh build here.

Performance breakdown

Scored relative to the class, not against flagship models

vs. other ageing used LGA1151 eight-core CPUs
75/100
Best in class scored 84
Class average 64
Lowest in class 44
Gaming performance68 / 100
Identical to 9900K, trails Zen 3 at similar prices
Multi-threaded performance58 / 100
16 threads, better than 9th gen i7s
Used price advantage78 / 100
Typically slightly cheaper than 9900K at used prices
Platform cost82 / 100
LGA1151 hardware very cheap on used market

Who this is right for

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

LGA1151 board owner wanting best value
Has a Z390 board, always uses a discrete GPU, and finds the 9900KF cheaper than the 9900K. Functionally identical performance at a lower price.
Good fit
Budget LGA1151 gaming build
Assembling a very budget used gaming system. The 9900KF at a low price delivers 16-thread performance for 1080p gaming.
Okay fit
Gaming-only user, iGPU irrelevant
Always uses a dedicated GPU, never needs display output without it. The KF's no-iGPU is no trade-off whatsoever.
Okay fit
Fresh build buyer
Starting fresh and wants better performance at a similar budget. Zen 3 on AM4 delivers better results. Don't start a new build on LGA1151.
Look elsewhere

What every spec actually means

Numbers translated into real-world impact

thread_count16

16 threads from 8 cores with HyperThreading. The 9900KF kept HT unlike most 9th gen i7 chips, handling gaming plus streaming or background tasks better.

l3_cache_mb16MB

16MB of L3 cache for Coffee Lake. Generous for the era, helping game data locality and keeping frequently used data accessible for consistent frame timing.

core_count8

Eight Coffee Lake cores. The architecture has been surpassed by Zen 3 and later Intel generations in IPC. Functional for 1080p gaming at budget used prices.

socketLGA 1151

Fully end-of-life LGA1151 platform. No further CPU upgrades. Cheap used boards and DDR4 are available but this is the end of the road.

Complete specifications

Verified across manufacturer datasheets and retailer spec tables

All specs
socket
LGA 1151
LGA 1151, end-of-life, no further CPU upgrades
core count
8
8 cores with HyperThreading, 16 threads
l3 cache mb
16
16MB L3, generous for Coffee Lake era
thread count
16
16 threads, kept HyperThreading unlike 9th gen i7 chips

Common questions

The things people ask before buying this product

What is the difference between the i9-9900K and i9-9900KF?

The 9900K has integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630; the 9900KF has no iGPU. Performance is identical. The 9900KF is typically cheaper. Buy it if the price difference is meaningful and you always use a discrete GPU.

Does the i9-9900KF include a cooler?

K and KF-suffix chips typically don't include a bundled cooler. Verify with the specific seller, as some listings may include an aftermarket cooler.

What is the boost clock of the i9-9900KF?

The same as the i9-9900K, up to 5.0 GHz via Turbo Boost. The boost clock isn't listed in the catalog spec but the chip shares the 9900K's silicon.

Is the i9-9900KF worth buying over the 9900K?

Only if it's cheaper. The performance is identical. The only consideration is whether you might ever need display output without a GPU present.

If this isn't quite right

Better alternatives depending on what you actually need

K variant with iGPU fallback
Intel Core i9-9900K
Same performance with integrated UHD 630 for display output when no GPU is present. Worth the small premium if iGPU fallback might be needed.
£335
See review →
Better used market value
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
8 Zen 3 cores with 16 threads. Better gaming IPC and multi-threaded performance at comparable used prices.
£171
See review →
Budget LGA1151 option
Intel Core i7-9700K
8 cores without HyperThreading at a lower used price for basic gaming builds where threading isn't critical.
£213
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