FPSVersusCore i3-9100 vs Core i7-4790K
Performance score
Core i3-9100 and Core i7-4790K are almost equally fast (under 3% apart) — choose by price, socket and platform.
Different sockets (LGA1151 and LGA1150) — switching between them needs a different motherboard.
The score is our own estimate from the specs (cores, threads, clocks, architecture generation), not a benchmark run. 100 = the fastest CPU in our database.
Real tests
What the test measures
Blender is a popular free 3D graphics program. The test makes the device render three ready-made 3D scenes (light, shadows, reflections) and counts how many render passes it finishes per minute. The higher the number, the faster the device handles heavy work: 3D, video editing, photo processing. On a CPU the test loads all cores at once, so it shows the chip's full power; on a graphics card it shows its compute strength.
Median of real test runs on users' computers. It does not show FPS in games. Data updated: 31.10.2026.
Overview
| Core i3-9100 | Core i7-4790K | |
|---|---|---|
| Score (0–100) | 18.33 | 18.74 |
| Ranking position | 444 | 442 |
| Power efficiency (0–100) | 14.74 | 11.13 |
| Type | Desktop | Desktop |
| Manufacturer | Intel | Intel |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake Refresh | Haswell |
| Release date | Q2 2019 | Q2 2014 |
Specifications
| Core i3-9100 | Core i7-4790K | |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 4 |
| Threads | 4 | 8 |
| Base clock | 3.6 GHz | 4 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.2 GHz | 4.4 GHz |
| L3 cache | 6 MB | 8 MB |
| Process node | 14 nm | 22 nm |
| Unlocked multiplier | no | yes |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | Intel HD Graphics 4600 |
| NPU (AI accelerator) | no | no |
Compatibility
| Core i3-9100 | Core i7-4790K | |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1150 |
| TDP | 65 W | 88 W |
Memory and PCI Express
| Core i3-9100 | Core i7-4790K | |
|---|---|---|
| Memory type | DDR4-2133/2400 | DDR3-1333/1600 |
| Memory channels | 2 | 2 |
| Max memory | 64 GB | 32 GB |
| PCI Express version | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| PCIe lanes | 16 | 16 |
Pros and cons
Core i3-9100
- 9% faster single core
- lower TDP: 65 W vs 88 W
- newer: released in 2019
Core i7-4790K
- more threads: 8 vs 4
- bigger L3 cache: 8 MB vs 6 MB
- unlocked multiplier (can be overclocked)
Other comparisons
Preliminary data: specs are still being checked against the manufacturer's website.
Visitor rating
Questions and comments
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