6score
#366 of 555
Overall rank
Core i5-9600
6 cores · 6 threads · up to 4.6 GHz on FCLGA1151.
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Cores
6
Threads
6
Boost
4.6 GHz
L3 cache
9 MB
TDP
65W
Socket
FCLGA1151
Performance breakdown
Gaming6
Productivity6
Single-core6
Multi-core25
Power efficiency5
Lab scores
Performance score6
Cores6
Threads6
Boost clock (GHz)4.6 GHz
Estimated gaming FPS
Paired with a high-end GPU. CPU impact is largest at 1080p.
1080p13 fps
1440p11 fps
4K7 fps
Full specifications
Processor & cores
- Architecture
- Coffee Lake
- Process node
- 14 nm
- Socket
- FCLGA1151
- Release year
- 2019
- Total cores
- 6
- Threads
- 6
- Integrated graphics
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
Clocks & cache
- Base clock
- 3.1 GHz
- Boost clock
- 4.6 GHz
- Multiplier
- 31
- L1 cache
- 384 KB
- L2 cache
- 1.5 MB
- L3 cache
- 9 MB
Memory & platform
- Memory support
- DDR4-2666
- Max capacity
- 128 GB
- Channels
- 2
- Max bandwidth
- 42.671 GB/s
- Base power (TDP)
- 65W
- Max temperature
- 100°C
- PCIe
- PCIe 3.0
- Launch price
- $213
Technologies
- Instruction sets
- SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2
- Extensions
- AES-NI, AVX, VT-x, VT-d, TXT, TSX
Community Feedback
What Owners Say
The usual praise is that it's a solid, reliable performer for gaming without breaking the bank. The main gripe is it lacks hyper-threading, which hurts in heavier multitasking.
Pros
- Solid 1080p gaming performance
- Stays cool on stock cooling
- Plenty of speed for daily tasks
- Locks in for LGA1151 upgrades
Cons
- No hyper-threading for multitasking
- Limited to six threads total
- Stock cooler runs loud under load
Verdict
Our verdict on the Core i5-9600
A six-core, six-thread Coffee Lake CPU that's fine for everyday use but was quickly overshadowed by its own cheaper, hyperthreaded successor.
Get it if you need a reliable, cool-running six-core for a basic office or home PC without fuss. Skip it if you want more threads for heavy multitasking or gaming—get a newer chip instead.
Buy it if…
- You need a solid mid-range gaming CPU without spending extra on overclocking.
- You’re upgrading an older office or home PC with a limited budget.
- You want a stable, low-power workhorse for everyday multitasking and light content creation.
Leaderboard
Its place in the overall top
3.4
21 votes
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