6score
#362 of 555
Overall rank
Core i5-9600K
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
95W
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-R
- Process node
- 14 nm
- Socket
- FCLGA1151
- Release year
- 2018
- Total cores
- 6
- Threads
- 6
- Integrated graphics
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
Clocks & cache
- Base clock
- 3.7 GHz
- Boost clock
- 4.6 GHz
- Multiplier
- 37 (unlocked)
- 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)
- 95W
- Max temperature
- 100°C
- PCIe
- PCIe 3.0
- Launch price
- $262
Technologies
- Instruction sets
- SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2
- Extensions
- AES-NI, AVX, VT-x, VT-d, TXT, TSX
Community Feedback
What Owners Say
Owners love the solid gaming performance for the price and how easy it is to overclock. The usual gripe is not having hyper-threading, which makes it feel dated for modern multitasking.
Pros
- Plays modern games without breaking a sweat
- Stays cool under heavy work loads
- Overclocks easily for extra free performance
- Solid everyday speed for years of use
Cons
- No real overclocking headroom left
- No hyperthreading for modern workloads
- Cheaper motherboards often lack features
Verdict
Our verdict on the Core i5-9600K
A six-core, six-thread Coffee Lake chip with a high clock speed, but it lacks Hyper-Threading for heavy multitasking.
Get it if you need a reliable gaming CPU that runs cool and quiet for a mid-range build without fussing over extra threads. Skip it if you multitask heavily or stream, as newer chips with more threads offer better value for the same money.
Buy it if…
- You want a mid-range gaming rig without overclocking headaches.
- You're upgrading an older LGA1151 motherboard with a budget.
- You need a solid daily driver for office work and light gaming.
Leaderboard
Its place in the overall top
3.9
270 votes
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