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Overall rank

Core i9-10900

10 cores · 20 threads · up to 5.1 GHz on FCLGA1200.

3.5 · 67 votes

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Cores
10
Threads
20
Boost
5.1 GHz
L3 cache
20 MB
TDP
65W
Socket
FCLGA1200

Performance breakdown

Gaming11
Productivity10
Single-core11
Multi-core42
Power efficiency9

Lab scores

Performance score11
Cores10
Threads20
Boost clock (GHz)5.1 GHz

Estimated gaming FPS

Paired with a high-end GPU. CPU impact is largest at 1080p.

1080p24 fps
1440p19 fps
4K13 fps

Full specifications

Processor & cores
Architecture
Comet Lake
Process node
14 nm
Socket
FCLGA1200
Release year
2020
Total cores
10
Threads
20
Integrated graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 630
Clocks & cache
Base clock
2.8 GHz
Boost clock
5.1 GHz
L1 cache
640 KB
L2 cache
2.5 MB
L3 cache
20 MB
Memory & platform
Memory support
DDR4-2933
Max capacity
128 GB
Channels
2
Max bandwidth
45.8 GB/s
Base power (TDP)
65W
Max temperature
100°C
PCIe
PCIe 3.0
Technologies
Instruction sets
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2
Extensions
AES-NI, AVX, VT-x, VT-d, Turbo Boost Max 3.0, TXT
Community Feedback

What Owners Say

Owners praise it for staying cool and quiet under a normal load. The usual gripe is that it runs hot and needs a better cooler if you push it hard.

Pros
  • Sips power, stays cool and quiet
  • Handles heavy multitasking without breaking a sweat
  • Gets you into gaming without a high-end board
  • Keeps older Z490 and B460 boards relevant
Cons
  • Locked to a locked multiplier
  • No overclocking support at all
  • Older Comet Lake architecture
Verdict

Our verdict on the Core i9-10900

A Comet Lake chip with ten cores and a 65-watt power limit that runs hot under sustained load.

Get it if you need a fast, reliable processor for a basic office PC or home build that runs cool and quiet on a budget. Skip it if you plan any heavy gaming or demanding creative work, as newer chips offer far better performance for the same price.

Buy it if…

  • You build a workstation for heavy number crunching without a discrete GPU.
  • You need a stable, high-core-count CPU for a quiet office machine.
  • You are upgrading an older Intel system without changing the motherboard.
3.5

67 votes

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