Intel i7 4790k was a beast back in the day and a lot of people find it interesting even in 2023, In the rapidly evolving world of technology, it’s crucial to determine if our once cutting-edge hardware can still hold its own 9 years on!
Today we will be revisiting the i7 4790K processor, famously known as Devil’s Canyon, to evaluate its performance and relevance today. Lauded for its impressive clock speeds and cooler operation upon release back in May 2014, we’ll put this iconic processor to the test in various gaming and productivity scenarios to see if it’s still a viable option for those looking to get the most out of their gaming experience on a tight budget.
With 4 cores and 8 threads, this CPU will satisfy most users user, but it can show its age in higher resolutions. Although it’s not a big difference, as time passes, modern games now demand at least 6 cores for a good experience.
Let’s dive into it and find out together what this processor is made of in 2023!
Best Intel i7 4790k Offer At The Moment
Is Intel i7 4790k Still Good? Short Topic Answer
Yes, the Intel i7 4790k is still considered a good processor in 2023. This CPU will give you a great gaming experience in both 1080p and 2k but fps depend on your graphics settings, It is a fairly strong CPU and won’t bottleneck a good GPU.
Intel i7 4790k Specifications
| Number of Cores | 4 cores |
| Number of Threads | 8 threads |
| Base Frequency | 4.0 GHz |
| Turbo Frequency | 4.4 GHz |
| Cache | 8 MB |
| Bus Speed | 5 GT/s |
| TDP | 88W |
| Release Date | May 2014 |
Is Intel i7 4790k Good For Gaming in 2023?
Intel i7 4790k is a great processor for gaming even after 9 years since its release. This processor can run most new games smoothly when paired with a good GPU as most games are GPU intensive rather than CPU, however the lack of cores can affect your experience in 4k, but you will be fine in 1080p and 1440p
Our I7 4790k FPS Gaming Results (Tested in May 2023)
All tests are conducted with the Intel I7 4790k combined with the Nvidia RTX 2060 with each game set in high settings.
I was very impressed with the results when you put this processor with a GPU that is now 3 years old, on a budget you can still get great performance on the most popular games.
| Game | Average FPS | CPU Usage | CPU Temp |
| COD Warzone 2 | 85 FPS | 87% | 65°C |
| Fortnite | 93 FPS | 89% | 64°C |
| Apex Legends | 86 FPS | 85% | 61°C |
| PUBG | 118 FPS | 87% | 64°C |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 98 FPS | 82% | 65°C |
| RUST | 71 FPS | 68% | 61°C |
| Battlefield V | 119 FPS | 90% | 64°C |
| CYBERPUNK 2077 | 67 FPS | 87% | 61°C |
Best GPU to pair with the Intel i7 4790k
As featured above in our play tests The NVIDIA RTX 2060 is an excellent choice for pairing with the Intel i7 4790k, offering an impressive balance of performance and affordability that isn’t bottlenecked by this processor.
With its Turing architecture and 6GB of GDDR6 memory, the RTX 2060 delivers exceptional gaming and streaming capabilities, enabling gamers to experience smooth gameplay at high resolutions and frame rates
As we are interested in the 4790K this GPU is what we would consider affordable in terms of lower-end budget builds, It really does deliver that bang-for-buck feeling.
Is Intel i7 4790k Good For Editing in 2023?
Yes and No – The Intel i7 4790k is a solid CPU for editing even after all this time after its release. Although you will need to spend more time waiting for the i7 4790k to finish things than newer processors, this CPU will do a good job for most people that are using it for light editing.
If you are however someone who edits gaming videos on a regular basis then I would consider expanding your budget just a little for something like the I5 12600K which will process your videos quicker.
Is Intel i7 4790k Good For Streaming in 2023?
No – If you are planning on streaming the latest most popular games then I would look to expand your budget a little more. This processor only has 4 cores so you will run into some performance problems while playing and streaming at the same time.
Newer Alternatives that may be within your budget
Conclusion
The question for the conclusion is should you buy the i7 4790k in 2023?
The processor is 9 years old and isn’t going to be performing like new processors in maximum resolution in ultra settings however it is still a great processor and an excellent choice for our readers who like getting more for the money when building budget builds!
If you are happy like me with the performance on the games listed above and you are on a limited budget then absolutely go for it! but if you are someone who wants more performance or you are interested in streaming down the line then consider one of the alternatives and expand that budget a little.
