Should You Upgrade from Intel I7 8700k to Intel I9 9900k?
Introduction
Intel I7 8700k is a great processor for all kinds of usage. Although it’s pretty good, people often want to jump on something newer and better like the Intel i9 9900k.
To make sure that you make the best decision and save some money that can be used better.
I will research this topic, test both of the CPUs and provide you with a conclusion.
Keep reading!
Should You Upgrade from Intel I7 8700k to Intel I9 9900k? Short Topic Answer
There is no point in upgrading from Intel i7 8700k to Intel I9 9900k, especially in 2022. Intel I7 8700k is a great processor and with 6 cores and 12 threads, it will be more than enough for most users. Going from I7 8700k wouldn’t boost your performance enough to be considered worth the upgrade.
Specifications – Intel I7 8700k & I9 9900k
Intel I9 9900k Specifications
Intel I7 8700k Specifications
| Cores | 8 |
| Threads | 16 |
| Base Frequency | 3.6 GHz |
| Boost Frequency | 5.0 GHz |
| Cache | 16 MB |
| Bus Speed | 8 GT/s |
| TDP | 95W |
| Cores | 6 |
| Threads | 12 |
| Base Frequency | 3.7 GHz |
| Boost Frequency | 4.7 GHz |
| Cache | 12 MB |
| Bus Speed | 8 GT/s |
| TDP | 95W |
Why You Shouldn’t Switch From I7 8700k To I9 9900k?
There are a few main reasons why you shouldn’t switch from your Intel I7 8700k to a newer and slightly better Intel I9 9900k.
When having a CPU this good and expensive, most people are aiming for resolutions higher than 1080p. Since higher resolutions like 1440p and 4k require GPU strength more than the processor, the most important component Is a Graphics card, and the processor is there just to help you.
Since the Intel I9 9900k would give you in most cases only a 3% to 8% boost in performance, I can’t recommend you spend more cash when all you can get is just a few fps more.
Best Offers for Intel I7 8700k and Intel I7 9900k
Comparison in popular games – 1080p
As you can see in the table below, these two processors will both perform well in popular games.
To get the most out of them, I paired them with Radeon RX 5700 XT which is also a great graphics card for 1080p gaming.
Have in mind that I tested both processors on 5.0 GHz.
Although I tested some demanding games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, both of the CPUs did a great job with average fps of 94 fps for Intel i7 8700k and 92 fps for Intel I9 9900k.
In the other games, the fps varies from 3 fps to 10 fps, although that can be good enough for some people, I don’t think it’s enough of a performance boost for you to consider upgrading.
| Specs: AMD Radeon 5700 XT, Intel I9 9900k / Intel i7 8700k , 16 Gb DDR4, 1TB SSD | Intel I9 9900k AVERAGE FPS | Intel I9 9900k 1% LOW FPS | Intel I7 8700k AVERAGE FPS | Intel I7 8700k 1% LOW FPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey (Ultra settings - 1080p) | 94 fps | 65 fps | 92 fps | 66 fps |
| Forza Horizon 4 (Ultra settings - 1080p) | 117 fps | 104 fps | 115 fps | 99 fps |
| Fortnite (Epic settings - 1080p) | 166 fps | 134 fps | 161 fps | 130 fps |
| Hitman 2 (Ultra settings - 1080p) | 138 fps | 91 fps | 135 fps | 94 fps |
| PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (Ultra settings - 1080p) | 131 fps | 95 fps | 135 fps | 97 fps |
| Shadow of the Tomb Rider (Ultra settings - 1080p) | 122 fps | 96 fps | 117 fps | 90 fps |
| Battlefield 5 (Ultra settings - 1080p) | 131 fps | 81 fps | 122 fps | 78 fps |
Should you upgrade from your Intel I7 8700k?
Intel I7 8700k is still a very good processor for most users, but if you want a better processor and you aren’t satisfied with its performance, you may want to upgrade to a better processor. Personally, I don’t think the upgrade is worth the money unless you want to go for newer Ryzen processors since the new Intel processors aren’t that good of an upgrade at all.
If you have a mid-range graphics card like GTX 1060, GTX 1660, or GTX 1660 Ti, your intel I7 8700k will be more than enough for you since these graphics cards are designed for 1080p gaming, and Intel I7 8700k is more than enough for that task.
What Is The Best Upgrade From Intel I7 8700k?
Since Ryzen and Intel released new processors and although there are much better deals on the market right now, I think you should still keep using the Intel I7 8700k. If you still want to change the CPU, I will try to suggest to you a few good options below.
Best Ryzen processors that you can upgrade to from i7 8700k:
For Ryzen, I can recommend you new Ryzen 5 5600x and Ryzen 9 5900x for a great performance boost. Try to avoid Ryzen 7 5800x since this chip could give you temp issues. You can read more about these temp issues here.
Have in mind that you would need to change your motherboard when upgrading to Ryzen, so that might be a problem for you.
Best Intel processors that you can upgrade to from i7 8700k:
Although there are better Intel processors for Intel I7 8700k on the market, most of them aren’t worth the money at least at this moment.
You can go for Intel I7 11700 and you will most likely feel the jump in the performance, at least you should for the money you would need to pay for this 11 gen processor. Have in mind that for this CPU you will need to upgrade your motherboard (LGA1200).
Since the new motherboard and CPU can be expensive, maybe consider waiting for the 12th gen Intel processor to be released, so the prices of other older CPUs would drop.
Should You Overclock The Intel I7 8700k?
If you want to get the most out of the Intel I7 8700k you should definitely consider overclocking it. By doing that, you will get better performances in most games that you play.
3 Comments. Leave new
Great info here thank you
No problem! Thank You for reading.
If you’re a serious gamer or content creator, upgrading from Intel i7 8700k to i9 9900k could significantly boost your performance and productivity.