I7-8700K, I7-9700K or I9-9900K?

[ktn21]

Hello,


I'm searching for a CPU for my first Z390 chipset build. I'm not planning to overclock anything. The main use for this CPU would be 4K gaming (I have RTX 2080 TI) and video editing.

I work at the national television so I like to bring home some work from time to time. Mainly to import/export movies and also encoding (converting) them for work.

I'm stuck between three options: I7-8700K (519€), I7-9700K (523€) and I9 9900K (827€).

I would go with the 9900K, but I am too worried about the heat. With the 8700K and the 9700K you could probably get away with a good aircooler (Noctua NH-D15) or AIO cooler (Corsair H115i Pro). But with the 9900K, I have heard from many reviewers that it's almost recommended to use a custom watercooling solution, to keep the temps low, because otherwise it hits ~100°C on full load. Example:

When it comes to 4K gaming, they all seem to perform pretty much the same (maybe 1-2 FPS difference in some games) (examples: https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Intel/Core_i7_9700K/15.html )

So I guess my question to you is:

1) Should I be worried about the 9900K running hot?

2) Which CPU should I buy? From the price point 8700K and 9700K cost basically the same, while 9900K being obviously the more expensive one.
As we saw from the 4K gaming benchmarks. The performance seems to be identical between these cards. So I guess it all comes down to productivity (video- and image editing, encoding, compression etc.), where 9900K takes the lead...?!


Thank you in advance,
Chris

 

[Deleted member 178884]

I'm searching for a CPU for my first Z390 chipset build. I'm not planning to overclock anything.

Buy a locked chipset board with a locked cpu - there's zero point in paying extra for overclocking features without the intent to overclock.

 

[FireFox]

Which CPU should I buy? From the price point 8700K and 9700K cost basically the same, while 9900K being obviously the more expensive one.

None of those.

@Xx Tek Tip xX was clear enough, No Overclock no K Series CPU

 

[ktn21]

2700x, unless you've got the board already. If so get the 8700k and just use multi core enhancement to run 6x 4.7GHz

Yes I have the board already. 8700K and 9700K are priced the same in my country. You think it would be a wise move to choose an older CPU over the new one?

 

[king of swag187]

2700X, if you specifaclly want Z390, then whatever is cheaper out of those CPU's
If the same price, get the one that performs better

 

[cucker tarlson]

Yes I have the board already. 8700K and 9700K are priced the same in my country. You think it would be a wise move to choose an older CPU over the new one?

if the price is the same go for the 9700k. and use multi core enhancement, otherwise it's wasting money on the K SKU.

 

[Gorstak]

buy a 9900k and this

some earplugs would be advisable aswell

 

[trog100]

my 8700k runs fine on high end air at 4.8 g.. by fine i mean 80-ish C max.. at 5 g it runs 90-ish C a tad too warm for me..

at stock they will all run a lot cooler.. if money matters i would buy the 8700K or the 8086 (better bin less volts needed) ) just dont clock it too high..

trog

 

[T4C Fantasy]

Hello,


I'm searching for a CPU for my first Z390 chipset build. I'm not planning to overclock anything. The main use for this CPU would be 4K gaming (I have RTX 2080 TI) and video editing.

I work at the national television so I like to bring home some work from time to time. Mainly to import/export movies and also encoding (converting) them for work.

I'm stuck between three options: I7-8700K (519€), I7-9700K (523€) and I9 9900K (827€).

I would go with the 9900K, but I am too worried about the heat. With the 8700K and the 9700K you could probably get away with a good aircooler (Noctua NH-D15) or AIO cooler (Corsair H115i Pro). But with the 9900K, I have heard from many reviewers that it's almost recommended to use a custom watercooling solution, to keep the temps low, because otherwise it hits ~100°C on full load. Example:View attachment 110308


When it comes to 4K gaming, they all seem to perform pretty much the same (maybe 1-2 FPS difference in some games) (examples: https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Intel/Core_i7_9700K/15.html )View attachment 110306


So I guess my question to you is:

1) Should I be worried about the 9900K running hot?

2) Which CPU should I buy? From the price point 8700K and 9700K cost basically the same, while 9900K being obviously the more expensive one.
As we saw from the 4K gaming benchmarks. The performance seems to be identical between these cards. So I guess it all comes down to productivity (video- and image editing, encoding, compression etc.), where 9900K takes the lead...?!


Thank you in advance,
Chris

Get the 9700k, its better than the 8700k for the same price, plus those 8 cores will be mainstream anyways in 2 to 3 years

 

[John Naylor]

You have stated that the primary interest is gaming, and while I can say that AMD has a horse in the race here, in none of those cases do they finish on top. The 9900k is a waste for a strict gaming standpoint , I'd limit my choices to a 9600k or 9700k and drop the 9900k from consideration, because no, cores really aren't going to matter as your image shows very well. So .... from the gaming perspective, Intel is the obvious way to go. From the video editing perspective however Intel and AMD both have viable choices.

From the video editing standpoint, it's going to depend on just how much you do .... the more you do, the more money it's worthwhile spending, Both AMD and Intel have viable options. But it's also going to depends on what app you are using. Puget sound has the best set of performance comparision data that I have found using Premiere Pro.

Again, I'd stay with the 9700k but with the interest in nk editing, the more frequentlyyou do it, the more that the 9900k becomes the obvious choice being significantly faster than the 9700k and 2700k. I'd pair it with an MSI MEG 390 ACE

32 GB would be my minimum ... 2 x 16 GB wild be cheaper than 4 x 8GB, allowing room for upgrade if ya see yaself getting bigger into it but unsure. But as this relates to what yu do for a living, it should be a write-off which in my case, Id spring for 4 x 16GB from the getgo.

As for the cooler, the Scythe Fuma will outpefrom the Noctua / Cryorig flagship air coolers....

https://tpucdn.com/reviews/Scythe/Fuma/images/temp_oc_aida64.png

If ya want more cooling and the ease of an all-in-one but without the weak pump, galvanic corrosion problems of CLCs, grab a Swiftech H360X which is basically a set of open loop cooling components preassembled at the factory

https://tpucdn.com/reviews/Swiftech/Swiftech_H360X3_Drive_X3_AIO/images/temp_oc_aida64.png
http://www.swiftech.com/drivex3aio.aspx

I'd put it in a Phantex Luxe Tempered Glass Case. A Seasonic Focus Gold Plus PSU, a pair of SSDs (one for OS and programs, 2nd for scratch drive ) I use SSHds for archival storage but use what you are comfortable with

 

[newtekie1]

I'd go with the 9700K, the 8-Cores should actually perform just a little better in multi-threaded performance than the 6c/12t of the 8700K. The HT of the 9900K isn't really worth the price premium, IMO.

Buy a locked chipset board with a locked cpu - there's zero point in paying extra for overclocking features without the intent to overclock.

None of those.

@Xx Tek Tip xX was clear enough, No Overclock no K Series CPU

Are there 8-Core locked CPUs with the same clock speeds as the 9700K/9900K?

I see suggestions like this all the time, do people not realize that there are more advantages to a K CPU than just the unlocked multiplier? The 8700K is faster than the 8700 even without overclocking.

And what's the point buying a K series CPU when it's not going to be Overclocked?

I am just curious.

They are clocked higher than the locked versions. So they are faster, even if you aren't overclocking.

 

[T4C Fantasy]

And what's the point buying a K series CPU when it's not going to be Overclocked?

I am just curious.

Because those are his 3 options he gave us, i dont care about cpus he didnt mention, out of the 3 9700k is best

 

[T4C Fantasy]

Yeap, because maybe he doesn't even know what is is doing.

Thats not my concern though, if everyone else wants to recommend stuff thats fine by me, im just telling him out of the 3 he told us.

 

[Deleted member 178884]

Are there 8-Core locked CPUs with the same clock speeds as the 9700K/9900K? I see suggestions like this all the time, do people not realize that there are more advantages to a K CPU than just the unlocked multiplier? The 8700K is faster than the 8700 even without overclocking.

They are clocked higher than the locked versions. So they are faster, even if you aren't overclocking.

Well the OP has now stated he already owns a z board, He could've made the drop and saved at least a hundred ish or less and that's more money in his pocket, why pay for features you never use and yes they are clocked higher but so what? The 8700k is 6% ish faster stock - nothing much at all unless you overclock.

I recommend the 8700k if I had to choose one of the three options, the 9700k isn't worth it unless your overclocking where multi core comes close to a stock 8700k - you'll find the 8700k will do better for rendering than a 9700k.
EDIT: I recommend the 9700k - in you were in the UK I'd be a 8700k.

 

[Outback Bronze]

I was just playing around with a 9700K its it gets extremely warm and the VRM's were probably the hottest I've ever touched.

I went to take the water cooling CPU block off and I almost burnt myself on the VRM heatsinks. Couldn't believe it!

Was overclocking to 5.1Ghz and temps were around the 80°C mark on the CPU with a 1x 280 rad custom loop..

Id say the 8700K will run much cooler with little performance differences if your worried about temperatures.

Board was a Gigabyte Z390 Gaming SLI

 

[R0H1T]

Locked CPU, Z390 for 4k gaming & video editing? The list sounds a bit odd. It's not mentioned why you don't want to OC, is it work related (video editing?) or just a disaffinity towards OCing in general? Also how important is 4k gaming, video editing respectively? If the latter is more important/work related then 9900k is the best choice IMO, otherwise a tossup between 8700k & 9700k mainly depending on whether you prefer more threads or more (real) cores. Also as others have mentioned ~ if you have absolutely zero need/intention of OCing just return the Z390 & get a cheaper non Z board.

 

[Vario]

The Z series motherboards are usually better than the H and others, nothing wrong with using it with a locked CPU. For various reasons I built a machine for a relative a few months ago with a i5 8400 and a AsRock Z370 Extreme-4. Some of those reasons had to do with the Z being on sale, the H series lacking a number of features such as PS2-Simulator which I use to easily put Win 7 on it, and having good ram speed options. The locked i5 because it was $130.

I imagine these newer processors draw enough wattage even at stock settings you want to run a good VRM design, and the Z series definitely will have the most robust VRMs.

To answer OP question I would do the i7 9700K of the three options at the prices you listed. If you can get the i5 9600K or i5 8600K or i5 8400/8500 than you should consider doing that instead and save a lot of cash. If AMD is an option do the R7 2700X with some good ram.

If you aren't overclocking the processor and you are doing 9700K or lower do not worry about the temperatures, just put a big air cooler on it like a NHD15.

 

[trog100]

4.9 is the sweet spot as regards heat on my 8700k.. it will go higher but the temps go up a little too much..

trog

 

[Vario]

4.9 is the sweet spot as regards heat on my 8700k.. it will go higher but the temps go up a little too much..

trog

Funny going to a soldered lid and the temps scale the same as the thermal paste lid, imagining 2 more cores 4 more threads.

My 8600K runs cooler than my old Ivy Bridge 3770K both not delidded. I don't think the Coffee Lake TIM was as bad as people claimed.

 

[trog100]

Funny going to a soldered lid and the temps scale the same as the thermal paste lid, imagining 2 more cores 4 more threads.

My 8600K runs cooler than my old Ivy Bridge 3770K both not delidded. I don't think the Coffee Lake TIM was as bad as people claimed.

i think you are right..

trog

 

[newtekie1]

Well the OP has now stated he already owns a z board, He could've made the drop and saved at least a hundred ish or less and that's more money in his pocket, why pay for features you never use and yes they are clocked higher but so what? The 8700k is 6% ish faster stock - nothing much at all unless you overclock.

6% makes quite the difference when doing an encode that takes several hours.

I recommend the 8700k if I had to choose one of the three options, the 9700k isn't worth it unless your overclocking where multi core comes close to a stock 8700k - you'll find the 8700k will do better for rendering than a 9700k.

Nope, the 8700K is about 10% slower than the 9700K at video rendering.

 

[Deleted member 178884]

Nope, the 8700K is about 10% slower than the 9700K at video rendering.

Never mind I didn't see he wrote that the 8700k costed the same as the 9700k. If your unaware I'm from the UK - the 9700k costs £430+ new and the 8700k can cost around £300~ so my recommendation has changed since the OP can get them at the same price.

 

[Vayra86]

Funny going to a soldered lid and the temps scale the same as the thermal paste lid, imagining 2 more cores 4 more threads.

My 8600K runs cooler than my old Ivy Bridge 3770K both not delidded. I don't think the Coffee Lake TIM was as bad as people claimed.

Yup, another one of those typical cases of 'told you so'... topics full of pigeon poop rage suddenly look quite funny don't they

As for the choice: 9700K. 8 full fat cores with maximum temp headroom due to no HT. Its clear the 9900K can't comfortably do 5.1 all core.

 

[trog100]

Never mind I didn't see he wrote that the 8700k costed the same as the 9700k. If your unaware I'm from the UK - the 9700k costs £430+ new and the 8700k can cost around £300~ so my recommendation has changed since the OP can get them at the same price.

Never mind I didn't see he wrote that the 8700k costed the same as the 9700k. If your unaware I'm from the UK - the 9700k costs £430+ new and the 8700k can cost around £300~ so my recommendation has changed since the OP can get them at the same price.

you are a mile out on UK prices.. Scan UK £420 8700K and £480 for the 9700K..

to be honest the binned 8086K sits in the middle at £455.. its probably the best buy at current prices..

trog

 

[Keullo-e]

Buy a locked chipset board with a locked cpu - there's zero point in paying extra for overclocking features without the intent to overclock.

Even if running stock, K-CPUs are still far better. Why?

a) Much higher boost clocks
b) Much higher resell value
c) Opinion about overclocking may change in the future