Intel
Core i5-9600K
Core i5
Current Price
$139.00
MSRP: $262.00
Overall Rank
(Consumer CPUs only)
(Consumer CPUs only)
#186
of 234
Overall Rank
#203
of 251
Value Rank
#146
of 207
Gaming Rank
#105
of 251
Productivity Rank
#116
of 251
Core Specifications
Cores
6
Threads
6
Base Clock
3.7 GHz
Boost Clock (Single)
4.6 GHz
Socket
LGA1151
Lithography
14nm
Cache
L1 Cache
64 KB per core
L2 Cache
256 KB per core
L3 Cache
9 MB (shared)
Power & Thermal
TDP
95W
Base Power
N/A
Max Turbo Power
N/A
Memory Support
Memory Types
DDR4
Max Memory
N/A
Memory Channels
N/A
ECC Support
No
Platform & Connectivity
PCIe Version
3.0
PCIe Lanes
16
Integrated GPU
Yes
Integrated GPU Model
Intel UHD Graphics 630
Closest Competitors by Performance
Ryzen 5 1600X5,614
Core i5-94005,596
Core i5-9600K (Selected)5,549
Core i5-9600KF5,466
Core i5-8600K5,456
Quick Stats
Generation
9th Gen
Release Date
10/19/2018 - 7 years old
Status
N/A
Market Segment
Desktop
Performance Scores
Overall
5549Measured against consumer CPUs only
Value39.9
Efficiency58.4
Benchmark Scores
Cinebench R23 Single1,187
Cinebench R23 Multi6,596
Geekbench 6 Single1,679
Geekbench 6 Multi6,208
PassMark12,580
Console Comparison
Comparison based on overall performance score calculated from multi-core benchmarks. Console CPUs are optimized for gaming workloads.
Xbox Series X(Gen 9 (2020))
100%100%
PS5(Gen 9 (2020))
95%95%
Core i5-9600K
56%56%
Xbox One X(Gen 8 Mid (2016-2017))
18%18%
PS4 Pro(Gen 8 Mid (2016-2017))
17%17%
Notes
The Core i5-9600K features 6 cores and 6 threads on Coffee Lake Refresh, boosting up to 4.6 GHz with unlocked multiplier. This processor delivered excellent gaming performance for its tier, offering strong value for 1080p and 1440p gaming builds. The lack of hyperthreading kept costs down while maintaining solid gaming capabilities. Despite being 9th gen without SMT, it remains viable for gaming-focused builds. Often available at budget pricing, making it suitable for entry-level gaming systems with overclocking potential and proven reliability on the mature platform.