Is the Core i9-10900K still worth it in 2024? Let‘s dig in…
I know it‘s a question many of you have been asking with how rapidly CPU performance evolves these days. And as both a hardcore gamer and content creator myself, few things pain me more than buyer‘s remorse from the bleeding edge PC components I splurge on.
So if you‘re eyeing up a deal on the vintage 2020 Intel flagship, should you still pull the trigger? Or have the new hotness of 12th Gen Alder Lake and Zen 4 left it in the dust? Well friends, let‘s find out…
The TL;DR:
For most gamers and creators building a new high end system, no I can‘t recommend running out to pick up a 10900K in 2024. As much as it pains me to say it, #RIP my bank account, the smart money is on newer platforms right now.
Okay okay, maybe it still has some kick left for the right buyer. But that buyer probably isn‘t you. Keep watching/reading to find out why!
Still an elite gaming CPU (but…)
Let‘s kick things off with a gamer‘s main metric – frames win games baby! And by those standards, the 10900K continues hanging with the best of them in 2024…
1080p CPU limited gaming performance:
| CPU | Average FPS | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core i9-13900K | 289 | The new 2023 gaming king |
| Ryzen 9 7950X | 281 | Impressive Zen 4 challenge |
| Core i9-12900K | 276 | 2022‘s flagship gamer |
| Core i9-10900K | 269 | Our veteran 2020 warrior |
I mean hey, still topping out over 269 FPS average across a suite of big titles at 1080p? I‘d call that a result plenty of us would kill for! However, note the "CPU limited" part – with a top tier GPU like the 3090 Ti, performance gaps do open up more.
Where you really feel the 10900K start to show its age is on the multi-core front. Here‘s how it stacks up rendering out some 8K video projects:
Puget Systems Adobe Premiere Pro benchmark:
| CPU | Score | Time to render 8K clip |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 7950X | 1182 | 5:10 minutes |
| Core i9-13900K | 1103 | 5:45 minutes |
| Ryzen 9 5950X | 1021 | 6:30 minutes |
| Core i9-12900K | 917 | 7:05 minutes |
| Core i9-10900K | 872 | 7:35 minutes |
Now over 7 minutes to chew through an intense 8K render hurts in 2024 – no content creator is going to enjoy cooling their heels that long. The advances AMD and Intel have achieved just crushes what was possible only a couple years back.
Clearly the 10900K is starting to feel its age now that insane 16+ core CPUs are on the menu. But hey, still solid for a gaming focus. However…
Actually upgrading in 2024 means new platform + DDR5
Here‘s the kicker on trying to upgrade to a 10900K specifically right now – you need a new motherboard AND likely DDR5 memory too. Oof…say goodbye to $500+ easy.
Since Intel only supports two CPU generations per chipset, you‘re looking at these parts to move from any older system:
| Type | Item | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i9-10900K 3.7 GHz 10-Core Processor | $469.97 @ Amazon |
| Motherboard | MSI MPG Z490 GAMING CARBON WIFI ATX LGA1200 Motherboard | $199.99 @ Amazon |
| Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory | $119.99 @ Newegg |
| Prices include shipping, taxes and discounts | ||
| Total | $789.95 | |
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-02-12 12:25 EST-0500 |
Ouch…$790 just for the CPU, motherboard and memory to upgrade into a dead platform? That stings. But here‘s a Zen 4 build for not all that much more:
| Type | Item | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 4.5 GHz 16-Core Processor | $699.00 @ Amazon |
| Motherboard | MSI MPG X670E CARBON WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard | $349.99 @ Amazon |
| Memory | G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory | $229.99 @ Newegg |
| Prices include shipping, taxes and discounts | ||
| Total | $1278.98 | |
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-02-12 12:25 EST-0500 |
You‘d have a massively faster creator CPU, get to run shiny new DDR5 RAM, and have a platform that will support at least two more generations down the line. Oh and 82 more FPS in that 8K Premiere render benchmark above too.
The gaming crown changes hands (again)
I focused a lot on creation workload differences above, but what about just pure gaming speed between the 10900K and newer 2023 hotness? I can‘t leave my fellow gamers hanging!
Here‘s a wider array of results at 1080p across both Intel‘s 13th gen Raptor Lake and AMD‘s Ryzen 7000 Zen 4 silicon latest and greatest offerings. Brace yourself old timer!
Credit: BleepingComputer.com
Well slap me thrice and hand me a keyboard…the young bucks have some serious speed! Up to a 20% gaming performance lead in titles likes CS:GO is jaw dropping from our mid-2020 veteran. Hate all you want on slightly edging out wins gen to gen, but several years of advancement show big gains.
Now in many titles at higher resolutions, that will matter less thanks to shifting back to the GPU limit. But for high FPS esports gaming, the 7900X3D and 13900KS have lapped previous champions with ease. I‘m almost ready to forgive AMD for the 5 GHz lies on Zen 4! Almost…
But again, the platform costs spoil upgrading here too…
When does the 10900K still rock?
Look, I‘ll always have a soft spot for the Core i9-10900K. It was an absolute legend in its era that took the gaming crown over and over. Sent many AMD fanboys to their forums crying too heh. If you managed to snag one for cheap back in late 2020/early 2021, no doubt it served you well.
And if you already have a full Z490/Z590 setup ready to drop one into today at a discount? I‘d say send it bud! At 100% gaming loads you‘ll still hang with the best. Just keep realistic expectations if you encode video or run other heavy workstation apps.
I mean heck, even ludicrous 8 core CPUs were borderline overkill in 2020 for pure gaming. So don‘t feel rushed to upgrade from a fully capable 10900K/10850K or similar just yet either. Those frames will keep you competitive for a couple more years no doubt! And DDR5 prices are finally becoming less outrageous in early 2023.
But if I was building from scratch right now and had around $700-1000+ to splurge on a new CPU? It would come down to 13th Gen Raptor Lake or Zen 4 without question. They are truly in a league of their own today.
The Verdict
The Core i9-10900K seemed like an unstoppable titan capable of lasting 5+ years in its heyday. But CPU innovation keeps shocking us, and just a mere 3 years later there are clear better options now.
While still great for gaming focused builds, upgrading specifically to a 10900K in 2024 has become tough to recommend for most. As much as it hurts to say, the new hotness has taken over. My bank account weeps at the thought!
But what do you think? Are you still rocking a 10900K system and holding off upgrading? Or have you recently upgraded and noticed big performance differences? Let me know in the comments!
