Is the Legendary i9-9900K Still a Worthy CPU in 2024?
As an avid overclocker and benchmarker, I get asked this question a lot: "Should I upgrade my i9-9900K yet, or does it still have legs in 2024?" My answer may surprise you.
A Known Quantity
Released way back in Q4 2018, the i9-9900K instantly became a legend. Sporting 8 high-performance cores, 16 threads, and thermals-be-damned frequency potential up to 5GHz, this chip set a new standard for high framerates and snappy system responsiveness.
I vividly remember benching an early ES sample…seeing all 8 cores simultaneously hit 5GHz during an overclocking run was a special moment! Intel had done something remarkable here by really leaning into their mature 14nm process.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Cores/Threads | 8/16 |
| Base Clock | 3.6GHz |
| Boost Clock | 5.0GHz |
| TDP | 95W |
| Process | 14nm++ |
| Memory Support | Dual Channel DDR4-2666 |
And over four years later, the fruits of that labor continue to shine. While we tech enthusiasts get caught up testing the latest gear, most 9900K owners are still happily gaming, streaming, and creating content without feeling pressured to upgrade.
Where It Excels in 2024
Games and creative apps continue trending towards leveraging more cores and threads, but raw single-core speed still reigns supreme. The 9900K features Intel‘s best architectures dialed up to 5GHz out of the box. This translates directly to excellent 1080p and 1440p gaming performance.
I recently dropped an RTX 4090 into my 9900K test bench and can confirm it remains an admirable match at higher resolutions! Games like Cyberpunk and Hitman at 4K Ultra settings see only a few percent performance differences compared to a 13900K.
For creative workflows like video editing, animation, and 3D modeling, more cores certainly help, but the 9900K‘s speedy 8C/16T design still enables solid productivity. I would choose it over modern 6-core CPUs any day of the week for these tasks.
Long Term Prospects
Now for the big question: Does the venerable 9900K have enough gas in the tank to power through 2023 and beyond? I firmly believe so. Its performance profile continues matching well with modern GPUs and applications. And I suspect even in another 2-3 years it will still post respectable numbers.
Gamers driving higher resolution displays are least likely to feel pressured upgrading soon. My own 9900K at 5GHz All-Core hangs right there with an RTX 4090 at 4K in many titles. We are simply not CPU bound at those pixels with the current generation of GPUs.
Folks targeting super high frame rates may wish to migrate to a newer platform sooner. Next generation GPUs will surely push 1080p and 1440p minimums up against the limits of the 9900K. But I wager even then this chip keeps up better than one would expect.
Parting Thoughts
Intel really calculated an enduring product formula with their 14nm Skylake derivatives. The 9900K was the first desktop part to really go all out on frequency, setting the stage for their current approach with Raptor Lake. 5 years later, I remain impressed with how this plucky 8-core CPU keeps cranking.
If you already own one, I see no reason to upgrade yet unless you need more cores or PCIe bandwidth. Pair it with fast memory and capable cooling to extract every last ounce of performance. I hope you‘ve enjoyed this retro-futuristic glimpse at one of the most legendary CPUs ever produced! Let me know if you have any other questions.
