Intel Core i7-4790K
The current Intel Core i7-4790K price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Intel · CPU
Retailer photo of Intel Core i7-4790K. View this offer in Where to buy
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 4C / 8T
- Boost clock
- 4400 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1150
- TDP
- 132 W
Move a slider and the page re-scores this product against the same market frame.
What does it cost today, and is that a good price?
Market confidence: LowAt $74 the Intel Core i7-4790K is priced in line with its $74 representative market level. Only one verified new offer stands behind it, so the level can move quickly.
Consider: Intel Core i7-6800K offers stronger value around $41.Compare
Prices & availability
Intel Core i7-4790K: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
2 tracked offers · 2 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i7-4790K | Newegg | New | $74 | 43 | 2026-11-08 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | Amazon | New | Check on Amazon | 24 | 2026-11-09 | View offer → |
Prices are dated snapshots, not live quotes — confirm the final price at the store. New, refurbished and used offers are listed separately; used offers carry warranty and seller risk.
Performance and where it ranks
Two different questions, side by side. Performance compares what the hardware can do; Value compares what that capability costs at today’s price. A product can rank high on one and low on the other — that gap is the point.
Performance Balanced
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#228 of 270 graded processors
- #225 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 5
- #226 IntelIntel Core i3-10105 5
- #227 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1240 V5 5
- #228 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 5
- #229 IntelIntel Core i5-9500T 5
- #230 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1230 V5 5
- #231 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V3 5
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#83 of 270 currently priced processors
- #80 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5500GT 44
- #81 IntelIntel Core i7-9700KF 43
- #82 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 5700G 43
- #83 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 43
- #84 IntelIntel Celeron G6900 43
- #85 IntelIntel Core i7-4790 42
- #86 IntelIntel Core i5-8600 42
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#222 of 270 graded processors
- #219 IntelIntel Core i3-10105 53
- #220 IntelIntel Core i5-8400 52
- #221 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 52
- #222 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 52
- #223 IntelIntel Core i3-10100F 52
- #224 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 52
- #225 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 4100 52
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#183 of 270 currently priced processors
- #180 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 30
- #181 IntelIntel Core i9-10980XE 30
- #182 IntelIntel Core i9-9960X 29
- #183 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 29
- #184 IntelIntel Core i7-4790 29
- #185 IntelIntel Core i9-10940X 28
- #186 IntelIntel Core i3-9350KF 28
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#228 of 270 graded processors
- #225 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 5
- #226 IntelIntel Core i3-10105 5
- #227 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1240 V5 5
- #228 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 5
- #229 IntelIntel Core i5-9500T 5
- #230 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1230 V5 5
- #231 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V3 5
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#228 of 270 currently priced processors
- #225 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 2600 18
- #226 IntelIntel Core i5-9500 18
- #227 IntelIntel Core i7-7700K 18
- #228 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 18
- #229 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V3 18
- #230 IntelIntel Core i3-9300 18
- #231 IntelIntel Celeron G6900 18
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#225 of 270 graded processors
- #222 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 11
- #223 IntelIntel Core i5-9400 11
- #224 IntelIntel Core i5-8400 11
- #225 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 11
- #226 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V3 11
- #227 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1276 V3 11
- #228 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 10
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#89 of 270 currently priced processors
- #86 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D 37
- #87 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 4600G 36
- #88 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 36
- #89 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 36
- #90 IntelIntel Core i5-8600 36
- #91 IntelIntel Core i5-14600KF 36
- #92 IntelIntel Core i7-9700 35
These ladders follow the preset scenario shown above. Your own weights re-score this product, not the whole field.
What it is good for
| Scenario | this productCapability grade · Value at current price | Higher capability | Higher Value with current priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value43 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 5 5500 90 +139% capability | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core i7-6800K 80 +33% capability · -45% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeC Value29 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 5 5500 B 85 +12% capability | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core i3-10100F C 67 +0% capability · -3% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value18 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 5 5500 D 57 +139% capability | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core i3-10100F F 31 +8% capability · -3% price |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value36 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 5 5500 C 100 +265% capability | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 2400G F 85 +65% capability · -26% price |
Balanced has no letter: it is a weighting preset, not a capability rubric. A grade answers “how well does this handle that job?” — price is never part of it. Relative Value puts the current market price back in.
Compare these grades with the full tier list
Browse shortlists for different uses
Trade-offs
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded C for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value with Balanced priorities specificallyat today's market no realistic price for this model reaches strong value with Balanced priorities — the calculation only gets there near $39, against a cheapest tracked $74
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core i7-6800K holds Relative Value 80 against its 43 with Balanced priorities, at $41
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useit grades only F there
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Gaming is your main useGraded C; AMD Ryzen 5 5500 reaches B. Check on Amazon.
- You want strong value for Gaming specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Gaming per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core i3-10100F holds Relative Value 67 against its 29 for Gaming, at $72
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Productivity is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Productivity, but C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useGraded F; AMD Ryzen 5 5500 reaches D. Check on Amazon.
- You want strong value for Productivity specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Productivity per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core i3-10100F holds Relative Value 31 against its 18 for Productivity, at $72
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Performance per Watt is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Performance per Watt, but C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useGraded F; AMD Ryzen 5 5500 reaches C. Check on Amazon.
- You want strong value for Performance per Watt specificallyat today's market no realistic price for this model reaches strong value for Performance per Watt — the calculation only gets there near $33, against a cheapest tracked $74
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 2400G holds Relative Value 85 against its 36 for Performance per Watt, at $55
Models that suit Performance per Watt better, at this budget
Every line states the fact it was derived from, for the scenario selected above. Thresholds are calculated points on our value curve — information about where the maths turns, not instructions about what to pay.
Similar options to the Intel Core i7-4790K
Chosen for Balanced
Chosen for Gaming
Chosen for Productivity
Chosen for Performance per Watt
Alternatives stay near this product’s price range. Step-up options may exceed the standard budget envelope when the capability gain is meaningful.
More head-to-head comparisons in this category
Upgrade planner
Judge the change in the active scenario, then make the cash gap explicit.
Using page scenarioWhat are you upgrading from? These are the axes we compare on, and where this product stands in the current market.
We rank upgrades by out-of-pocket cost — the new price minus what yours is worth — not by sticker price.
Only candidates that clear the configured meaningful-upgrade gate will be shown; roles are omitted rather than filled.
Capability differences are expressed as tiers and index points, not as benchmark percentages we did not measure.
Specifications and compatibility
What this product is, and what to check before it goes into your build.
Core / Performance
- Cores
- 4
- Threads
- 8
- Performance cores
- 4
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 4000 MHz
- Boost clock
- 4400 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 132 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 132 W
- Socket
- LGA 1150
- Integrated graphics
- Intel HD Graphics 4600
- Process node
- 22 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 1 MB
- L3 cache
- 8 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- Yes
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2014
- Manufacturer part number
- BXF80646I74790K
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-11-02–2026-11-09
What to check in your build
LGA 1150 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1150. A different socket does not fit — this is a physical constraint, not a preference.
Board BIOS must list this model
A matching socket is necessary but not sufficient — check the vendor CPU support list.
Unknown
Cooler rated for 132 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 132 W on socket LGA 1150.
Found an error? Report this specification Email the field, corrected value and an optional source.
Compatibility guidance is practical help, not a score. Missing data is shown as unknown, never invented.
Summary
Intel Core i7-4790K offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #228 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 227. Intel Core i7-6800K currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i7-4790K offers C-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #222 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 227. The C grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i7-4790K offers F-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #228 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 227. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i7-4790K offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #225 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 227. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
FAQ
Why does Relative Value change when I choose another scenario?
Each scenario changes the weights applied to capability, price and the other published factors. The hardware facts stay fixed, but the value question changes, so its score and rank can change too.
Why can Amazon appear without a tracked price?
Amazon listing snapshots can participate in Value while fresh. We show Check on Amazon instead of its price; confirm the current price and availability at the store. When no current listing snapshot exists, Amazon is a search link only.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-11-02–2026-11-09 · formula cpu-value-v6.1 · facts facts-2026-11-09 · Relative Value is an estimate from our current dataset, the selected weights and dated market prices — not an official product rating and not a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology We are not a shop. Affiliate links may earn us a commission; they never change the calculations or the ranking.