Intel Core i9-9900
The current Intel Core i9-9900 price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Intel · CPU
Retailer photo of Intel Core i9-9900. View this offer in Where to buy
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 8C / 16T
- Boost clock
- 5000 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- TDP
- 154 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: LowConsider: AMD Ryzen 5 7500F offers stronger value around $106.Compare
Prices & availability
Intel Core i9-9900: 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 i9-9900 | Amazon | New | Check on Amazon | 13 | 2026-11-09 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i9-9900 | Newegg | New | $352 | 12 | 2026-11-08 | 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.
#170 of 270 graded processors
- #167 IntelIntel Core i7-7820X 10
- #168 IntelIntel Core i5-11500 10
- #169 IntelIntel Core i5-11400 10
- #170 IntelIntel Core i9-9900 10
- #171 IntelIntel Core i7-10700F 9
- #172 IntelIntel Core i7-10700 9
- #173 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 4500 9
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#232 of 270 currently priced processors
- #229 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 5900X 15
- #230 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 7960X 14
- #231 IntelIntel Core i9-7980XE 13
- #232 IntelIntel Core i9-9900 13
- #233 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 4960X 13
- #234 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX 13
- #235 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X 12
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#165 of 270 graded processors
- #162 IntelIntel Core i7-9700KF 56
- #163 IntelIntel Core i5-10600K 56
- #164 IntelIntel Core i5-10600KF 56
- #165 IntelIntel Core i9-9900 56
- #166 IntelIntel Core i9-10940X 56
- #167 IntelIntel Core i7-8700K 56
- #168 IntelIntel Core i5-10600 56
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#249 of 270 currently priced processors
- #246 IntelIntel Core i9-7980XE 16
- #247 IntelIntel Core i9-10900X 16
- #248 IntelIntel Core i7-8700T 15
- #249 IntelIntel Core i9-9900 15
- #250 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 4960X 15
- #251 IntelIntel Core i9-9980XE 15
- #252 IntelIntel Core i9-11900 14
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#170 of 270 graded processors
- #167 IntelIntel Core i7-7820X 10
- #168 IntelIntel Core i5-11500 10
- #169 IntelIntel Core i5-11400 10
- #170 IntelIntel Core i9-9900 10
- #171 IntelIntel Core i7-10700F 9
- #172 IntelIntel Core i7-10700 9
- #173 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 4500 9
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#244 of 270 currently priced processors
- #241 IntelIntel Core i7-5820K 15
- #242 IntelIntel Core i5-7640X 15
- #243 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 15
- #244 IntelIntel Core i9-9900 15
- #245 IntelIntel Core i3-9350K 15
- #246 IntelIntel Celeron G5900 14
- #247 IntelIntel Core i5-4690 14
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#156 of 270 graded processors
- #153 IntelIntel Core i7-11700K 19
- #154 IntelIntel Core i7-11700KF 19
- #155 IntelIntel Core i5-11400 19
- #156 IntelIntel Core i9-9900 19
- #157 AMDAMD Threadripper 2920X 19
- #158 IntelIntel Core i7-10700 19
- #159 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 19
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#230 of 270 currently priced processors
- #227 IntelIntel Core i5-12600 11
- #228 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 10
- #229 IntelIntel Core i9-11900KF 10
- #230 IntelIntel Core i9-9900 10
- #231 IntelIntel Core i9-10900X 9
- #232 IntelIntel Xeon E5-2699 v4 9
- #233 IntelIntel Core i5-9500T 8
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 Value13 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus 49 +322% capability | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 7500F 94 +37% capability |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeB Value15 | Higher capability Ryzen 7 7800X3D S 65 +53% capability | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 7500F A 100 +23% capability |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeD Value15 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus S 98 +322% capability | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus A 100 +197% capability |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value10 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 9 7900 S 37 +413% capability | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 C 100 +107% capability |
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 B for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value with Balanced priorities specificallycompeting products deliver so much more 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 modelAMD Ryzen 5 7500F holds Relative Value 94 against its 13 with Balanced priorities, at $106
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit grades only F there
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded B for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- 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 modelAMD Ryzen 5 7500F holds Relative Value 100 against its 15 for Gaming, at $106
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt 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.
Works well if
- Productivity is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades D for Productivity, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useit grades D there; Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus grades S at $330
- 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 Ultra 5 250KF Plus holds Relative Value 100 against its 15 for Productivity. Check on Amazon.
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 B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useGraded F; AMD Ryzen 9 7900 reaches S. Check on Amazon.
- You want strong value for Performance per Watt specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Performance per Watt 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 modelAMD Ryzen 5 5500 holds Relative Value 100 against its 10 for Performance per Watt. Check on Amazon.
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 i9-9900
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
- 8
- Threads
- 16
- Performance cores
- 8
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 3100 MHz
- Boost clock
- 5000 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 154 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 154 W
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- Maximum memory
- 128 GB
- Integrated graphics
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
- Process node
- 14 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 2 MB
- L3 cache
- 16 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- No
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2014
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 1151 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1151. 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 154 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 154 W on socket LGA 1151.
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 i9-9900 offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #170 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 458. AMD Ryzen 5 7500F currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i9-9900 offers B-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #165 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 458. AMD Ryzen 5 7500F currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i9-9900 offers D-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #170 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 458. The D grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i9-9900 offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #156 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 458. 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.