Intel Core i9-9900K
The current Intel Core i9-9900K price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Intel · CPU
Retailer photo of Intel Core i9-9900K. View this offer in Where to buy
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
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 $233 the Intel Core i9-9900K is priced in line with its $233 representative market level. Only one verified new offer stands behind it, so the level can move quickly.
Consider: AMD Ryzen 5 7500F offers stronger value around $106.Compare
Prices & availability
Intel Core i9-9900K: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
3 tracked offers · 2 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i9-9900K | Newegg | New | $233 | 26 | 2026-11-08 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i9-9900K | Amazon | New | Check on Amazon | 14 | 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.
Show the other 1 tracked offers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i9-9900K | Amazon | Refurbished | Check on Amazon | 22 | 2026-11-09 | View offer → |
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.
#162 of 270 graded processors
- #159 IntelIntel Core i7-10700KF 11
- #160 IntelIntel Core i7-9800X 11
- #161 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600X 11
- #162 IntelIntel Core i9-9900K 11
- #163 IntelIntel Core i9-9900KF 11
- #164 IntelIntel Core i5-11600 11
- #165 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600 10
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#190 of 270 currently priced processors
- #187 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 26
- #188 IntelIntel Core i5-12500 26
- #189 IntelIntel Core i9-7920X 26
- #190 IntelIntel Core i9-9900K 26
- #191 IntelIntel Core i9-9900X 26
- #192 IntelIntel Core i7-10700KF 24
- #193 IntelIntel Core i9-10980XE 24
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#154 of 270 graded processors
- #151 IntelIntel Core i7-10700KF 57
- #152 IntelIntel Core i9-9900KF 57
- #153 IntelIntel Core i7-10700K 57
- #154 IntelIntel Core i9-9900K 57
- #155 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5500GT 57
- #156 IntelIntel Core i9-10980XE 57
- #157 IntelIntel Core i9-10900X 57
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#168 of 270 currently priced processors
- #165 IntelIntel Core i7-7800X 33
- #166 IntelIntel Core i7-8700 32
- #167 IntelIntel Core i3-9300 32
- #168 IntelIntel Core i9-9900K 32
- #169 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G5500 31
- #170 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 31
- #171 IntelIntel Core i9-9900KS 31
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#162 of 270 graded processors
- #159 IntelIntel Core i7-10700KF 11
- #160 IntelIntel Core i7-9800X 11
- #161 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600X 11
- #162 IntelIntel Core i9-9900K 11
- #163 IntelIntel Core i9-9900KF 11
- #164 IntelIntel Core i5-11600 11
- #165 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600 10
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#174 of 270 currently priced processors
- #171 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 5960X 28
- #172 IntelIntel Core i5-8500 27
- #173 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 27
- #174 IntelIntel Core i9-9900K 27
- #175 IntelIntel Core i7-7800X 27
- #176 AMDAMD EPYC 4564P 27
- #177 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2660 V3 26
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#128 of 270 graded processors
- #125 IntelIntel Core i5-13400 29
- #126 IntelIntel Core i5-12400 29
- #127 IntelIntel Core i3-13100 29
- #128 IntelIntel Core i9-9900K 28
- #129 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 2600 27
- #130 IntelIntel Core i9-11900 27
- #131 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600XT 27
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#154 of 270 currently priced processors
- #151 IntelIntel Core i5-9500 24
- #152 IntelIntel Core i7-11700 24
- #153 IntelIntel Core i7-14700F 24
- #154 IntelIntel Core i9-9900K 23
- #155 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 23
- #156 IntelIntel Core i7-11700KF 23
- #157 IntelIntel Core Ultra 7 265K 23
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 Value26 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus 67 +190% capability | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 7500F 94 +23% capability · -55% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeB Value32 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 9700X A 77 +32% capability · +5% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 7500F A 100 +21% capability · -55% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeD Value27 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus A 97 +190% capability | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus A 100 +167% capability |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeD Value23 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 9700X S 52 +174% capability · +5% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 C 100 +44% 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 specificallyat today's market no realistic price for this model reaches strong value with Balanced priorities — the calculation only gets there near $75, against a cheapest tracked $233
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 7500F holds Relative Value 94 against its 26 with Balanced priorities, at $106
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useit grades only D 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 32 for Gaming, at $106
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useit grades only D 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 useGraded D; Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus reaches A. 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 Ultra 5 250KF Plus holds Relative Value 100 against its 27 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 D for Performance per Watt, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit grades D there; AMD Ryzen 7 9700X grades S at $245
- 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 $67, against a cheapest tracked $233
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 5500 holds Relative Value 100 against its 23 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 i9-9900K
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
- 3600 MHz
- Boost clock
- 5000 MHz
Power / Interface
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 2 MB
- L3 cache
- 16 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- Yes
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2018
- Manufacturer part number
- BX80684I99900K
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.
DDR4 memory
This processor takes DDR4. Memory of another generation does not fit the slots, even on a board with the right socket.
Cooler rated for 119 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 119 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 i9-9900K offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #162 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 508. AMD Ryzen 5 7500F currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i9-9900K offers B-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #154 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 508. AMD Ryzen 5 7500F currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i9-9900K offers D-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #162 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 508. The D grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i9-9900K offers D-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #128 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 508. The D 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.