Intel has officially launched its 10th Generation 10nm Ice Lake on the 2nd of Aug 2019. These processors are for mobile devices only, laptops and notebooks. On the desktop side of things, the blue team will keep pushing its 9th Gen Core CPUs. The Core i9 9900K will remain the flagship CPU from Intel for the mainstream consumer segment. Intel launched the CPU almost ten months ago along with the rest of its 9th Gen desktop processors.
Intel Core i9 9900K Specifications
Intel’s Core i9 9900K has the highest specifications till date among all the processors in Intel’s Core-i lineup targeted at mainstream consumers. It will remain so until Intel launches the i9 9900KS desktop CPU in the fourth quarter of 2019. The i9 9900K processor boasts of eight-cores with sixteen threads which will appeal to enthusiasts and gamers alike. It has a base frequency of 3.6 GHz and a boost frequency of up to 5GHz on a single core and 4.7GHz on all cores. Intel has also opted for soldered TIM (thermal interface material) for heat dissipation.
The i9 9900K is compatible with motherboards having Z370 or Z390 chipsets, making it a great option for people who want to upgrade from an existing coffee lake processor. However, we recommend that you buy a Z390 motherboard if you are not upgrading. It is because the VRMs and heatsinks on the Z370 motherboards may be inadequate for the i9 9900K unless you have a high-end motherboard.
The prices of the Core i9 9900K have come down a bit since launch. It can be attributed to the increased availability of the stock as well as the launch of Ryzen 3000 series desktop CPUs.
Intel Core i9 9900K Price In US
The Intel Core i9 9900K is currently selling for a price of US$484 on the websites of different retailers. It is was launched at a price of $530 in the USA and is currently selling for $46 less. An alternative to the processor is the i9 9900KF that carries a price tag of US$459. It has similar specifications but comes without the IGPU.
Intel Core i9 9900K Price In UK
In the UK, the Intel Core i9 9900K is available for £480.00 on popular online marketplaces. It used to cost around £525 at launch. Buyers who don’t need an integrated GPU can opt for the similarly specced i9 9900KF variant which sells for £469.98 in the UK.
Intel Core i9 9900K Price In Canada
Desktop computer users looking to buy an i9 9900K in Canada will have to pay CDN$688.60. If you are considering the i9 9900KF, then your pocket will be setback by CDN$660. The processors are available both online and offline at comparable prices.
Intel Core i9 9900K Price In India
Buyers in India can purchase the Intel Core i9 9900K for around ₹40,000. It is a significant reduction compared to its whopping price tag of ₹57,299 at launch.
Should I Buy The i9 9900K?
Whether you should buy the i9 9900K or not depends on what are you going to use the processor for. The launch of AMD’s Ryzen 3000 Series has changed the CPU landscape.
When it comes to gaming, the i7 9700K performs equally well as compared to the i9 9900K. It carries a significantly lower price tag and will probably be the better choice for gamers. The Ryzen 9 3900X gives the i9 9900K a run for its money in core-intensive productivity tasks such as video editing. Both these processors are priced quite close to each other with the Ryzen 9 3900X costing US$500.
The Ryzen 7 3700X is another eight-core, sixteen-thread CPU that costs far less than the i9 9900K while performing quite close or even beating the latter depending on the task. Mainstream users who game, stream, and create videos will find the Ryzen 3700X a more valuable option.
That said, individuals who have the moolah to spare, and want to own the best gaming CPU can consider the i9 9900K. It may also be suitable for individuals who need a processor for applications that like high frequency and high thread count. One such scenario is creating Minecraft servers. If you are confused regarding which CPU to choose, then go through our AMD vs Intel for gaming guide.
