Comparing the i7 8700K and i7 9700K at 5GHz speeds highlights differences in performance and efficiency.
Comparing the i7 8700K and i7 9700K at 5GHz speeds highlights differences in performance and efficiency.
The title clearly indicates the choice; upgrading might be the next step.
I would just maintain the 8700K and look for an improvement later.
Own one of these units, keep the one you have—it's not enough to upgrade. If you're planning to purchase another at the same cost, the 9700k offers better speed. When prices differ, choose the cheaper option; the performance gap isn't significant, and saving $20 makes it worthwhile to opt for the 8700k instead.
The 9700K performs more efficiently in most scenarios. In rendering tasks such as Blender, it often outperforms alternatives like 12 threads on 6 cores versus 8 threads on 8 cores. However, the gap isn’t significant enough to justify upgrading one for the other.
The differences between these models are relatively minor. From someone who moved from a 5GHz 8700 to a 5.1-5.3GHz 10900K and a 3080, it doesn't seem like a big upgrade. Consider getting something in the 12600/12700K range and updating your whole setup instead. Or simply wait for the next generation. I hope I could have done that.