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Intel Core i9-10850K

Intel Core i9-10850K in 2025: Is the Comet Lake Legend Worth It?

Introduction

The Intel Core i9-10850K processor, released in 2020, remains a popular choice among enthusiasts despite its age. In 2025, it can be found on sale at a reduced price (around $250–$300), which makes it attractive for budget builds. But is it still relevant in the era of DDR5 and 5nm manufacturing processes? Let’s break it down.

Key Specifications: What’s Under the Hood?

Architecture and Process Technology

The i9-10850K belongs to the Comet Lake generation, built on a 14nm process. This is already outdated technology (by 2025, 5–7nm processes dominate), but it provides stability and proven reliability.

Performance

- 10 cores / 20 threads: Great power for multitasking.

- Base clock 3.6 GHz / Turbo Boost up to 5.2 GHz: High single-threaded performance.

- L3 Cache 20 MB: Speeds up data processing.

- Geekbench 6: 1737 (Single-Core), 9076 (Multi-Core). For comparison, the Ryzen 7 7700X (2023) scores around ~2100/12000, but it is more expensive.

Key Features

- Unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

- Supports Hyper-Threading.

- Integrated Intel UHD 630 graphics (for basic tasks, emergency replacement for a discrete card).

Compatible Motherboards: LGA 1200 Socket

The processor uses the LGA 1200 socket. Relevant chipsets:

- Z490/Z590: For overclocking, PCIe 4.0 (only Z590), support for DDR4-2933+. Examples: ASUS ROG Strix Z590-E ($180–$220).

- B460/B560: Budget choice. B560 allows for memory overclocking. For example, MSI B560 Tomahawk ($120–$150).

- H470/H510: For office PCs. No overclocking, limitations on PCIe.

Tip: In 2025, LGA 1200 motherboards are sold as leftovers, but new ones can still be found. Choose Z590 if you need PCIe 4.0 for fast NVMe drives.

Supported Memory: Only DDR4

The i9-10850K works with DDR4:

- Officially: Up to 2933 MHz (on H470/B460 chipsets).

- With overclocking: Up to 4000+ MHz (on Z490/Z590).

Practical Example: Pairing with Kingston Fury DDR4-3600 (32 GB) shows an 8–12% performance increase in gaming and rendering compared to DDR4-2666. DDR5 is not supported — a downside for future upgrades.

Power Supply: Counting Watts

Recommendations:

- Without overclocking: At least 650 W (e.g., Corsair RM650x).

- With overclocking + powerful graphics card: From 750 W (Seasonic Focus GX-750).

- For RTX 4080/4090: 850 W+ (Be Quiet! Dark Power 12).

Important: The processor consumes up to 250 W under load! Cheap PSUs with low efficiency may not handle it.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Price: Cheaper than new equivalents (Ryzen 9 7900X starts at $400).

- Multithreading: 20 threads are sufficient for 4K editing.

- Overclocking potential: Up to 5.1–5.3 GHz with good cooling.

Cons:

- 14nm: High heat output.

- No PCIe 5.0/DDR5: Limits upgrade options.

- Integrated graphics: Weaker than AMD Vega/Radeon.

Use Case Scenarios

1. Gaming: Paired with RTX 4070 Ti or RX 7800 XT, it delivers 100+ FPS at 1440p (Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2). However, in CPU-intensive games (e.g., Microsoft Flight Simulator), it falls behind the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

2. Work Tasks:

- Video editing (Premiere Pro): Renders a 4K project in 25–30 minutes (compared to 15–20 minutes with the i5-13600K).

- 3D rendering (Blender): On par with Ryzen 9 3900X.

3. Streaming: NVENC from the graphics card is a lifesaver, but for x264 Medium, the Ryzen 9 performs better.

Comparison with Competitors

- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X (2020): Cheaper ($200), but weaker in single-threaded tasks.

- Intel Core i5-13600K (2023): Better IPC but only 14 cores. Priced at $280.

- Ryzen 7 7700X (2023): DDR5, PCIe 5.0, but more expensive ($300+).

Conclusion: The i9-10850K excels in the budget segment for multithreaded tasks.

Practical Build Tips

1. Cooling:

- Minimum: Noctua NH-D15 ($90).

- Optimal: Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360 ($120).

2. Memory: Get 2x16 GB DDR4-3600 (G.Skill Ripjaws V).

3. Motherboard: ASUS TUF Z590-Plus — a balance of price and functionality.

4. Additional: A case with good ventilation (Lian Li Lancool III).

Final Verdict: Who Is the i9-10850K For?

This processor is a good choice if:

- You are on a budget but need multithreading capabilities.

- You are upgrading an old system on LGA 1200.

- The latest technologies (PCIe 5.0, DDR5) are not critical for you.

Who it’s not for:

- Gamers seeking maximum FPS in CPU-bound games.

- Enthusiasts planning an upgrade to DDR5.

In 2025, the i9-10850K is a "workhorse" for those who value price-to-performance ratio and are willing to settle for an outdated process technology and high TDP.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

July 2020

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i9-10850K

Code Name

Comet Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.60 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

5.20 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

5.00 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 Frequency

Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 identifies the best performing core(s) on a processor and provides increased performance on those cores through increasing frequency as needed by taking advantage of power and thermal headroom. Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 frequency is the clock frequency of the CPU when running in this mode.

5.10 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0

Yes

L3 Cache

20 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1200

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

125 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-2933

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

128 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

8 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

45.8 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics 630

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.20 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

64 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2160@30Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096 x 2304@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

20 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1737

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

9076

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1276

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

9277

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

3084

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

22516

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i5-1240U

1963 +13%

Ryzen 5 5500

1858 +7%

Core i9-10850K

1737

Core i3-1115G4E

1662 -4.3%

Core i7-10700F

1604 -7.7%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i5-12600HE

10284 +13.3%

Core Ultra 5 225U

9606 +5.8%

Core i9-10850K

9076

Xeon Gold 5220R

8591 -5.3%

Xeon E-2378

8151 -10.2%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Ryzen 9 5980HS

1374 +7.7%

Core i5-1334U

1317 +3.2%

Core i9-10850K

1276

Ryzen 7 PRO 4750G

1234 -3.3%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

1195 -6.3%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core Ultra 7 155H

10645 +14.7%

Ryzen Z1 Extreme

9906 +6.8%

Core i9-10850K

9277

Ryzen 7 5700X

8713 -6.1%

Core i5-13600H

8179 -11.8%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Ryzen 7 5800X

3227 +4.6%

EPYC 9474F

3183 +3.2%

Core i9-10850K

3084

Core i5-11400F

3004 -2.6%

EPYC 9634

2930 -5%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Ryzen 7 7735HS

24219 +7.6%

Core i9-10900

23042 +2.3%

Core i9-10850K

22516

Xeon E7-8891 v3

21615 -4%

Xeon Gold 5315Y

20820 -7.5%