Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA 1150
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 2-core LGA 775
What Buyers Say
Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA 1150
The Intel Core i7-4790K is widely praised for its impressive performance, especially in gaming and CPU-intensive tasks, with many users noting significant upgrades from older CPUs. Overclocking is a highlight, with several reviewers achieving stable 4.7 GHz or higher with proper cooling, though some express disappointment at not reaching the advertised 5 GHz on air. The main drawbacks are the lack of an included cooler, potential high temperatures under extreme loads like Prime95, and the need for a compatible motherboard (Z97 recommended). Overall, it's seen as a solid upgrade for existing LGA1150 systems, but not worth it for those with a 4770K.
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Great overclocking potential
- Cooler than previous Haswell
- Good value for LGA1150 upgrade
- Fast turbo boost speeds
Cons
- No cooler included
- High temps under extreme load
- Not worth upgrade from 4770K
- Overclocking limited to 4.8 GHz
- Requires Z97 motherboard for best results
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 2-core LGA 775
The Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 is highly praised for its overclocking potential and gaming performance, often outperforming quad-core CPUs in games that don't utilize all cores. Users report excellent temperatures and stability at high overclocks, though some mention a thermal sensor issue that reads stuck at 33°C. The stock cooler is included, but compatibility with certain motherboards may be limited due to large heatsinks.
Pros
- Excellent overclocking potential
- Great gaming performance
- High clock speed
- Good value for money
- Comes with stock cooler
Cons
- Thermal sensor stuck at 33°C
- Compatibility issues with some motherboards
- Stock cooler may be only option on some boards
Scores
Specifications
| Intel Core i7 4790K | Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| Brand | Intel | Intel |
| Series | Core i7 | Core 2 Duo |
| Model | 4790K | E8500 |
| Codename | Devil's Canyon | Wolfdale |
| Class | desktop | desktop |
| Process | 22★ | 45 |
| Cores & Clocks | ||
| Cores | 4★ | 2 |
| P-cores | 4★ | 1 |
| E-cores | — | 4★ |
| Threads | 8★ | 6 |
| Base Clock | ||
| Boost Clock | ||
| Cache | ||
| L2 Cache | 1 | 6★ |
| L3 Cache | 8 | 8 |
| Performance | ||
| PassMark Multi | ||
| PassMark Single | ||
| Memory | ||
| Memory Type | DDR3 | DDR4, DDR5★ |
| Max Speed | No data | |
| Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Max Memory | 32 | 64★ |
| ECC | ✗ | ✗ |
| Platform & Power | ||
| Socket | LGA 1150 | LGA 775 |
| PCIe | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| PCIe Lanes | 16★ | 14 |
| TDP | 88 | 65★ |
| Max Turbo Power | — | 29★ |
| Unlocked | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Graphics & AI | ||
| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 4600 | UHD Graphics 48EU |
Pros & Cons
Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA 1150
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong feature (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong single thread (70th percentile)
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 2-core LGA 775
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong platform (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong affordability (79th percentile)
- Strong user sentiment (78th percentile)
- Below average multi thread (22nd percentile)
- Below average efficiency (26th percentile)
- Below average single thread (28th percentile)
Pricing
Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA 1150 offers 1.6x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 62 overall, wins 6 of 6 usage categories and 10 of 28 specs.
