Intel Core i3-9350K vs Intel Core i7-4790S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent and decisive advantage for the Intel Core i3-9350K across every benchmark in the comparison. The i3-9350K wins all six head-to-head tests, with no single test favoring the Intel Core i7-4790S. The smallest margin is 8.3 percent in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, while the largest is 9.2 percent, which appears repeatedly across multiple tests. This uniformity suggests a fundamental performance gap rather than workload-specific quirks.

In multicore workloads, the i3-9350K posts a score of 650 in Cinebench R15, against 595 for the i7-4790S, a 9.2 percent advantage. The same 9.2 percent margin appears in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i3-9350K scores 2711 and the i7-4790S scores 2482. Cinebench R23 multicore continues the pattern: 6456 for the i3-9350K versus 5911 for the i7-4790S, again a 9.2 percent lead. These results indicate that despite having fewer threads, the i3-9350K delivers higher aggregate throughput in rendering workloads.

Single-core performance follows the same trajectory. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i3-9350K scores 91, while the i7-4790S scores 84, an 8.3 percent gap. Cinebench R20 single-core shows the i3-9350K at 382 versus 350, a 9.1 percent edge. Cinebench R23 single-core rounds out the comparison with 911 for the i3-9350K and 834 for the i7-4790S, a 9.2 percent advantage. The consistency of these margins, ranging narrowly between 8.3 and 9.2 percent, points to a straightforward clock-speed and architecture advantage rather than any benchmark-specific optimization.

The average benchmark score reinforces this picture. The i3-9350K holds an average score of 1867, while the i7-4790S averages 1827. That difference of 40 points translates to roughly 2.2 percent on a normalized basis. The i3-9350K also sits at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs, and the i7-4790S sits at the same 42nd percentile, indicating that both processors occupy a similar tier in the broader market. Their nearest rivals confirm this positioning: the i3-9350K is within 0.1 percent of the Intel Xeon E5-1630 v4, which scores 1869, and within 0.3 percent of the Intel Core i5-1035G4, which scores 1861. The i7-4790S sits within 0.2 percent of the Intel Xeon D-1537 and the Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3, both scoring 1830, and within 0.2 percent of the Intel Core i5-8305G, which scores 1831.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-9350K wins every benchmark in the comparison, so the use-case split is largely one-sided. For users running Cinebench R15, R20, or R23, whether single-core or multicore, the i3-9350K delivers a measurable lead. The margins are tight enough that real-world differences may be modest, but the direction is unambiguous. The largest gap, 9.2 percent, appears in every multicore test and in the R23 single-core test. The smallest gap, 8.3 percent, appears in R15 single-core.

The i7-4790S does not win any of the six head-to-head tests. However, its 8 threads versus 4 threads on the i3-9350K may offer an advantage in heavily threaded applications that are not represented in this benchmark set. The recorded data includes only Cinebench tests, which show the i3-9350K ahead, but the i7-4790S does have double the thread count. That structural difference could matter for workloads that scale beyond four threads, though the measured Cinebench multicore results do not reflect any such benefit. In fact, the i7-4790S trails by 9.2 percent in multicore tests despite having twice the threads, which suggests that the i3-9350K's higher clock speeds and newer architecture more than compensate.

For single-threaded workloads, the i3-9350K is clearly the better choice. Its base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz exceed the i7-4790S's 3.20 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost. The single-core benchmark results mirror this clock advantage. For users who prioritize peak responsiveness in lightly threaded applications, the i3-9350K is the stronger option.

For users who prioritize power efficiency, the i7-4790S holds an advantage, though this is not directly benchmarked. The i7-4790S has a TDP of 65 watts, compared to 91 watts for the i3-9350K. The i7-4790S also supports DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i3-9350K uses DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s. The i7-4790S may appeal to users with existing DDR3 systems or those constrained by thermal limits, even though its raw performance is lower.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The Intel Core i3-9350K is built on Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh generation, using a 14 nm process node from Intel. The Intel Core i7-4790S is built on Haswell, using a 22 nm process node. The i3-9350K has a die size of 126 mm², while the i7-4790S has a larger die at 177 mm² and contains 1,400 million transistors. The i7-4790S does not report a transistor count in the database.

Both processors have 4 physical cores and share the same cache hierarchy on a per-core basis: 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. Both also have 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The key core-level difference is thread count. The i3-9350K has 4 threads, while the i7-4790S has 8 threads, meaning the i7-4790S supports Hyper-Threading. Despite this, the i3-9350K still outperforms the i7-4790S in the measured multicore benchmarks, which is notable given the thread deficit.

Clock speeds differ substantially. The i3-9350K runs at a base frequency of 4.00 GHz and boosts to 4.60 GHz. The i7-4790S runs at 3.20 GHz base and boosts to 4.00 GHz. The i3-9350K also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the i7-4790S does not. This makes the i3-9350K the more flexible option for users who want to push performance further.

Memory support is another major differentiator. The i3-9350K supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel operation and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i7-4790S supports DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i3-9350K also supports ECC memory, while the i7-4790S does not. The i3-9350K uses the Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-4790S uses Intel Socket 1150. Both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i3-9350K includes Intel UHD 630, while the i7-4790S includes Intel HD 4600. Neither processor has a reported v-cache or total L3 metric. The i3-9350K has a part number of SRCZT and was released on 2019-04-22. The i7-4790S has a part number of SR1QM and was released on 2014-05-10.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-9350K is faster in every single-core benchmark. It scores 91 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 84 for the i7-4790S, an 8.3 percent lead. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 382 versus 350, a 9.1 percent lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 911 versus 834, a 9.2 percent lead.

Q: Does the i7-4790S have more threads than the i3-9350K?

A: Yes. The i7-4790S has 8 threads, while the i3-9350K has 4 threads. Both have 4 cores. The i7-4790S supports Hyper-Threading, while the i3-9350K does not. Despite this, the i3-9350K wins all multicore benchmarks.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The i7-4790S has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i3-9350K has a TDP of 91 watts. The i7-4790S is the lower-power option, which may be relevant for compact systems or those with limited cooling.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-9350K supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-4790S supports DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Are these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: The i3-9350K has an unlocked multiplier, so it supports overclocking. The i7-4790S does not have an unlocked multiplier, so its clock speeds are fixed.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i3-9350K has an average benchmark score of 1867, which is 0.1 percent below the Intel Xeon E5-1630 v4 and 0.3 percent above the Intel Core i5-1035G4. The i7-4790S has an average score of 1827, which is 0.2 percent below the Intel Xeon D-1537 and 0.2 percent above the Intel Xeon E5-1630 v3.

The Verdict

The data is clear: the Intel Core i3-9350K is the better performer across every benchmark in the comparison. It wins all six head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 8.3 percent to 9.2 percent. Its higher base and boost clocks, newer architecture, and support for DDR4 memory give it a decisive edge in both single-core and multicore workloads. The i3-9350K also offers an unlocked multiplier for overclocking and supports ECC memory, adding flexibility for specific use cases.

The i7-4790S is not without merit. Its lower TDP of 65 watts makes it more power-efficient, and its 8 threads could theoretically benefit heavily threaded applications not covered by the Cinebench suite. However, the measured multicore results show the i3-9350K ahead by 9.2 percent, so the thread advantage does not translate into a performance win in the recorded tests. The i7-4790S also uses DDR3 memory, which is older and slower than the DDR4 supported by the i3-9350K.

For users building a new system or upgrading, the i3-9350K is the stronger choice based on performance alone. Its launch MSRP was $184, compared to $312 for the i7-4790S. The i7-4790S may appeal to users with existing DDR3 platforms or those prioritizing low power draw, but the benchmark data consistently favors the i3-9350K. Both processors are end-of-life, so availability may vary, but among these two, the i3-9350K is the clear winner.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i3-9350K has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-4790S has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i3-9350K has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the i7-4790S has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The TDP is 91 watts for the i3-9350K and 65 watts for the i7-4790S.

The socket differs: the i3-9350K uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-4790S uses Intel Socket 1150. The architecture is Coffee Lake for the i3-9350K and Haswell for the i7-4790S. The process node is 14 nm for the i3-9350K and 22 nm for the i7-4790S. The die size is 126 mm² for the i3-9350K and 177 mm² for the i7-4790S. The i7-4790S has 1,400 million transistors, while the i3-9350K does not report a transistor count.

Memory support differs: the i3-9350K supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-4790S supports DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The i3-9350K supports ECC memory, while the i7-4790S does not. The integrated graphics are UHD 630 for the i3-9350K and Intel HD 4600 for the i7-4790S. The multiplier is unlocked on the i3-9350K and locked on the i7-4790S. The release dates are 2019-04-22 for the i3-9350K and 2014-05-10 for the i7-4790S. The launch MSRP was $184 for the i3-9350K and $312 for the i7-4790S. Both have 8 MB of shared L3 cache, 64 KB of L1 per core, and 256 KB of L2 per core. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.