Intel Core i7-9700F vs Intel Core i9-9900T Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between the Intel Core i9-9900T and the Intel Core i7-9700F is remarkably lopsided at first glance, but the story becomes more nuanced when looking at which specific workloads each processor dominates. The i7-9700F takes 7 out of 8 head-to-head benchmark wins, yet the single victory for the i9-9900T occurs in a test that measures a very different aspect of performance.

The Intel Core i7-9700F wins across the entire Cinebench suite, covering R15, R20, and R23 versions in both single-core and multi-core tests. This sweep suggests a consistent clock-speed advantage that pays off in rendering workloads that scale with raw frequency and per-core efficiency. The margins are narrow, ranging from 0.6% to 0.8%, but they are uniform across every Cinebench iteration. The i7-9700F also wins the Geekbench single-core test by a more substantial 3.8% margin, posting a score of 1509 against the i9-9900T's 1452.

The Intel Core i9-9900T's lone win is in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 7298 against the i7-9700F's 6807, a decisive 7.2% advantage. This is the largest delta in either direction across all eight benchmarks. The result indicates that the i9-9900T's simultaneous multithreading (SMT) capability, which provides 16 threads versus the i7-9700F's 8 threads, delivers a measurable benefit in this particular workload.

The percentile rankings reflect the overall picture. The i9-9900T sits at the 55th percentile among all CPUs, while the i7-9700F sits just one point lower at the 54th percentile. Their average benchmark scores are close as well: 3499 for the i9-9900T and 3464 for the i7-9700F. The nearest rival data places the i9-9900T within 0.4% of the Intel Xeon D-1732TE, while the i7-9700F sits within 0.5% of the Intel Core i7-10870H and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900T has 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-9700F has 8 threads. Both have 8 physical cores.

Q: Does the i9-9900T include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-9900T includes UHD Graphics 630. The Intel Core i7-9700F has no integrated graphics, as indicated by the "F" designation in its name.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i7-9700F has a TDP of 65 watts. This makes the i9-9900T the more power-efficient option on paper.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700F boosts to 4.70 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i9-9900T's 4.40 GHz boost clock.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900T has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i7-9700F has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which CPU won more benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700F won 7 benchmarks, while the Intel Core i9-9900T won 1 benchmark in the recorded head-to-head data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant victory for the Intel Core i9-9900T is in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 7298 against the i7-9700F's 6807. This 7.2% advantage is the only time the i9-9900T outperforms its rival by a margin larger than 1%. The result is particularly notable because the i9-9900T is the lower-clocked part, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz versus 3.00 GHz, yet it still manages to pull ahead in this test. The extra threads clearly matter here, as the workload appears to scale with thread count rather than raw clock speed.

The Intel Core i7-9700F's wins are consistent but modest. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 11176 against 11091, a 0.8% margin. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the scores are 4693 versus 4658, again a 0.7% gap. The single-core results tell a similar story: Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1577 versus 1565 (0.8%), and Geekbench single-core shows 1509 versus 1452 (3.8%). The Geekbench single-core margin is the second-largest in the entire comparison, suggesting that the i7-9700F's higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz provides a tangible benefit in lightly threaded workloads.

The Cinebench R15 results are nearly identical, with the i7-9700F scoring 1126 versus 1117 in multi-core (0.8% difference) and 158 versus 157 in single-core (0.6% difference). These margins are within the range of run-to-run variance for many systems, but the consistency across all Cinebench versions suggests a real, if small, performance edge for the i7-9700F in rendering tasks. The data implies that the i7-9700F's 12 MB of L3 cache, while smaller than the i9-9900T's 16 MB, does not hinder its performance in these tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors share several fundamental specifications. Both are Intel Socket 1151 parts, both use the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, and both have a die size of 180.3 mm². They also share identical memory support: DDR4 with dual-channel memory bus and 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory, and both provide PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The differences begin with thread count. The i9-9900T offers 16 threads, while the i7-9700F offers 8 threads, reflecting the i9's hyperthreading capability. Clock speeds diverge significantly: the i9-9900T has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the i7-9700F has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. This gives the i7-9700F a 0.90 GHz base clock advantage and a 0.30 GHz boost clock advantage.

The TDP difference is substantial. The i9-9900T is rated at 35 watts, while the i7-9700F is rated at 65 watts. This makes the i9-9900T a low-power part designed for thermally constrained environments, while the i7-9700F targets more conventional desktop power budgets. The L3 cache also differs, with the i9-9900T offering 16 MB shared versus 12 MB shared on the i7-9700F. The i9-9900T includes UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-9700F has no integrated graphics. The launch MSRP for the i9-9900T is $423, while the i7-9700F has a launch MSRP of $333.

Architecture Differences

Both processors belong to the Coffee Lake generation, specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh line. They share the same process node at 14 nm and the same foundry, Intel. The core count is identical at 8 physical cores, and the L1 and L2 cache configurations match: 64 KB per core for L1 and 256 KB per core for L2.

The architectural divergence centers on multithreading and cache allocation. The i9-9900T implements simultaneous multithreading, doubling its thread count to 16. This is the defining architectural feature that separates the two parts. The i7-9700F lacks SMT entirely, operating with 8 threads that correspond directly to its 8 physical cores. This means the i7-9700F's thread scheduler has fewer logical resources to manage, but each thread has exclusive access to a core's execution resources at any given moment.

The L3 cache allocation also differs. The i9-9900T provides 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-9700F provides 12 MB. Both processors have the same die size at 180.3 mm², which is interesting given the cache difference. The extra 4 MB of L3 cache on the i9-9900T likely serves the needs of its additional threads, providing more working set capacity for the SMT implementation to keep both threads on a core fed with data.

The integrated graphics situation represents another architectural difference. The i9-9900T includes UHD Graphics 630, making it a complete package for systems that need display output without a discrete GPU. The i7-9700F, with its "F" suffix, has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output. This also means the i7-9700F's die can dedicate more thermal and power headroom to the CPU cores themselves, which may contribute to its higher clock speeds.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a clear picture for different use cases. The Intel Core i7-9700F is the better choice for users prioritizing raw clock speed and single-threaded performance. It wins every single-core benchmark in the comparison, with its Geekbench single-core advantage of 3.8% being particularly notable. Its higher base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.70 GHz give it a consistent edge in lightly threaded workloads, and it also manages to edge out the i9-9900T in all Cinebench multi-core tests despite having half the threads.

The Intel Core i9-9900T is the better option for workloads that leverage multithreading. Its 16 threads deliver a 7.2% advantage in Geekbench multi-core, the largest margin in the entire comparison. The 35 watt TDP also makes it a compelling option for compact or low-noise systems where thermal output is a primary concern. The inclusion of integrated graphics further simplifies system building, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU in basic configurations.

The data suggests that the i7-9700F is the more versatile processor for general desktop use, given its wins in 7 out of 8 benchmarks. However, the i9-9900T's multi-core advantage in Geekbench indicates that specific applications, particularly those that scale well with thread count, will favor the i9. The 16 MB of L3 cache and SMT support give the i9-9900T a structural advantage in heavily threaded scenarios that the benchmark suite only partially captures. Users who know their workloads are thread-hungry should favor the i9-9900T, while those who prioritize single-thread responsiveness and higher clock speeds should choose the i7-9700F.