In Intel’s lineup of processors, the fourth-generation Core series has maintained a good reputation.
Several classic models from the fourth-generation Core series have remained popular in the second-hand market for years, such as the Core i5-4570, Core i5-4590, and Core i7-4790 series. This article will compare the gaming performance of the Core i7-4790K with the latest entry-level model from the 14th generation Core series, the Core i3-14100F.
Some might think that these two processors, separated by 10 generations, are not comparable due to their significant technological differences. However, the Core i7-4790K’s single-core and multi-core performance is roughly equivalent to about 60% of the Core i3-14100F’s performance. While the outcome isn’t in doubt, they still share some comparability.
Key points of this comparison include:
- Can the Core i7-4790K still smoothly run mainstream games? Achieving 30 FPS or more would generally qualify as smooth performance.
- What is the actual performance difference between the Core i7-4790K and the Core i3-14100F? In other words, upgrading from the Core i7-4790K to the Core i3-14100F would yield how much performance improvement?
This article will reveal answers to these questions for interested parties.
01
Parameter Comparison
The Core i7-4790K
Released on May 1, 2014, uses a 22-nanometer process, features 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base frequency of 4.0 GHz (boost up to 4.4 GHz), 1MB L2 cache, 8MB L3 cache, and a TDP of 84W. The recommended retail price was $350 USD.
The Core i3-14100F
Released on January 8, 2024, uses a 10-nanometer process, features 4 performance cores (no small cores), 8 threads, with 5MB L2 cache and 12MB L3 cache. It has a base frequency of 3.5 GHz (boost up to 4.7 GHz) and a TDP of 58W. The recommended retail price is $109 USD.
02
Test Platform Configuration
Key configurations include:
- For Core i7-4790K (overclocked to 4.7 GHz): MSI Z97S motherboard, 32GB DDR3 2133MHz RAM.
- For Core i3-14100F: ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming motherboard, 32GB DDR5 6000MHz RAM.
Other components are identical: two Samsung 970 EVO 1TB SSDs, GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, and Windows 11 operating system.
03
Game Performance Testing between Core i3 14100F and Core i7 4790K
The following seven games were tested at 1080P highest quality settings. Left side represents the Core i3-14100F platform, and right side represents the Core i7-4790K platform.
① The Witcher 3
Core i7-4790K platform
- Average FPS: 35
- Minimum FPS: 26
- Frame Time: 27.7ms
- CPU usage: 74%
- CPU Power consumption: 77W
- CPU temperature: 58°C
- Memory usage: 12.8GB
- GPU usage: 33%
- VRAM usage: 7.4GB
Core i3-14100F platform
- Average FPS: 64
- Minimum FPS: 42
- Frame Time: 15.3ms
- CPU usage: 68%
- CPU Power consumption: 44W
- CPU temperature: 47°C
- Memory usage: 12.6GB
- GPU usage: 52%
- VRAM usage: 7.4GB
② Red Dead Redemption 2
Core i7-4790K platform
- Average FPS: 80
- Minimum FPS: 67
- Frame Time: 11.4ms
- CPU usage: 94%
- CPU Power consumption: 87W
- CPU temperature: 60°C
- Memory usage: 11.8GB
- GPU usage: 40%
- VRAM usage: 5.2GB
Core i3-14100F platform
- Average FPS: 138
- Minimum FPS: 95
- Frame Time: 6.6ms
- CPU usage: 90%
- CPU Power consumption: 53W
- CPU temperature: 46°C
- Memory usage: 11.7GB
- GPU usage: 63%
- VRAM usage: 5.2GB
③ Cyberpunk 2077
Core i7-4790K platform
- Average FPS: 26
- Minimum FPS: 22
- Frame Time: 38.5ms
- CPU usage: 96%
- CPU Power consumption: 86W
- CPU temperature: 60°C
- Memory usage: 11.7GB
- GPU usage: 38%
- VRAM usage: 9.0GB
Core i3-14100F platform
- Average FPS: 49
- Minimum FPS: 38
- Frame Time: 19.3ms
- CPU usage: 95%
- CPU Power consumption: 48W
- CPU temperature: 51°C
- Memory usage: 10.8GB
- GPU usage: 46%
- VRAM usage: 9.4GB
④ Horizon Zero Dawn
Core i7-4790K platform
- Average FPS: 82
- Minimum FPS: 46
- Frame Time: 10.6ms
- CPU usage: 95%
- CPU Power consumption: 87W
- CPU temperature: 63°C
- Memory usage: 12.5GB
- GPU usage: 50%
- VRAM usage: 8.4GB
Core i3-14100F platform
- Average FPS: 150
- Minimum FPS: 92
- Frame Time: 6.3ms
- CPU usage: 82%
- CPU Power consumption: 51W
- CPU temperature: 49°C
- Memory usage: 10.6GB
- GPU usage: 66%
- VRAM usage: 8.9GB
⑤ Microsoft Flight Simulator
Core i7-4790K platform
- Average FPS: 40
- Minimum FPS: 26
- Frame Time: 27.2ms
- CPU usage: 67%
- CPU Power consumption: 80W
- CPU temperature: 63°C
- Memory usage: 12.1GB
- GPU usage: 37%
- VRAM usage: 7.0GB
Core i3-14100F platform
- Average FPS: 55
- Minimum FPS: 40
- Frame Time: 17.2ms
- CPU usage: 61%
- CPU Power consumption: 46W
- CPU temperature: 44°C
- Memory usage: 12.4GB
- GPU usage: 39%
- VRAM usage: 6.9GB
⑥ Hogwarts Legacy
Core i7-4790K platform
- Average FPS: 37
- Minimum FPS: 27
- Frame Time: 27.1ms
- CPU usage: 56%
- CPU Power consumption: 71W
- CPU temperature: 54°C
- Memory usage: 21.0GB
- GPU usage: 37%
- VRAM usage: 10.3GB
Core i3-14100F platform
- Average FPS: 60
- Minimum FPS: 48
- Frame Time: 16.0ms
- CPU usage: 59%
- CPU Power consumption: 46W
- CPU temperature: 43°C
- Memory usage: 21.4GB
- GPU usage: 39%
- VRAM usage: 10.6GB
⑦ Starfield
Core i7-4790K platform
- Average FPS: 41
- Minimum FPS: 32
- Frame Time: 23.3ms
- CPU usage: 91%
- CPU Power consumption: 88W
- CPU temperature: 62°C
- Memory usage: 14.4GB
- GPU usage: 41%
- VRAM usage: 5.8GB
Core i3-14100F platform
- Average FPS: 69
- Minimum FPS: 53
- Frame Time: 13.1ms
- CPU usage: 90%
- CPU Power consumption: 54W
- CPU temperature: 47°C
- Memory usage: 14.0GB
- GPU usage: 46%
- VRAM usage: 6.7GB
Overall, the Core i7-4790K platform manages to run these games decently, although it shows higher frame times and power consumption compared to the Core i3-14100F platform.
04
Comparative Conclusion
Looking at the overall results, the actual performance of the Core i7-4790K may exceed the expectations of many friends.
In most games, the Core i7-4790K platform manages to achieve around 40 FPS or higher. However, some games exhibit higher frame times, generally over 20ms, which means it can barely run smoothly but still commendable.
On the other hand, the difference between the Core i7-4790K and Core i3-14100F is significant, yet not “insurmountable”. The gaming performance of the Core i7-4790K is roughly equivalent to about 59% of the Core i3-14100F’s performance, close to 60%. This conclusion aligns closely with the single-core performance of these processors.
In other words, upgrading from the Core i7-4790K to the Core i3-14100F would yield approximately a 40% performance improvement. This result is somewhat underwhelming and suggests that upgrading may not be worth the effort unless opting for a model at least two tiers higher in performance.
Overall, it must be acknowledged that the venerable Core i7-4790K indeed lives up to its reputation and deserves respect.
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