In April 2020, Intel announced new desktop processors as part of the 10th generation Intel Core processor family, including the main Core i9-10900K processor, the world’s fastest gaming processor. (Credit: Intel Corporation)
It seems that the tide has turned and Intel’s CPUs are being sold at cheaper prices compared to AMD’s Ryzen offering, although they feature a greater number of cores and threads. The Core i9-10850K is the prime example of this, as it offers cores, threads and clock speeds higher than the Ryzen 7 5800X with 8 cores and 16 threads from AMD.
10-core Intel Core i9-10850K CPU now cheaper than AMD’s 8-core Ryzen 7 5800X
The Intel Core i9-10850K was launched in July 2020 for a price of $ 450. The chip was made to be an alternative to the Core i9-10900K, which was experiencing performance problems and a shortage of supplies when it was launched. Almost all technology stores that have tested the chip call Core i9-10850K as the best gaming CPU for its price and performance. It delivered the same performance as the expensive i9-10900K for $ 50 less and now, the chip can be found for a price of around $ 400 which puts it in a very competitive position against AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X.
The Intel Core i9-10850K can be seen on the list at various retailers for less than the 8 Core Ryzen 7 5800X from AMD. The lowest price listed is $ 399.99 in the USA and this is over at Microcenter. Retailers like Amazon and Newegg have the chip listed at a lower price than what was being sold at launch. At Microcenter, the Ryzen 7 5800X is listed for $ 449.99, which is $ 50 more expensive than i9-10900K.
Intel Core i9-10850K CPU specifications
Summarizing the specifications, the Intel Core i9-10850K CPU (BX8070110850K) has 10 cores and 20 threads. The final clock speeds of the chip are set at 3.60 GHz (3.70 GHz on the Core i9-10900K) and an increase of 5.2 GHz (5.3 GHz on the Core i9-10900K). The CPU holds 20 MB of L3 and a total of 2.5 MB of L2 cache.
A photo released on April 30, 2020 shows data from a 10th generation Intel Core processor. (Source: Intel Corporation)
The TDP for Core i9-10850K is the same as for Core i9-10900K, defined in the standard 125W (PL1) state and 250W (PL2) boost state. The CPU is compatible with the LGA 1200 socket on the Z490 and Z590 series motherboards.
Intel 10th generation unlocked CPU specifications:
| CPU name | Colors / Threads | Base Clock | Single core pulse watch | Turbo Boost Max 3.0 (Single-Core) | Full impulse watch | Cache | TDP | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i9-10900K | 10/20 | 3.7 GHz | 5.1 GHz 5.3 GHz (speed) |
5.2 GHz | 4.8 GHz 4.9 GHz (speed) |
20 MB | 125W | $ 488 US |
| Intel Core i9-10900KF | 10/20 | 3.7 GHz | 5.1 GHz 5.3 GHz (speed) |
5.2 GHz | 4.8 GHz 4.9 GHz (speed) |
20 MB | 125W | $ 472 US |
| Intel Core i9-10850K | 10/20 | 3.6 GHz | 5.2 GHz | N / D | 4.8 GHz | 20 MB | 125W | $ 453 US |
| Intel Core i7-10700K | 8/16 | 3.8 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 5.1 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 16 MB | 125W | $ 374 US |
| Intel Core i7-10700KF | 8/16 | 3.8 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 5.1 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 16 MB | 125W | $ 349 US |
| Intel Core i5-10600K | 6/12 | 4.1 GHz | 4.8 GHz | N / D | 4.5 GHz | 12 MB | 125W | $ 262 US |
| Intel Core i5-10600KF | 6/12 | 4.1 GHz | 4.8 GHz | N / D | 4.5 GHz | 12 MB | 125W | $ 237 US |
For this price, the Intel Core i9-10850K is an impressive chip considering that it has more power than the Ryzen 7 5800X at a lower price and still offers better single-core performance than the more expensive Ryzen 9 3900X. The Ryzen 9 5900X, on the other hand, is on an entirely different level, but at the same time, it costs a lot more. With that said, Intel will launch its next generation of Rocket Lake CPUs in March with the new 11900K main CPU being the highlight, but recently released benchmarks point out that the 10th-generation 10-core parts can maintain a slight advantage over its Cypress Cove based successors.