Intel processor
Core i9-10900K
10 cores and 20 threads, released in 2020, at index 65 on our scale - 23 of 39 processors tracked here. Paired with the fastest card we track and 32 GB of memory, it is still the part that runs out first in 16 of 19 games.
Performance index
65 of 100
Cores / threads
10/20
Limits the rig in
16 of 19 games
With the ceiling removed
Every row below pairs the Core i9-10900K with the GeForce RTX 5090 and 32 GB of memory. Where the verdict still stops short, this processor is the reason.
| Game | Verdict | Held back by | Game page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto VI | Runs well (of high) | processor | open ↗ |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Runs well (of high) | processor | open ↗ |
| Baldur's Gate 3 | Runs at high (of ultra) | processor | open ↗ |
| Elden Ring | Runs at high (of ultra) | processor | open ↗ |
| Counter-Strike 2 | Runs at high (of ultra) | processor | open ↗ |
| Alan Wake 2 | Runs well (of high) | processor | open ↗ |
| Starfield | Runs at high (of ultra) | processor | open ↗ |
| Black Myth: Wukong | Runs at high (of ultra) | processor | open ↗ |
| Hogwarts Legacy | Runs at high (of ultra) | processor | open ↗ |
| Fortnite | Runs at high (of ultra) | processor | open ↗ |
| Helldivers 2 | Runs well | nothing | open ↗ |
| Grand Theft Auto V | Runs at ultra | nothing | open ↗ |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | Runs at high (of ultra) | processor | open ↗ |
| Monster Hunter Wilds | Runs at high (of ultra) | processor | open ↗ |
| Marvel Rivals | Runs at high (of ultra) | processor | open ↗ |
| Apex Legends | Runs at high (of ultra) | processor | open ↗ |
| Forza Horizon 5 | Runs at high (of ultra) | processor | open ↗ |
| Palworld | Runs at high (of ultra) | processor | open ↗ |
| Destiny 2 | Runs at ultra | nothing | open ↗ |
What to pair it with
The GeForce RTX 4090 at index 63 is the closest match in our catalogue. Anything much faster spends its time waiting for this processor in the games above.
Questions
- Is the Core i9-10900K fast enough for modern games?
- At index 65 it ranks 23 of the 39 processors we track. Paired with the fastest card in our catalogue it still becomes the limiting part in 16 of 19 games, and clears every tier defined in 3.
- What graphics card should go with a Core i9-10900K?
- Roughly index 63: the GeForce RTX 4090 is the closest match we track. A much faster card would spend most of its time waiting for this processor.