i9-12950HX vs i7-4790

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-4790
2014
4 cores / 8 threads, 84 Watt
4.58
Core i9-12950HX
2022
16 cores / 24 threads, 55 Watt
20.35
+344%

Core i9-12950HX outperforms Core i7-4790 by a whopping 344% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-4790 and Core i9-12950HX processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1293270
Place by popularity71not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.77no data
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency5.1635.02
Architecture codenameHaswell (2013−2015)Alder Lake-HX (2022)
Release date1 May 2014 (10 years ago)10 May 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$303no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-4790 and Core i9-12950HX basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores4 (Quad-Core)16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads824
Base clock speed3.6 GHz2.3 GHz
Boost clock speed4 GHz5 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/sno data
L1 cache64K (per core)80K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache8 MB (shared)30 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size177 mm2215 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
Number of transistors1,400 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-4790 and Core i9-12950HX compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11
SocketFCLGA1150FCBGA1964
Power consumption (TDP)84 Watt55 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-4790 and Core i9-12950HX. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vPro++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX-+
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data+
SIPP++
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
FDI+no data
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i7-4790 and Core i9-12950HX technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Key++
Identity Protection+-
OS Guard++
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-4790 and Core i9-12950HX are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-4790 and Core i9-12950HX. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size32 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s76.8 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 4600Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors
Max video memory2 GBno data
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.2 GHz1.55 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-4790 and Core i9-12950HX integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported34
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data
VGA+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-4790 and Core i9-12950HX integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hz4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP3840x2160@60Hz5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort3840x2160@60Hz7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over VGA1920x1200@60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-4790 and Core i9-12950HX integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX11.2/1212.1
OpenGL4.34.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-4790 and Core i9-12950HX.

PCIe versionUp to 3.05.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes1620

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-4790 4.58
i9-12950HX 20.35
+344%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-4790 7271
i9-12950HX 32323
+345%

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

i7-4790 765
i9-12950HX 3107
+306%

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

i7-4790 159
i9-12950HX 274
+72.9%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 4.58 20.35
Recency 1 May 2014 10 May 2022
Physical cores 4 16
Threads 8 24
Power consumption (TDP) 84 Watt 55 Watt

i9-12950HX has a 344.3% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 8 years, 300% more physical cores and 200% more threads, and 52.7% lower power consumption.

The Core i9-12950HX is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-4790 in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-4790 is a desktop processor while Core i9-12950HX is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-4790 and Core i9-12950HX, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-4790
Core i7-4790
Intel Core i9-12950HX
Core i9-12950HX

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


4.1 3558 votes

Rate Core i7-4790 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.3 28 votes

Rate Core i9-12950HX on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-4790 or Core i9-12950HX, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.