I7 4790k
Processor
Intel Core i7-4790K — 4 cores / 8 threads, 4.0–4.4GHz Turbo, unlocked Devil's Canyon, 8MB L3, LGA1150 — great single-thread power for 1080p gaming and overclocking.
Product Details
Overview
The Intel Core i7-4790K (Devil's Canyon) is a 4th-generation Haswell desktop CPU built on a 22nm process. It features 4 physical cores and 8 threads, a 4.0GHz base clock with Turbo Boost up to 4.4GHz, an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and 8MB of shared L3 cache — designed for strong single-threaded performance and easy tuning on Z97/H97 platforms.
What’s inside and real-world notes
The 4790K has an 88W TDP, LGA1150 socket compatibility, and dual-channel DDR3 memory support (officially up to 1600MHz). As a Devil's Canyon part it uses improved thermal interface material compared with earlier Haswell SKUs, which helps overclockers reach stable clocks (many builds hit 4.5–4.8GHz on good air or AIO cooling). The chip also includes Intel HD Graphics 4600 (up to ~1250MHz dynamic frequency) — adequate for basic desktop/HTPC use but a discrete GPU is recommended for gaming.
Performance & practical use
For gaming the i7-4790K still delivers excellent single-threaded performance: it easily handles 1080p gaming at high settings when paired with a good discrete GPU and is still a popular choice for high-FPS esports titles (CS:GO, Valorant, LoL). In multi-threaded workloads it performs well for light content creation and video editing, but modern CPUs with many more cores will outperform it in heavy 4K rendering and professional multi-threaded tasks. Overclocked, it remains a strong option for older enthusiast builds and users who prioritise low-latency, high-clock performance.
Specs summary
- Model: Intel Core i7-4790K (Devil's Canyon)
- Cores / Threads: 4 / 8
- Clock: 4.0GHz base, up to 4.4GHz Turbo
- Cache: 8MB Intel Smart Cache (L3)
- TDP: 88W
- Socket: LGA1150 (Z97/H97/B85 compatible motherboards)
- Process: 22nm Haswell
- Memory: Dual-channel DDR3 (official up to 1600MHz)
- iGPU: Intel HD Graphics 4600 (suitable for desktop/HTPC use)
- Unlocked multiplier for overclocking
Who this CPU is ideal for
The i7-4790K is ideal for enthusiasts on a budget refurbishing or building LGA1150 systems, gamers who want strong 1080p / high-FPS performance with overclocking potential, and users running general productivity or light content-creation workloads. It’s a great choice for older-platform upgrades and nostalgia builds where single-core speed and tuning headroom matter more than the high core counts of modern CPUs.