Review on Intel Core i7-4790K CPU (8M Cache, up to 4.40 GHz) - BX80646I74790K by Adam Borken-Hagen ᠌

Name: Intel Core i7-4790K CPU (8M Cache, up to 4.40 GHz) - BX80646I74790K
Item: Intel Core i7-4790K CPU (8M Cache, up to 4.40 GHz) - BX80646I74790K
Rating: 4

May 03, 2023

I did not regret the purchase, everything is fine.

A fairly successful processor model, but with one drawback, moreover, due to the fault of the manufacturer.
After the release of the super-successful "popular" Core i7 2500k / 2600k / 2700k overclocking to 5GHz, Intel realized that in this way they killed their 6-core cores and therefore all subsequent generations of 4-core core i7 had instead of solder under the lid, like expensive 6-core processors, thermal gum, which disgustingly conducts heat from hot cores to the processor cover. This had a bad effect on the overclocking potential and on the heating of the processor, even at standard frequencies.
However, our craftsmen have found a way to solve this problem. I scalped a sabius processor from an overclockers conference. As a result, under load, in games, on cores I have 50-55 degrees, and in Windows (browser is open, listening to music through FUBAR or watching movies in 1080p) 30-35 degrees.
As a cooler I have Noctua NH-U14S.

Pros

1) High performance in games and various resource-intensive applications. Subjectively, this processor, even at standard frequencies, is much faster than the Core i7 975XE, 990XE in strong overclocking. 2) Low power consumption and low power supply requirements. 3) The 4790K is almost identical in performance to the newer generation Skylake Core i7 6700K, but is slightly cheaper and does not require more expensive DDR4 memory.

Cons

Downgraded one point for having to scalp this processor. 1) Scalping allows you to radically solve the problem of serious heating of this processor even at standard frequencies. 2) The processor even after scalping "asks" for a good cooler. 3) Not a drawback, but rather a nitpick: the processor is very sensitive to the frequency of the memory modules. The difference in performance in the same games between 1600MHz and 2400MHz memory is quite noticeable. Take your memory faster :)