Intel Core i7-4790K

Pros

• Maximum possible upgrade for the LGA 1150 socket generation.
• 8 threads provide enough 'breathing room' for modern OS background tasks and multitasking compared to 4-thread i5s.
• Remarkable longevity for basic office work, web browsing, and light gaming.
• Can still achieve playable frame rates (approx. 30fps) in some modern titles if paired with a decent GPU.

Cons

• Significant bottleneck for modern graphics cards and CPU-intensive games.
• Lacks modern features like TPM 2.0, which is increasingly required for anti-cheat and newer operating systems.
• Prone to stutters in modern games with high crowd density or complex physics.
• High power consumption and heat compared to modern entry-level chips; some reports of thermal throttling under heavy load.

Caveats

• The performance difference when upgrading from an i5-4690K may be small and not worth the cost unless the chip is obtained very cheaply.
• Requires overclocking and high-speed RAM tuning to maintain relevance in modern gaming scenarios.
• Platform is over a decade old, meaning no further upgrade path exists without a full motherboard and RAM replacement.

Best for

• Users with an existing LGA 1150 motherboard looking for a dirt-cheap final upgrade.
• Secondary PCs used for office work, YouTube, or light home server duties.
• Retro gaming builds or playing titles released before 2020.

Avoid if

• You are building a new gaming PC from scratch.
• You intend to play modern AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 at high refresh rates.
• You require native Windows 11 support or compatibility with the latest anti-cheat software.