Intel I7 4790k Cpu

The Intel i7-4790K (Haswell Refresh/Devil's Canyon) maintains a unique position in the 2026 market as a "legendary" legacy processor that defies standard depreciation due to its status as the peak upgrade for the LGA 1150 socket.

Market Trends & Pricing (2026)

The market for the 4790K is split between enthusiast collectors and users seeking "stop-gap" upgrades for aging systems. AlibabaSteamcommunity

* Retail/Used Pricing: Boxed units typically range from $60 to $95, though collector-grade listings often exceed $120. CpubenchmarkEbayAlibaba

* Wholesale Market: In bulk sourcing (primarily from China and Hong Kong), prices drop to $41.50–$69 per unit for orders of 100–200+ pieces, reflecting its continued circulation in the refurbishing industry.

* Demand Drivers: High resale value is sustained by platform lock-in; users prefer a $70 CPU upgrade over a $300 full platform overhaul (motherboard + DDR5 RAM). RedditAlibaba

Performance Insights

In 2026, the 4790K remains a viable entry-level gaming chip but is reaching its functional limits in modern AAA titles. HowmanyfpsAlibaba

* Gaming Capability: Still capable of 60+ FPS at 1080p (Medium) in optimized titles like *CS2*, *Fortnite*, and *Baldur’s Gate 3*. Alibaba

* Bottlenecks: Modern engines (e.g., *Starfield*, *Alan Wake 2*) cause 90-100% CPU utilization, leading to micro-stutters and hitching. Alibaba

* Overclocking: While the 4.0GHz base/4.4GHz boost remains respectable, aging silicon now requires significant cooling (or "delidding") to safely maintain 4.7GHz+ clocks in 2026. Overclock

Sourcing Outlook

Supply is tightening as the chip has been out of production for over a decade. Most current "wholesale" stock consists of recycled or pulled units from corporate environments. Steamcommunity Bulk buyers should prioritize tested/verified stock to avoid degraded silicon from years of enthusiast overclocking. Alibaba

Detailed B2B pricing and supplier information can be found in the attached report below.