Intel Core i5-10500 vs Intel Core i9-7960X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-10500 and Intel Core i9-7960X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Core i5-10500

Intel Core i9-7960X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-10500

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 7 month(s) later
Around 7% higher clock speed: 4.50 GHz vs 4.20 GHz
Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 100°C vs 98°C
2.5x lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 165 Watt
Around 13% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2822 vs 2497

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	30 Apr 2020 vs September 2017
Maximum frequency	4.50 GHz vs 4.20 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100°C vs 98°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 165 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2822 vs 2497

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-7960X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
10 more cores, run more applications at once: 16 vs 6
20 more threads: 32 vs 12
2.7x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
10.7x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 83% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2.2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 28849 vs 13389
2.3x better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 11415 vs 4962

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	16 vs 6
Number of threads	32 vs 12
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 384 KB
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core) vs 1536 KB
L3 cache	22528 KB (shared) vs 12 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	28849 vs 13389
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11415 vs 4962

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-10500
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-7960X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2822

2497

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

13389

28849

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

4962

11415

Name	Intel Core i5-10500	Intel Core i9-7960X
PassMark - Single thread mark	2822	2497
PassMark - CPU mark	13389	28849
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	4962	11415
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		1111
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		13236
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		21.307
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		175.691
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		1.437
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		12.347
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		31.909

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-10500	Intel Core i9-7960X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Comet Lake	Skylake
Launch date	30 Apr 2020	September 2017
Launch price (MSRP)	$192 - $202	$1,810
Place in performance rating	942	941
Processor Number	i5-10500	i9-7960X
Series	10th Generation Intel Core i5 Processors	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Price now		$1,899
Value for money (0-100)		3.99
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.10 GHz	2.80 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s	8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache	384 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1536 KB	1024 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12 MB	22528 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	98°C
Maximum frequency	4.50 GHz	4.20 GHz
Number of cores	6	16
Number of threads	12	32
Number of QPI Links		0
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Graphics
Device ID	0x9BC8
Graphics base frequency	350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.15 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Clear Video technology
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory	64 GB
Processor graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3
Graphics image quality
4K resolution support
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2160@30Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX	12
OpenGL	4.5
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1200	FCLGA2066
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	165 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2015C	PCG 2017X
Low Halogen Options Available
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	44
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability	1S Only	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Secure Boot
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel SSE4.1, Intel SSE4.2, Intel AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Number of AVX-512 FMA Units		2
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)