Intel Core i7-4820K vs Intel Core i7-990X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-4820K and Intel Core i7-990X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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 i7-4820K

Intel Core i7-990X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-4820K

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 6 month(s) later
Around 5% higher clock speed: 3.90 GHz vs 3.73 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
2.7x more maximum memory size: 64 GB vs 24 GB
Around 24% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1957 vs 1579
Around 28% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 848 vs 665

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	September 2013 vs February 2011
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz vs 3.73 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
Maximum memory size	64 GB vs 24 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1957 vs 1579
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	848 vs 665

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-990X

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
4 more threads: 12 vs 8
Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 67.9°C vs 66.8°C
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 20% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 10% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 7111 vs 6492
Around 2% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3608 vs 3531

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Number of threads	12 vs 8
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C vs 66.8°C
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared) vs 10240 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	7111 vs 6492
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3608 vs 3531

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-4820K
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-990X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1957

1579

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

6492

7111

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

848

665

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3531

3608

Name	Intel Core i7-4820K	Intel Core i7-990X
PassMark - Single thread mark	1957	1579
PassMark - CPU mark	6492	7111
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	848	665
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3531	3608
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	3874	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	5.079
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	94.62
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.648
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.812
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	6.745

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-4820K	Intel Core i7-990X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge E	Gulftown
Launch date	September 2013	February 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$399	$1,104
Place in performance rating	2168	2150
Price now	$594.96	$349.99
Processor Number	i7-4820K	i7-990X
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	4.81	7.65
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.70 GHz	3.46 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI2	6.4 GT/s QPI
Die size	257 mm	239 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	10240 KB (shared)	12288 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	66.8°C	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz	3.73 GHz
Number of cores	4	6
Number of threads	8	12
Transistor count	1860 million	1170 million
Unlocked
Number of QPI Links		1
VID voltage range		0.800V-1.375V
Memory
Max memory channels	4	3
Maximum memory bandwidth	59.7 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	64 GB	24 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600/1866	DDR3 1066
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	52.5mm x 45.0mm	42.5mm X 45.0mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA2011	FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	130 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	40
PCI Express revision	3.0
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)