Intel Core i7-9800X vs Intel Core i9-7960X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-9800X and Intel Core i9-7960X 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 i7-9800X

Intel Core i9-7960X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-9800X

Around 5% higher clock speed: 4.40 GHz vs 4.20 GHz
Around 3% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2570 vs 2498
Around 7% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1185 vs 1111

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	4.40 GHz vs 4.20 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2570 vs 2498
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1185 vs 1111

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-7960X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
8 more cores, run more applications at once: 16 vs 8
16 more threads: 32 vs 16
Around 3% higher maximum core temperature: 98°C vs 95°C
Around 59% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 28810 vs 18075
Around 41% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 13236 vs 9409
Around 17% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 11415 vs 9740

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	16 vs 8
Number of threads	32 vs 16
Maximum core temperature	98°C vs 95°C
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	28810 vs 18075
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	13236 vs 9409
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11415 vs 9740

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-9800X
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-7960X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2570

2498

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

18075

28810

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1185

1111

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

9409

13236

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

9740

11415

Name	Intel Core i7-9800X	Intel Core i9-7960X
PassMark - Single thread mark	2570	2498
PassMark - CPU mark	18075	28810
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1185	1111
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	9409	13236
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	9740	11415
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 i7-9800X	Intel Core i9-7960X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Skylake	Skylake
Launch date	Q4'18	September 2017
Place in performance rating	970	981
Processor Number	i7-9800X	i9-7960X
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$1,810
Price now		$1,899
Value for money (0-100)		3.99
Performance
Base frequency	3.80 GHz	2.80 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s DMI3	8 GT/s DMI3
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	95°C	98°C
Maximum frequency	4.40 GHz	4.20 GHz
Number of cores	8	16
Number of QPI Links	0	0
Number of threads	16	32
64 bit support
L1 cache		64 KB (per core)
L2 cache		1024 KB (per core)
L3 cache		22528 KB (shared)
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	4	4
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FCLGA2066	FCLGA2066
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	165 Watt	165 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2017X	PCG 2017X
Low Halogen Options Available
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	44	44
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
Scalability	1S Only	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512	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® Turbo Boost technology
Number of AVX-512 FMA Units	2	2
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)