Intel Core i9-7960X vs Intel Core i7-7700K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-7960X and Intel Core i7-7700K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support. 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), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i9-7960X

Intel Core i7-7700K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-7960X

CPU is newer: launch date 7 month(s) later
12 more cores, run more applications at once: 16 vs 4
24 more threads: 32 vs 8
4x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
16x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.8x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2x more maximum memory size: 128 GB vs 64 GB
3x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 28754 vs 9657
2.8x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 13236 vs 4751
3.3x better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 11415 vs 3473
3.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 21.307 vs 6.484
Around 66% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 175.691 vs 105.712
Around 76% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 1.437 vs 0.816
3.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 12.347 vs 3.196
4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 31.909 vs 8.073

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	September 2017 vs 3 January 2017
Number of cores	16 vs 4
Number of threads	32 vs 8
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 256 KB
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core) vs 1 MB
L3 cache	22528 KB (shared) vs 8 MB
Maximum memory size	128 GB vs 64 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	28754 vs 9657
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	13236 vs 4751
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11415 vs 3473
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	21.307 vs 6.484
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	175.691 vs 105.712
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.437 vs 0.816
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	12.347 vs 3.196
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	31.909 vs 8.073

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-7700K

Around 7% higher clock speed: 4.50 GHz vs 4.20 GHz
Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 100°C vs 98°C
Around 81% lower typical power consumption: 91 Watt vs 165 Watt
Around 9% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2723 vs 2504
Around 12% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1239 vs 1111

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	4.50 GHz vs 4.20 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100°C vs 98°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	91 Watt vs 165 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2723 vs 2504
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1239 vs 1111

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-7960X
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-7700K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2504

2723

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

28754

9657

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1111

1239

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

13236

4751

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

11415

3473

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

21.307

6.484

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

175.691

105.712

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.437

0.816

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

12.347

3.196

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

31.909

8.073

Name	Intel Core i9-7960X	Intel Core i7-7700K
PassMark - Single thread mark	2504	2723
PassMark - CPU mark	28754	9657
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1111	1239
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	13236	4751
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11415	3473
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	21.307	6.484
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	175.691	105.712
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.437	0.816
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	12.347	3.196
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	31.909	8.073
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)		2080
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)		4346
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)		7222
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)		2080
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)		4346
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)		7222

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-7960X	Intel Core i7-7700K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Skylake	Kaby Lake
Launch date	September 2017	3 January 2017
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,810	$339
Place in performance rating	919	930
Price now	$1,899	$354.49
Processor Number	i9-7960X	i7-7700K
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	7th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	3.99	10.00
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.80 GHz	4.20 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s DMI3	8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core)	1 MB
L3 cache	22528 KB (shared)	8 MB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	98°C	100°C
Maximum frequency	4.20 GHz	4.50 GHz
Number of cores	16	4
Number of QPI Links	0	0
Number of threads	32	8
Unlocked
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		72 °C
Memory
Max memory channels	4	2
Maximum memory size	128 GB	64 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2133/2400, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FCLGA2066	FCLGA1151
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	165 Watt	91 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2017X	PCG 2015D (130W)
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	44	16
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
Scalability	1S Only	1S Only
PCIe configurations		Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Secure Boot
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 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Number of AVX-512 FMA Units	2
Idle States
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics
Device ID		0x5912
Graphics base frequency		350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.15 GHz
Graphics max 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® HD 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		4096x2304@24Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX		12
OpenGL		4.5