Intel Core i9-7960X vs Intel Core i7-8700K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-7960X and Intel Core i7-8700K 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 i7-8700K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-7960X

CPU is newer: launch date 7 month(s) later
10 more cores, run more applications at once: 16 vs 6
20 more threads: 32 vs 12
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
Around 83% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2.1x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 28923 vs 13623
Around 98% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 13236 vs 6678
2.3x better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 11415 vs 5050
2.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 21.307 vs 9.279
Around 99% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 175.691 vs 88.131
Around 33% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 1.437 vs 1.084
2.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 12.347 vs 4.763
2.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 31.909 vs 12.047

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	September 2017 vs 5 January 2017
Number of cores	16 vs 6
Number of threads	32 vs 12
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 256 KB
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core) vs 1 MB
L3 cache	22528 KB (shared) vs 12288 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	28923 vs 13623
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	13236 vs 6678
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11415 vs 5050
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	21.307 vs 9.279
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	175.691 vs 88.131
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.437 vs 1.084
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	12.347 vs 4.763
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	31.909 vs 12.047

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-8700K

Around 12% higher clock speed: 4.70 GHz vs 4.20 GHz
Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 100°C vs 98°C
Around 74% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 165 Watt
Around 9% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2726 vs 2498
Around 15% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1276 vs 1111

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	4.70 GHz vs 4.20 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100°C vs 98°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 165 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2726 vs 2498
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1276 vs 1111

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-7960X
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-8700K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2498

2726

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

28923

13623

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1111

1276

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

13236

6678

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

11415

5050

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

21.307

9.279

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

175.691

88.131

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.437

1.084

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

12.347

4.763

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

31.909

12.047

Name	Intel Core i9-7960X	Intel Core i7-8700K
PassMark - Single thread mark	2498	2726
PassMark - CPU mark	28923	13623
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1111	1276
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	13236	6678
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11415	5050
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	21.307	9.279
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	175.691	88.131
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.437	1.084
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	12.347	4.763
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	31.909	12.047
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)		2083
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)		4305
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)		7198
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)		2083
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)		4305
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)		7198

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-7960X	Intel Core i7-8700K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Skylake	Coffee Lake
Launch date	September 2017	5 January 2017
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,810	$420
Place in performance rating	940	929
Price now	$1,899	$358.99
Processor Number	i9-7960X	i7-8700K
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	8th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	3.99	13.10
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.80 GHz	3.70 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)	12288 KB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	98°C	100°C
Maximum frequency	4.20 GHz	4.70 GHz
Number of cores	16	6
Number of QPI Links	0
Number of threads	32	12
Unlocked
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		72 °C
Memory
Max memory channels	4	2
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Maximum memory bandwidth		41.6 GB/s
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FCLGA2066	FCLGA1151
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	165 Watt	95 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		0x3E92
Graphics base frequency		350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.20 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		4096x2304@24Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX		12
OpenGL		4.5