Intel Core i9-9900 vs Intel Core i9-7900X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-9900 and Intel Core i9-7900X 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, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

Intel Core i9-9900

Intel Core i9-7900X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9900

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 10 month(s) later
Around 16% higher clock speed: 5.00 GHz vs 4.30 GHz
Around 5% higher maximum core temperature: 100 °C vs 95°C
Around 16% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2.2x lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 140 Watt
Around 10% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2837 vs 2568
Around 12% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1263 vs 1129

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	23 April 2019 vs 30 May 2017
Maximum frequency	5.00 GHz vs 4.30 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100 °C vs 95°C
L3 cache	16 MB vs 13.8 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 140 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2837 vs 2568
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1263 vs 1129

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-7900X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 10 vs 8
4 more threads: 20 vs 16
Around 25% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 25% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 28% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 21175 vs 16556
Around 30% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 10300 vs 7913
Around 4% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 6987 vs 6750

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	10 vs 8
Number of threads	20 vs 16
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 512 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 2 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	21175 vs 16556
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	10300 vs 7913
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	6987 vs 6750

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-9900
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-7900X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2837

2568

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

16556

21175

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1263

1129

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

7913

10300

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

6750

6987

Name	Intel Core i9-9900	Intel Core i9-7900X
PassMark - Single thread mark	2837	2568
PassMark - CPU mark	16556	21175
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1263	1129
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	7913	10300
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	6750	6987

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-9900	Intel Core i9-7900X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake	Skylake
Family	Core i9
Launch date	23 April 2019	30 May 2017
Launch price (MSRP)	$439, $449	$1,050
Place in performance rating	960	939
Processor Number	i9-9900	i9-7900X
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Price now		$1,383.99
Series		Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status		Launched
Value for money (0-100)		4.68
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.10 GHz	3.30 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s DMI3	8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache	512 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	16 MB	13.8 MB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	95°C
Maximum frequency	5.00 GHz	4.30 GHz
Number of cores	8	10
Number of threads	16	20
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		72 °C
Number of QPI Links		0
Unlocked
Memory
ECC memory support
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	0x3E98
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
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FCLGA1151	FCLGA2066
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	140 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2015C (65W)	PCG 2017X
Low Halogen Options Available
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	44
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
PCIe configurations	1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability	1S Only	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
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® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI
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)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)