Intel Core i9-9900 vs Intel Core i9-9960X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-9900 and Intel Core i9-9960X 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 i9-9960X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9900

CPU is newer: launch date 6 month(s) later
Around 14% higher clock speed: 5.00 GHz vs 4.40 GHz
Around 18% higher maximum core temperature: 100 °C vs 85°C
2.5x lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 165 Watt
Around 8% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2837 vs 2617
Around 9% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1263 vs 1158

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	23 April 2019 vs October 2018
Maximum frequency	5.00 GHz vs 4.40 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100 °C vs 85°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 165 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2837 vs 2617
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1263 vs 1158

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9960X

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
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
8x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 38% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 85% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 30618 vs 16562
Around 81% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 14294 vs 7913
Around 94% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 13076 vs 6750

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	16 vs 8
Number of threads	32 vs 16
L1 cache	64K (per core) vs 512 KB
L2 cache	1 MB (per core) vs 2 MB
L3 cache	22 MB (shared) vs 16 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	30618 vs 16562
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	14294 vs 7913
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	13076 vs 6750

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-9900
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-9960X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2837

2617

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

16562

30618

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1263

1158

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

7913

14294

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

6750

13076

Name	Intel Core i9-9900	Intel Core i9-9960X
PassMark - Single thread mark	2837	2617
PassMark - CPU mark	16562	30618
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1263	1158
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	7913	14294
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	6750	13076

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-9900	Intel Core i9-9960X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake	Skylake
Family	Core i9
Launch date	23 April 2019	October 2018
Launch price (MSRP)	$439, $449
Place in performance rating	961	619
Processor Number	i9-9900	i9-9960X
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Series		Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status		Launched
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.10 GHz	3.10 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s DMI3	8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache	512 KB	64K (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB	1 MB (per core)
L3 cache	16 MB	22 MB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	85°C
Maximum frequency	5.00 GHz	4.40 GHz
Number of cores	8	16
Number of threads	16	32
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	165 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2015C (65W)	PCG 2017X
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)