Intel Core i9-9900K vs Intel Core i9-7940X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-9900K and Intel Core i9-7940X 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, 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 i9-9900K

Intel Core i9-7940X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9900K

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 0 month(s) later
Around 16% higher clock speed: 5.00 GHz vs 4.30 GHz
Around 74% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 165 Watt
Around 18% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2932 vs 2491
Around 16% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1336 vs 1153

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2018 vs September 2017
Maximum frequency	5.00 GHz vs 4.30 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 165 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2932 vs 2491
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1336 vs 1153

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-7940X

6 more cores, run more applications at once: 14 vs 8
12 more threads: 28 vs 16
Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 102°C vs 100°C
Around 75% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
7x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 20% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 42% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 25987 vs 18318
Around 47% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 12928 vs 8781
Around 56% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 10950 vs 7038

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	14 vs 8
Number of threads	28 vs 16
Maximum core temperature	102°C vs 100°C
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64K (per core)
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core) vs 256K (per core)
L3 cache	19712 KB (shared) vs 16 MB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	25987 vs 18318
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	12928 vs 8781
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	10950 vs 7038

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-9900K
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-7940X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2932

2491

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

18318

25987

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1336

1153

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

8781

12928

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

7038

10950

Name	Intel Core i9-9900K	Intel Core i9-7940X
PassMark - Single thread mark	2932	2491
PassMark - CPU mark	18318	25987
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1336	1153
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	8781	12928
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	7038	10950
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	12.968
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	202.925
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.504
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	6.779
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	17.406
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)	2165
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)	4003
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	6679
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)	2165
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)	4003
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	6679

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-9900K	Intel Core i9-7940X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake	Skylake
Launch date	October 2018	September 2017
Place in performance rating	745	747
Price now	$909	$1,129.99
Processor Number	i9-9900K	i9-7940X
Series	9th Generation Intel® Core™ i9 Processors	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	6.63	6.63
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$1,399
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.60 GHz	3.10 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s DMI3	8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache	64K (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	1024 KB (per core)
L3 cache	16 MB (shared)	19712 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C
Maximum core temperature	100°C	102°C
Maximum frequency	5.00 GHz	4.30 GHz
Number of cores	8	14
Number of threads	16	28
Unlocked
Number of QPI Links		0
Memory
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
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1151	FCLGA2066
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	165 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2015D (130W)	PCG 2017X
Low Halogen Options Available
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	44
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 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)
Secure Boot
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 (AVX)
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
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)