Intel Core i9-9960X vs Intel Core i9-7980XE

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-9960X and Intel Core i9-7980XE processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, 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).

Intel Core i9-9960X

Intel Core i9-7980XE

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9960X

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 0 month(s) later
Around 5% higher clock speed: 4.40 GHz vs 4.20 GHz
Around 5% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2617 vs 2483
Around 1% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 30618 vs 30208
Around 20% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 13076 vs 10876

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2018 vs September 2017
Maximum frequency	4.40 GHz vs 4.20 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2617 vs 2483
PassMark - CPU mark	30618 vs 30208
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	13076 vs 10876

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-7980XE

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 18 vs 16
4 more threads: 36 vs 32
Around 11% higher maximum core temperature: 94°C vs 85°C
Around 13% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 13% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 13% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 2% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1177 vs 1158
Around 15% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 16370 vs 14294

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	18 vs 16
Number of threads	36 vs 32
Maximum core temperature	94°C vs 85°C
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64K (per core)
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core) vs 1 MB (per core)
L3 cache	25344 KB (shared) vs 22 MB (shared)
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1177 vs 1158
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	16370 vs 14294

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-9960X
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-7980XE

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2617

2483

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

30618

30208

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1158

1177

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

14294

16370

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

13076

10876

Name	Intel Core i9-9960X	Intel Core i9-7980XE
PassMark - Single thread mark	2617	2483
PassMark - CPU mark	30618	30208
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1158	1177
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	14294	16370
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	13076	10876
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		40.947
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		484.771
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		3.237
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		21.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		218.231

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-9960X	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Essentials
Architecture codename	Skylake	Skylake
Launch date	October 2018	September 2017
Place in performance rating	619	177
Processor Number	i9-9960X	i9-7980XE
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$1,999
Price now		$2,005.50
Value for money (0-100)		4.08
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.10 GHz	2.60 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s DMI3	8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache	64K (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB (per core)	1024 KB (per core)
L3 cache	22 MB (shared)	25344 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	85°C	94°C
Maximum frequency	4.40 GHz	4.20 GHz
Number of cores	16	18
Number of QPI Links	0	0
Number of threads	32	36
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	4	4
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FCLGA2066	FCLGA2066
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	165 Watt	165 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2017X	PCG 2017X
Low Halogen Options Available
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	44	44
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
Scalability	1S Only	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
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® AVX-512
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	2
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)