Intel Core i9-9960X vs Intel Core i9-9980XE

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-9960X and Intel Core i9-9980XE 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.

Intel Core i9-9960X

Intel Core i9-9980XE

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9960X

Around 1% higher maximum core temperature: 85°C vs 84°C
Around 1% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2595 vs 2560
Around 1% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1158 vs 1141
Around 12% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 13076 vs 11679

Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature	85°C vs 84°C
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2595 vs 2560
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1158 vs 1141
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	13076 vs 11679

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9980XE

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 18 vs 16
4 more threads: 36 vs 32
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 6% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 31979 vs 30254
Around 10% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 15743 vs 14294

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	18 vs 16
Number of threads	36 vs 32
L1 cache	64K (per core) vs 64K (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB (per core) vs 1 MB (per core)
L3 cache	24.75 MB (shared) vs 22 MB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	31979 vs 30254
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	15743 vs 14294

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-9960X
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-9980XE

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2595

2560

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

30254

31979

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1158

1141

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

14294

15743

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

13076

11679

Name	Intel Core i9-9960X	Intel Core i9-9980XE
PassMark - Single thread mark	2595	2560
PassMark - CPU mark	30254	31979
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1158	1141
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	14294	15743
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	13076	11679

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-9960X	Intel Core i9-9980XE
Essentials
Architecture codename	Skylake	Skylake
Launch date	October 2018	October 2018
Place in performance rating	598	609
Processor Number	i9-9960X	i9-9980XE
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.10 GHz	3.00 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s DMI3	8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache	64K (per core)	64K (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
L3 cache	22 MB (shared)	24.75 MB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	85°C	84°C
Maximum frequency	4.40 GHz	4.40 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
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)