Intel Core i7-11700 vs Intel Core i9-7960X

Processor comparisons 18-03-2021

   Perhaps you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i7-11700 vs Intel Core i9-7960X tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for video editing, machine learning, streaming, programming, rendering. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as DaVinci Resolve Studio, SuperPi, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, 3DMark, PassMark, Prime95, GeekBench 6, 5.2, RealBench, Dolphin Emulator, Handbrake, AIDA64, Furmark, PCMark 10, MATLAB, Blender, VeraCrypt, 7zip, WPrime, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark.
   And how good the processors are in games:

Red Dead Redemption 2
DOOM: Eternal
Cyberpunk 2077
Grand Theft Auto V
Fortnite
Apex Legends
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Valorant
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Valheim
Rainbow Six Siege
Borderlands 3
Watch Dogs Legion
Halo Infinite
Death Stranding
Last Man Standing
Overwatch
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Fallout 76

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-7960X or Intel Core i7-11700.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i7-11700

58%

Core i9-7960X

58%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-11700

55%

Core i9-7960X

60%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Shadow of the Tomb Raider, DOTA 2A, Monster Hunter World, League of Legends (LOL), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Hitman 3, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghostrunner, Metro Exodus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Battlefield V, NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Half-Life: Alyx, Control, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.7	106.9
Valorant	111.0	121.4
Cyberpunk 2077	62.2	68.0
Apex Legends	104.4	114.2
Call of Duty Warzone	83.3	91.1
Overwatch	89.9	98.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.6	83.8
DOOM Eternal	55.5	60.7
Warzone	86.6	94.7
Assassin's Creed	93.3	102.0
Valheim	92.2	100.8

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i7-11700

88%

Core i9-7960X

22%

To make a finishing choice on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i7-11700 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7960X as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 165W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i7-11700	Intel Core i9-7960X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	257	184
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2457	3161
Cinbench 20 Single-core	600	611
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5506	5496
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1564	1103
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14572	22189

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i7-11700	Intel Core i9-7960X
Single-Core	3491	2605
Multi-Core	26583	27039

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i7-11700	Intel Core i9-7960X
Single-Core	1735	1113
Multi-Core	9531	18501

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i7-11700	Intel Core i9-7960X
Announcement date	January 20, 2021	October 01, 2017
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	FCLGA2066
Core name	Rocket Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	11	7
Turbo Frequency	4.9 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	2.5 MHz	2.8 MHz
Cores	8	16
Threads	16	32
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm
Transistors count	8200 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	3200
Memory bandwidth	50 GB/s	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache	4 MB
L3 cache	16 MB	22 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-7960X is 10% better than Core i7-11700 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7960X has 8 more core than Core i7-11700. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-11700 is better: 12
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7960X is better: 22
Although it should be realized that all the data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i7-11700 and Intel Core i9-7960X before deciding which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i7-11700 specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-7960X specs and review.