Intel Core i7-11700K vs Intel Core i9-9980XE

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   Perhaps you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i7-11700K vs Intel Core i9-9980XE and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, rendering, machine learning, streaming, programming. Here is useful information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough review of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as Prime95, Blender, PCMark 10, AIDA64, DaVinci Resolve Studio, RealBench, 3DMark, Blender, 7zip, Furmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, VeraCrypt, MATLAB, WPrime, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, UserBenchmark, PassMark, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, SuperPi.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9980XE or Intel Core i7-11700K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-11700K

58%

Core i9-9980XE

59%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-9980XE is 1% better than Core i7-11700K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-11700K

56%

Core i9-9980XE

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 run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: DOTA 2A, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, Metro Exodus, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), League of Legends (LOL), Control, Monster Hunter World, Ghostrunner, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Microsoft Flight Simulator, NBA 2K20, Hitman 3, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	100.2	106.2
Valorant	113.8	120.7
Cyberpunk 2077	63.7	67.6
Apex Legends	107.0	113.5
Call of Duty Warzone	85.4	90.5
Overwatch	92.2	97.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	78.5	83.3
DOOM Eternal	56.9	60.3
Warzone	88.8	94.1
Assassin's Creed	95.6	101.4
Valheim	94.5	100.2

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 participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful 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 i7-11700K

47%

Core i9-9980XE

23%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i7-11700K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9980XE since it has less power consumption: 125W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. 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

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor uses all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i7-11700K	Intel Core i9-9980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	262	201
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2507	3240
Cinbench 20 Single-core	612	459
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5618	7516
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1596	1124
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14869	22944

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

	Intel Core i7-11700K	Intel Core i9-9980XE
Single-Core	3562	2551
Multi-Core	27126	32096

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

	Intel Core i7-11700K	Intel Core i9-9980XE
Single-Core	1793	1178
Multi-Core	11929	17856

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i7-11700K	Intel Core i9-9980XE
Announcement date	January 20, 2021	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	FCLGA2066
Core name	Rocket Lake-S	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	11	9
Turbo Frequency	5 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	3 MHz
Cores	8	18
Threads	16	36
Bus rate	12 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	8200 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	3200
Memory bandwidth	64 GB/s	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache	4 MB
L3 cache	16 MB	24.75 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
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 i7-11700K is 16% better than Core i9-9980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9980XE has 10 more core than Core i7-11700K. 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 i7-11700K is better: 12
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9980XE is better: 22
However, it should be understood that all the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i7-11700K and Intel Core i9-9980XE before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i7-11700K specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-9980XE specs and review.