Intel Core i7-11700KF vs Intel Core i9-10980XE

Processor comparisons 18-03-2021

   For example you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision after reading the full tests Intel Core i7-11700KF vs Intel Core i9-10980XE and see which is better for games or normal use for video editing, rendering, machine learning, streaming, programming. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or several benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as Furmark, MATLAB, 7zip, PCMark 10, Blender, Gears 5, Blender, Handbrake, WPrime, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Dolphin Emulator, 3DMark, PassMark, VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, GeekBench 6, 5.2, RealBench, SuperPi, Prime95, AIDA64.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10980XE or Intel Core i7-11700KF.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-11700KF

58%

Core i9-10980XE

60%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10980XE is 3% better than Core i7-11700KF. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-11700KF

56%

Core i9-10980XE

61%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	99.1	108.7
Valorant	112.6	123.5
Cyberpunk 2077	63.1	69.2
Apex Legends	105.9	116.1
Call of Duty Warzone	84.5	92.6
Overwatch	91.2	100.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	77.7	85.2
DOOM Eternal	56.3	61.8
Warzone	87.9	96.3
Assassin's Creed	94.6	103.7
Valheim	93.5	102.5

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 tested computers 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. 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 i7-11700KF

47%

Core i9-10980XE

28%

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 i7-11700KF is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10980XE as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 165W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you want 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 reach maximum performance, the processor includes all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the advantages 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 i7-11700KF	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	259	211
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2482	3800
Cinbench 20 Single-core	606	480
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5562	8848
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1580	1191
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14720	24309

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

	Intel Core i7-11700KF	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	3526	2626
Multi-Core	26855	34005

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

	Intel Core i7-11700KF	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	1793	1417
Multi-Core	10909	20280

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i7-11700KF	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Announcement date	January 20, 2021	October 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	FCLGA2066
Core name	Rocket Lake-S	Cascade Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	11	10
Turbo Frequency	5 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	3 MHz
Cores	8	18
Threads	16	36
Bus rate	12 GT/s	8 GT/s DMI3
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	8200 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	128 Gb	256 Gb
Memory Frequency	3200
Memory bandwidth	64 GB/s	94 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 i7-11700KF is 16% better than Core i9-10980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10980XE has 10 more core than Core i7-11700KF. 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 i7-11700KF is better: 12
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10980XE is better: 23
However, it should be realized that all the data that you have looked at here do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i7-11700KF and Intel Core i9-10980XE before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i7-11700KF specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-10980XE specs and review.