Intel Core i7-12700HE vs Intel Core i9-7960X

Processor comparisons 11-01-2022

   You may have difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the detailed tests Intel Core i7-12700HE vs Intel Core i9-7960X and understand which is better for games or normal use for programming, streaming, machine learning, video editing, rendering. Here is useful information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications such as World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, UserBenchmark, Furmark, VeraCrypt, Handbrake, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, MATLAB, 7zip, AIDA64, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender, PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, RealBench, WPrime, PCMark 10, Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, Prime95, Gears 5.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-7960X or Intel Core i7-12700HE.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-12700HE

59%

Core i9-7960X

58%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-12700HE is 1% better than Core i9-7960X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-12700HE

57%

Core i9-7960X

60%

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 other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Hitman 3, Metro Exodus, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, League of Legends (LOL), Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, NBA 2K20, DOTA 2A, Control, Battlefield V, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Half-Life: Alyx, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	100.6	106.9
Valorant	114.3	121.4
Cyberpunk 2077	64.0	68.0
Apex Legends	107.5	114.2
Call of Duty Warzone	85.8	91.1
Overwatch	92.6	98.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	78.9	83.8
DOOM Eternal	57.2	60.7
Warzone	89.2	94.7
Assassin's Creed	96.0	102.0
Valheim	94.9	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 tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. Therefore, 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 i7-12700HE

129%

Core i9-7960X

22%

To make a final decision 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 i7-12700HE is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7960X since it has less power consumption: 45W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially 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

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 i7-12700HE	Intel Core i9-7960X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	396	184
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2895	3161
Cinbench 20 Single-core	949	611
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6572	5496
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2220	1103
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	21668	22189

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

	Intel Core i7-12700HE	Intel Core i9-7960X
Single-Core	5198	2605
Multi-Core	30334	27039

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

	Intel Core i7-12700HE	Intel Core i9-7960X
Single-Core	1753	1113
Multi-Core	12368	18501

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. 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. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i7-12700HE	Intel Core i9-7960X
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	October 01, 2017
Type	Embedded	Desktop
Socket	FCBGA1744	FCLGA2066
Core name	Alder Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	7
Turbo Frequency	4.6 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	2.8 MHz
Cores	14	16
Threads	20	32
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm
Transistors count	10200 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	45 W	165 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5 5200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	64 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	24 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 i7-12700HE is 20% better than Core i9-7960X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7960X has 2 more core than Core i7-12700HE. 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 i7-12700HE is better: 14
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7960X is better: 19
However, it should be realized that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i7-12700HE and Intel Core i9-7960X before making a decision which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i7-12700HE - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i7-12700HE specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-7960X specs and review.