Intel Core i7-12700K vs Intel Core i9-9980XE

Processor comparisons 11-01-2022

   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i7-12700K vs Intel Core i9-9980XE tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, video editing, rendering, programming, streaming. Here you can find useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A careful review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like 7zip, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, MATLAB, Blender, WPrime, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), VeraCrypt, RealBench, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, SuperPi, AIDA64, 3DMark, Gears 5, PassMark, Dolphin Emulator, Furmark, Handbrake, Blender, Prime95.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9980XE or Intel Core i7-12700K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-12700K

63%

Core i9-9980XE

59%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-12700K is 6% better than Core i9-9980XE. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-12700K

59%

Core i9-9980XE

60%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, 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 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: Metro Exodus, Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, League of Legends (LOL), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Battlefield V, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, Forza Horizon 4, Control, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), DOTA 2A, NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	105.4	106.2
Valorant	119.8	120.7
Cyberpunk 2077	67.1	67.6
Apex Legends	112.6	113.5
Call of Duty Warzone	89.8	90.5
Overwatch	97.0	97.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	82.7	83.3
DOOM Eternal	59.9	60.3
Warzone	93.4	94.1
Assassin's Creed	100.6	101.4
Valheim	99.4	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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. 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 i7-12700K

56%

Core i9-9980XE

23%

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 i7-12700K 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, you need 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 programming, streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU turns on all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. 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. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit 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 i7-12700K	Intel Core i9-9980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	569	201
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	4145	3240
Cinbench 20 Single-core	1358	459
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	9408	7516
Cinbench 23 Single-core	3179	1124
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	31015	22944

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

	Intel Core i7-12700K	Intel Core i9-9980XE
Single-Core	7441	2551
Multi-Core	43423	32096

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

	Intel Core i7-12700K	Intel Core i9-9980XE
Single-Core	2117	1178
Multi-Core	17079	17856

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 later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i7-12700K	Intel Core i9-9980XE
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA2066
Core name	Alder Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	9
Turbo Frequency	5 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	3.8 MHz	3 MHz
Cores	12	18
Threads	20	36
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	10200 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	165 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache	12 MB
L3 cache	25 MB	24.75 MB
Overclocking	No	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 i7-12700K is 21% better than Core i9-9980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9980XE has 6 more core than Core i7-12700K. 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 i7-12700K is better: 18
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9980XE is better: 16
The summary data in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i7-12700K and Intel Core i9-9980XE before making a selection which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i7-12700K - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-12700K specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-9980XE specs and review.