Intel Core i9-10920X vs Intel Core i9-7980XE

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i9-10920X vs Intel Core i9-7980XE tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, machine learning, programming, rendering. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or many benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like WPrime, Handbrake, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, MATLAB, 7zip, PassMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), GeekBench 6, 5.2, Furmark, SuperPi, AIDA64, Prime95, UserBenchmark, PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, Gears 5, RealBench, 3DMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-7980XE or Intel Core i9-10920X.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-10920X

58%

Core i9-7980XE

58%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10920X

58%

Core i9-7980XE

60%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. 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: League of Legends (LOL), NBA 2K20, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Control, Ghostrunner, DOTA 2A, Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Monster Hunter World, Metro Exodus, Battlefield V, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	102.4	107.0
Valorant	116.3	121.6
Cyberpunk 2077	65.1	68.1
Apex Legends	109.3	114.3
Call of Duty Warzone	87.2	91.2
Overwatch	94.2	98.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	80.3	83.9
DOOM Eternal	58.2	60.8
Warzone	90.7	94.9
Assassin's Creed	97.7	102.2
Valheim	96.5	100.9

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: 2K, FullHD 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-10920X

25%

Core i9-7980XE

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 i9-10920X is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7980XE since it has less power consumption: 165W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, streaming, machine learning, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor includes all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using 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 work, 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 i9-10920X	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	185	184
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2798	3455
Cinbench 20 Single-core	596	446
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5367	7671
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1550	1281
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	15445	28196

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

	Intel Core i9-10920X	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Single-Core	2780	2490
Multi-Core	26405	29612

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

	Intel Core i9-10920X	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Single-Core	1246	1158
Multi-Core	14074	18658

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. 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 the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-10920X	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Announcement date	October 01, 2019	April 01, 2017
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA2066
Core name	Cascade Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	9
Turbo Frequency	4.8 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	2.6 MHz
Cores	12	18
Threads	24	36
Bus rate	8 GT/s DMI3	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	9200 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	256 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	94 GB/s	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	19.25 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 i9-10920X is 25% better than Core i9-7980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7980XE has 6 more core than Core i9-10920X. 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 i9-10920X is better: 13
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7980XE is better: 20
All the figures in the table 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 opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-10920X and Intel Core i9-7980XE before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-10920X specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-7980XE specs and review.