Intel Core i9-10980XE vs Intel Core i9-9900K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-10980XE vs Intel Core i9-9900K and see which is better for games or simple use for streaming, programming, machine learning, video editing, rendering. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or different benchmarks. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software such as PassMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, MATLAB, Prime95, Furmark, Gears 5, UserBenchmark, 7zip, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, WPrime, RealBench, 3DMark, Blender, Handbrake, AIDA64, PCMark 10.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9900K or Intel Core i9-10980XE.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-10980XE

60%

Core i9-9900K

55%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10980XE is 8% better than Core i9-9900K. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10980XE

61%

Core i9-9900K

55%

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. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little 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: DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hitman 3, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero Dawn, League of Legends (LOL), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Control, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), NBA 2K20, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Battlefield V, Ghostrunner, Metro Exodus, Forza Horizon 4, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Half-Life: Alyx.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	108.7	98.2
Valorant	123.5	111.6
Cyberpunk 2077	69.2	62.5
Apex Legends	116.1	104.9
Call of Duty Warzone	92.6	83.7
Overwatch	100.0	90.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.2	77.0
DOOM Eternal	61.8	55.8
Warzone	96.3	87.0
Assassin's Creed	103.7	93.7
Valheim	102.5	92.6

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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. 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. 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 i9-10980XE

28%

Core i9-9900K

45%

To make a final choice 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 i9-9900K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10980XE as it consumes less power: 165W vs. 95W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, streaming, machine learning, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU 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 find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, 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 i9-10980XE	Intel Core i9-9900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	211	219
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3800	2245
Cinbench 20 Single-core	480	518
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	8848	4995
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1191	1284
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	24309	12450

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

	Intel Core i9-10980XE	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	2626	2947
Multi-Core	34005	18753

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

	Intel Core i9-10980XE	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	1417	1301
Multi-Core	20280	9986

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. 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, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-10980XE	Intel Core i9-9900K
Announcement date	October 01, 2019	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Cascade Lake	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	9
Turbo Frequency	4.8 MHz	5 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	18	8
Threads	36	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s DMI3	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	9200 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	256 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	94 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	24.75 MB	16 MB
Overclocking	Yes	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 i9-9900K 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 i9-9900K. 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 i9-10980XE is better: 27
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9900K is better: 7
However, it should be realized that 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 figures. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-10980XE and Intel Core i9-9900K before making a decision which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i9-10980XE specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-9900K specs and review.