Intel Core i9-7940X vs Intel Core i7-10700K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Perhaps you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i9-7940X vs Intel Core i7-10700K and understand which is better for games or normal use for programming, streaming, machine learning, rendering, video editing. Here you can find all information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis 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 special test applications like DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Handbrake, Prime95, PassMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Gears 5, SuperPi, WPrime, RealBench, PCMark 10, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Furmark, AIDA64, 7zip, 3DMark, VeraCrypt, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, MATLAB.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-10700K or Intel Core i9-7940X.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-7940X

58%

Core i7-10700K

55%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-7940X is 5% better than Core i7-10700K. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-7940X

58%

Core i7-10700K

55%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run 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: PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Metro Exodus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, DOTA 2A, League of Legends (LOL), Monster Hunter World, Control, Forza Horizon 4, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, NBA 2K20, Horizon Zero Dawn, Battlefield V.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	103.4	98.2
Valorant	117.5	111.6
Cyberpunk 2077	65.8	62.5
Apex Legends	110.5	104.9
Call of Duty Warzone	88.2	83.7
Overwatch	95.2	90.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	81.1	77.0
DOOM Eternal	58.8	55.8
Warzone	91.7	87.0
Assassin's Creed	98.7	93.7
Valheim	97.6	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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So 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 i9-7940X

25%

Core i7-10700K

34%

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 i7-10700K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7940X as it consumes less power: 165W vs. 125W. Power consumption is particularly 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, video editing or video rendering, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the processor uses 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 check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can 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 i9-7940X	Intel Core i7-10700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	188	228
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2849	2344
Cinbench 20 Single-core	607	524
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5465	5292
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1578	1309
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	15728	12678

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

	Intel Core i9-7940X	Intel Core i7-10700K
Single-Core	2533	3051
Multi-Core	26889	19514

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

	Intel Core i9-7940X	Intel Core i7-10700K
Single-Core	1263	1298
Multi-Core	15127	9987

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-7940X	Intel Core i7-10700K
Announcement date	April 01, 2017	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA1200
Core name	Skylake	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	7	10
Turbo Frequency	4.3 MHz	5.1 MHz
Frequency	3.1 MHz	3.8 MHz
Cores	14	8
Threads	28	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography		14 nm
Transistors count	7800 millions	6800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	125 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	19.25 MB	16 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 i7-10700K is 18% better than Core i9-7940X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7940X has 6 more core than Core i7-10700K. 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 i9-7940X is better: 24
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-10700K is better: 9
Although it should be understood that the summary data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-7940X and Intel Core i7-10700K before deciding which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i9-7940X specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-10700K specs and review.