Intel Core i9-7940X vs Intel Core i9-10940X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-7940X vs Intel Core i9-10940X and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, streaming, rendering, video editing, programming. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A careful review of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, PassMark, VeraCrypt, WPrime, Gears 5, Handbrake, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, MATLAB, SuperPi, RealBench, Furmark, Blender, Prime95, 7zip, PCMark 10, 3DMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10940X 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 i9-10940X

58%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-7940X

58%

Core i9-10940X

59%

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 the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Monster Hunter World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), League of Legends (LOL), Control, Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Horizon Zero Dawn, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	103.4	104.3
Valorant	117.5	118.5
Cyberpunk 2077	65.8	66.4
Apex Legends	110.5	111.4
Call of Duty Warzone	88.2	88.9
Overwatch	95.2	96.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	81.1	81.8
DOOM Eternal	58.8	59.2
Warzone	91.7	92.4
Assassin's Creed	98.7	99.5
Valheim	97.6	98.3

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 comparisons not only were the equipped with different video cards and different amounts of RAM. 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 i9-7940X

25%

Core i9-10940X

24%

To make a final resolution 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 i9-7940X is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10940X as it consumes less power: 165W 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, streaming, programming, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor includes all threads and cores 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 can use only one core to work, 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 i9-10940X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	188	201
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2849	3117
Cinbench 20 Single-core	607	442
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5465	7609
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1578	1263
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	15728	21309

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

	Intel Core i9-7940X	Intel Core i9-10940X
Single-Core	2533	2704
Multi-Core	26889	29374

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

	Intel Core i9-7940X	Intel Core i9-10940X
Single-Core	1263	1226
Multi-Core	15127	15950

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. 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, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS 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 i9-10940X
Announcement date	April 01, 2017	October 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA2066
Core name	Skylake	Cascade Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	7	10
Turbo Frequency	4.3 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.1 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	14	14
Threads	28	28
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s DMI3
Bit	64	64
Lithography		14 nm
Transistors count	7800 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	128 Gb	256 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s	94 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	19.25 MB	19.25 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 i9-10940X is 6% better than Core i9-7940X in terms of CPU frequency. 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: 4
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10940X is better: 27
The summary data in the article 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 testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-7940X and Intel Core i9-10940X before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-7940X specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-10940X specs and review.