Intel Core i9-7960X vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-7960X vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and understand which is better for games or normal use for video editing, rendering, streaming, programming, machine learning. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or various benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like WPrime, PCMark 10, MATLAB, Furmark, Prime95, VeraCrypt, RealBench, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, AIDA64, Handbrake, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 7zip, 3DMark, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, Blender, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i9-7960X.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-7960X

58%

Ryzen 5 5600X

56%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-7960X is 3% better than Ryzen 5 5600X. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-7960X

60%

Ryzen 5 5600X

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 less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Control, League of Legends (LOL), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Metro Exodus, Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World, Hitman 3, Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.9	97.1
Valorant	121.4	110.4
Cyberpunk 2077	68.0	61.8
Apex Legends	114.2	103.8
Call of Duty Warzone	91.1	82.8
Overwatch	98.4	89.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.8	76.2
DOOM Eternal	60.7	55.2
Warzone	94.7	86.1
Assassin's Creed	102.0	92.7
Valheim	100.8	91.6

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 i9-7960X

22%

Ryzen 5 5600X

90%

To make a finishing decision 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 Ryzen 5 5600X is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7960X since it has less power consumption: 165W vs. 65W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU uses 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 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 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 i9-7960X	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	184	258
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3161	1970
Cinbench 20 Single-core	611	604
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5496	4562
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1103	1572
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	22189	11268

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

	Intel Core i9-7960X	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Single-Core	2605	3352
Multi-Core	27039	22120

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

	Intel Core i9-7960X	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Single-Core	1113	1768
Multi-Core	18501	8968

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. 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 benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain 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 i9-7960X	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Announcement date	October 01, 2017	November 05, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	AM4
Core name	Skylake	Vermeer
Architecture	x86	Zen 3
Generation	7	5
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	4.6 MHz
Frequency	2.8 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	16	6
Threads	32	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography		7 nm
Transistors count	7800 millions	4800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache		3MB
L3 cache	22 MB	32MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000065 100-100000065BOX 100-100000065MPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 5 5600X is 24% better than Core i9-7960X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7960X has 10 more core than Ryzen 5 5600X. 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 i9-7960X is better: 25
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is better: 12
Although it should be realized that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-7960X and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X before making a decision which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-7960X specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 5600X specs and review.