Intel Core i9-7960X vs Intel Core i9-9940X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   If you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-7960X vs Intel Core i9-9940X and understand which is better for games or simple use for programming, streaming, machine learning, rendering, video editing. Here you can find all information from several benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like Gears 5, AIDA64, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, RealBench, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PassMark, 7zip, WPrime, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, Furmark, Dolphin Emulator, MATLAB, VeraCrypt, Handbrake, SuperPi, Blender, PCMark 10, Prime95.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9940X 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%

Core i9-9940X

58%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-7960X

60%

Core i9-9940X

59%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. 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 little game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Microsoft Flight Simulator, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hitman 3, Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, Metro Exodus, NBA 2K20, League of Legends (LOL), Battlefield V, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Control.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.9	104.5
Valorant	121.4	118.8
Cyberpunk 2077	68.0	66.5
Apex Legends	114.2	111.7
Call of Duty Warzone	91.1	89.1
Overwatch	98.4	96.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.8	82.0
DOOM Eternal	60.7	59.4
Warzone	94.7	92.7
Assassin's Creed	102.0	99.8
Valheim	100.8	98.6

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 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: 2K, FullHD or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance 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%

Core i9-9940X

25%

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 i9-9940X is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7960X 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. 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

If 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, the CPU uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will find out 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 can use only one core to work, and all the benefit 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 i9-7960X	Intel Core i9-9940X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	184	197
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3161	2587
Cinbench 20 Single-core	611	457
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5496	5912
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1103	1175
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	22189	20834

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

	Intel Core i9-7960X	Intel Core i9-9940X
Single-Core	2605	2589
Multi-Core	27039	28183

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

	Intel Core i9-7960X	Intel Core i9-9940X
Single-Core	1113	1257
Multi-Core	18501	16211

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 you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, 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 i9-7960X	Intel Core i9-9940X
Announcement date	October 01, 2017	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA2066
Core name	Skylake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	7	9
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	2.8 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	16	14
Threads	32	28
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography		14 nm
Transistors count	7800 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	22 MB	19.25 MB
Overclocking	No	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 i9-9940X is 15% better than Core i9-7960X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7960X has 2 more core than Core i9-9940X. 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: 20
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9940X is better: 10
However, it should be understood that the summary data in the article 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 reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-7960X and Intel Core i9-9940X before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-7960X specs and review.

Intel Core i9-9940X - all data

• Fortnite gaming benchmark
• Assassin's Creed gaming benchmark
• DOOM Eternal gaming benchmark
• Overwatch gaming benchmark
• Call of Duty: Warzone gaming benchmark
• Apex Legends gaming benchmark
• Cyberpunk 2077 gaming benchmark
• Roblox gaming benchmark
• PUBG gaming benchmark
• Red Dead Redemption 2 gaming benchmark
• GTA 5 gaming benchmark
• Valorant gaming benchmark

• Intel Core i9-9940X specs and review.