Intel Core i9-7980XE vs AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i9-7980XE vs AMD Ryzen 9 5950X tests and see which is better for games or simple use for rendering, video editing, programming, streaming, machine learning. Here is useful information from several benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like Gears 5, VeraCrypt, 7zip, WPrime, Handbrake, PCMark 10, DaVinci Resolve Studio, RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, MATLAB, Blender, PassMark, Furmark, UserBenchmark, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Prime95, AIDA64, 3DMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 5950X or Intel Core i9-7980XE.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-7980XE

58%

Ryzen 9 5950X

64%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 9 5950X is 9% better than Core i9-7980XE. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-7980XE

60%

Ryzen 9 5950X

60%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Metro Exodus, Ghostrunner, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Battlefield V, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Forza Horizon 4, NBA 2K20, League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, Hitman 3, Control, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Monster Hunter World, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Microsoft Flight Simulator, DOTA 2A, Half-Life: Alyx.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	107.0	107.2
Valorant	121.6	121.9
Cyberpunk 2077	68.1	68.2
Apex Legends	114.3	114.6
Call of Duty Warzone	91.2	91.4
Overwatch	98.5	98.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.9	84.1
DOOM Eternal	60.8	60.9
Warzone	94.9	95.1
Assassin's Creed	102.2	102.4
Valheim	100.9	101.1

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. 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 i9-7980XE

23%

Ryzen 9 5950X

57%

To make a final decision 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 Ryzen 9 5950X is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7980XE as it consumes less power: 165W vs. 105W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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 streaming, programming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. 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 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 i9-7980XE	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	184	277
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3455	4569
Cinbench 20 Single-core	446	647
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7671	10428
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1281	1639
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	28196	28641

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

	Intel Core i9-7980XE	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Single-Core	2490	3455
Multi-Core	29612	46183

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

	Intel Core i9-7980XE	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Single-Core	1158	1814
Multi-Core	18658	18863

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 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 new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-7980XE	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Announcement date	April 01, 2017	November 05, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	AM4
Core name	Skylake	Vermeer
Architecture	x86	Zen 3
Generation	9	5
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	4.9 MHz
Frequency	2.6 MHz	3.4 MHz
Cores	18	16
Threads	36	32
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	7800 millions	9400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	105 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache		8MB
L3 cache	24.75 MB	64MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000059 100-100000059WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 9 5950X is 23% better than Core i9-7980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7980XE has 2 more core than Ryzen 9 5950X. 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 i9-7980XE is better: 6
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is better: 30
All the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-7980XE and AMD Ryzen 9 5950X before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-7980XE specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 9 5950X specs and review.