Intel Core i9-7980XE vs Intel Core i5-11600K

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 i9-7980XE vs Intel Core i5-11600K and understand which is better for games or normal use for video editing, machine learning, programming, streaming, rendering. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or many benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as Handbrake, PCMark 10, 7zip, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), GeekBench 6, 5.2, Furmark, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, SuperPi, WPrime, Prime95, MATLAB, PassMark, Blender, Gears 5, RealBench, AIDA64, Dolphin Emulator, 3DMark, VeraCrypt.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-11600K 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%

Core i5-11600K

56%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-7980XE is 3% better than Core i5-11600K. 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%

Core i5-11600K

54%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	107.0	95.2
Valorant	121.6	108.1
Cyberpunk 2077	68.1	60.6
Apex Legends	114.3	101.6
Call of Duty Warzone	91.2	81.1
Overwatch	98.5	87.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.9	74.6
DOOM Eternal	60.8	54.1
Warzone	94.9	84.3
Assassin's Creed	102.2	90.8
Valheim	100.9	89.7

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 comparing 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. 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-7980XE

23%

Core i5-11600K

43%

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 i5-11600K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7980XE as it consumes less power: 165W vs. 125W. 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

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account 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 i9-7980XE	Intel Core i5-11600K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	184	199
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3455	1905
Cinbench 20 Single-core	446	465
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7671	4270
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1281	1213
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	28196	11302

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

	Intel Core i9-7980XE	Intel Core i5-11600K
Single-Core	2490	2707
Multi-Core	29612	20616

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

	Intel Core i9-7980XE	Intel Core i5-11600K
Single-Core	1158	1621
Multi-Core	18658	7012

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 in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-7980XE	Intel Core i5-11600K
Announcement date	April 01, 2017	January 20, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA1200
Core name	Skylake	Rocket Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	11
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	4.9 MHz
Frequency	2.6 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	18	6
Threads	36	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	7800 millions	5400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	125 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s	50 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache		3 MB
L3 cache	24.75 MB	12 MB
Overclocking	Yes	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 i5-11600K is 33% better than Core i9-7980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7980XE has 12 more core than Core i5-11600K. 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: 23
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-11600K is better: 11
Although it should be understood that the summary data in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-7980XE and Intel Core i5-11600K before deciding which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i9-7980XE specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-11600K specs and review.