Intel Core i9-9900 vs Intel Core i7-7900X

Processor comparisons 24-03-2021

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i9-9900 vs Intel Core i7-7900X tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, rendering, streaming, programming, machine learning. Here is all information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests like VeraCrypt, AIDA64, GeekBench 6, 5.2, RealBench, Gears 5, PassMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, UserBenchmark, 3DMark, Dolphin Emulator, 7zip, WPrime, Blender, SuperPi, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Handbrake, PCMark 10, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Prime95, MATLAB, Blender, Furmark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-7900X or Intel Core i9-9900.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-9900

55%

Core i7-7900X

55%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-9900

55%

Core i7-7900X

57%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. 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. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: League of Legends (LOL), Control, Metro Exodus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, DOTA 2A, Half-Life: Alyx, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4, Ghostrunner, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Hunter World, Battlefield V, Hitman 3, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.1	100.5
Valorant	110.4	114.2
Cyberpunk 2077	61.8	63.9
Apex Legends	103.7	107.3
Call of Duty Warzone	82.8	85.6
Overwatch	89.4	92.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.1	78.8
DOOM Eternal	55.2	57.1
Warzone	86.1	89.1
Assassin's Creed	92.7	95.9
Valheim	91.6	94.8

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 tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. 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 i9-9900

74%

Core i7-7900X

32%

To make a finishing 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 Core i9-9900 is more energy efficient than the Core i7-7900X as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 140W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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 plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account 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 use only one core to run, 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 i9-9900	Intel Core i7-7900X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	219	225
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1931	2318
Cinbench 20 Single-core	518	518
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	4346	5234
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1284	1295
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12205	12538

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

	Intel Core i9-9900	Intel Core i7-7900X
Single-Core	2864	2583
Multi-Core	17110	19299

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

	Intel Core i9-9900	Intel Core i7-7900X
Single-Core	1454	1370
Multi-Core	8933	12235

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. 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, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-9900	Intel Core i7-7900X
Announcement date	April 01, 2019	April 01, 2017
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	FCLGA2066
Core name	Coffee Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	7
Turbo Frequency	5 MHz	4.3 MHz
Frequency	3.1 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	8	10
Threads	16	20
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	8600 millions	8400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	140 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	16 MB	13.75 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 i7-7900X is 6% better than Core i9-9900 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-7900X has 2 more core than Core i9-9900. 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 i9-9900 is better: 8
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-7900X is better: 22
All the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-9900 and Intel Core i7-7900X before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i9-9900 - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i9-9900 specs and review.

Intel Core i7-7900X - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i7-7900X specs and review.