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

Processor comparisons 23-03-2021

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

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

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

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-9900KS

55%

Core i7-7900X

55%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-9900KS

55%

Core i7-7900X

57%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs 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 less popular games in which processors were compared: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Hitman 3, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Forza Horizon 4, Metro Exodus, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20, Half-Life: Alyx, Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, League of Legends (LOL), Control, Monster Hunter World, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Battlefield V.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.7	100.5
Valorant	111.0	114.2
Cyberpunk 2077	62.2	63.9
Apex Legends	104.4	107.3
Call of Duty Warzone	83.3	85.6
Overwatch	89.9	92.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.6	78.8
DOOM Eternal	55.5	57.1
Warzone	86.6	89.1
Assassin's Creed	93.3	95.9
Valheim	92.1	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 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. 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 i9-9900KS

35%

Core i7-7900X

32%

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 Core i9-9900KS is more energy efficient than the Core i7-7900X since it has less power consumption: 127W vs. 140W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was 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 i9-9900KS	Intel Core i7-7900X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	222	225
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2201	2318
Cinbench 20 Single-core	518	518
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5226	5234
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1284	1295
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12704	12538

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

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	Intel Core i7-7900X
Single-Core	3018	2583
Multi-Core	19522	19299

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

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	Intel Core i7-7900X
Single-Core	1368	1370
Multi-Core	9501	12235

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 later the processor is released, 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 even in new games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	Intel Core i7-7900X
Announcement date	October 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	4 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)	127 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 i9-9900KS is 17% better than Core i7-7900X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-7900X has 2 more core than Core i9-9900KS. 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 i9-9900KS is better: 10
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-7900X is better: 20
All the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i9-9900KS and Intel Core i7-7900X before deciding which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i9-9900KS - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-9900KS 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.