Intel Core i9-9920X vs Intel Core i7-9700K

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 i9-9920X vs Intel Core i7-9700K and decide which is better for games or normal use for streaming, video editing, machine learning, programming, rendering. Here you can find useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or various benchmarks. A careful review 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 joint testing in special testing software such as GeekBench 6, 5.2, MATLAB, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PassMark, SuperPi, Blender, Handbrake, WPrime, RealBench, Prime95, 3DMark, Furmark, 7zip, PCMark 10, AIDA64, UserBenchmark, VeraCrypt, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-9700K or Intel Core i9-9920X.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-9920X

57%

Core i7-9700K

54%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-9920X is 5% better than Core i7-9700K. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-9920X

58%

Core i7-9700K

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	102.9	96.4
Valorant	116.9	109.5
Cyberpunk 2077	65.5	61.3
Apex Legends	109.9	103.0
Call of Duty Warzone	87.7	82.2
Overwatch	94.7	88.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	80.6	75.6
DOOM Eternal	58.4	54.8
Warzone	91.2	85.4
Assassin's Creed	98.2	92.0
Valheim	97.0	90.9

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: 2K, 4K or FullHD. So 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 i9-9920X

25%

Core i7-9700K

46%

To make a finishing resolution 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 i7-9700K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9920X as it consumes less power: 165W vs. 95W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful 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 programming, video editing or video rendering, streaming, machine learning, 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 achieve maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the advantages 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 i9-9920X	Intel Core i7-9700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	197	214
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2245	1520
Cinbench 20 Single-core	455	481
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5179	3656
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1484	1246
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14791	9214

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

	Intel Core i9-9920X	Intel Core i7-9700K
Single-Core	2650	2879
Multi-Core	25286	14607

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

	Intel Core i9-9920X	Intel Core i7-9700K
Single-Core	1282	1320
Multi-Core	14563	8237

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 i9-9920X	Intel Core i7-9700K
Announcement date	October 01, 2018	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Skylake	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	9
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	4.9 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	12	8
Threads	24	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	8600 millions	5600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	19.25 MB	12 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
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 i7-9700K is 2% better than Core i9-9920X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9920X has 4 more core than Core i7-9700K. 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 i9-9920X is better: 22
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-9700K is better: 7
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 i9-9920X and Intel Core i7-9700K before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-9920X specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-9700K specs and review.