Intel Core i9-9920X vs Intel Core i9-7980XE

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Perhaps you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i9-9920X vs Intel Core i9-7980XE tests and see which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, streaming, programming, rendering, video editing. Here is useful information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like Furmark, VeraCrypt, Gears 5, 7zip, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PCMark 10, UserBenchmark, Blender, Blender, 3DMark, RealBench, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Handbrake, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Dolphin Emulator, AIDA64, PassMark, WPrime, SuperPi, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, MATLAB.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-7980XE 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 i9-7980XE

58%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-7980XE is 1% better than Core i9-9920X. 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 i9-7980XE

60%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. 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 small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Microsoft Flight Simulator, Metro Exodus, Control, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero Dawn, Battlefield V, Hitman 3, NBA 2K20, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, Ghostrunner, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, League of Legends (LOL), Half-Life: Alyx.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	102.9	107.0
Valorant	116.9	121.6
Cyberpunk 2077	65.5	68.1
Apex Legends	109.9	114.3
Call of Duty Warzone	87.7	91.2
Overwatch	94.7	98.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	80.6	83.9
DOOM Eternal	58.4	60.8
Warzone	91.2	94.9
Assassin's Creed	98.2	102.2
Valheim	97.0	100.9

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 comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. Therefore, 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 i9-7980XE

23%

To make a final decision 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 i9-9920X is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7980XE since it has less power consumption: 165W vs. 165W. Power consumption is particularly 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 plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the CPU turns on 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 check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since 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 i9-7980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	197	184
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2245	3455
Cinbench 20 Single-core	455	446
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5179	7671
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1484	1281
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14791	28196

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

	Intel Core i9-9920X	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Single-Core	2650	2490
Multi-Core	25286	29612

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

	Intel Core i9-9920X	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Single-Core	1282	1158
Multi-Core	14563	18658

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 i9-9920X	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Announcement date	October 01, 2018	April 01, 2017
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA2066
Core name	Skylake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	9
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	2.6 MHz
Cores	12	18
Threads	24	36
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	8600 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	19.25 MB	24.75 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 i9-9920X is 25% better than Core i9-7980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7980XE has 6 more core than Core i9-9920X. 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: 9
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7980XE is better: 19
Although it should be understood that all the data in the article above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-9920X and Intel Core i9-7980XE before making a choice which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i9-9920X specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-7980XE specs and review.