Intel Core i9-9920X vs Intel Core i9-9960X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i9-9920X vs Intel Core i9-9960X and decide which is better for games or normal use for programming, machine learning, rendering, video editing, streaming. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A thorough review 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 parallel examination in software tests such as Blender, RealBench, MATLAB, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, Furmark, WPrime, 7zip, AIDA64, VeraCrypt, Prime95, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, SuperPi, UserBenchmark, Handbrake, PassMark, Blender, PCMark 10.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9960X 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 i9-9960X

59%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-9960X is 3% better than Core i9-9920X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-9920X

58%

Core i9-9960X

60%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	102.9	106.4
Valorant	116.9	120.9
Cyberpunk 2077	65.5	67.7
Apex Legends	109.9	113.6
Call of Duty Warzone	87.7	90.7
Overwatch	94.7	97.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	80.6	83.4
DOOM Eternal	58.4	60.5
Warzone	91.2	94.3
Assassin's Creed	98.2	101.6
Valheim	97.0	100.3

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: 2K, 4K 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 i9-9960X

24%

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 i9-9960X as it consumes less power: 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. 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 plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, streaming, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using 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 can use only one core to run, 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 i9-9920X	Intel Core i9-9960X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	197	200
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2245	2872
Cinbench 20 Single-core	455	457
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5179	6671
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1484	1086
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14791	22943

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

	Intel Core i9-9920X	Intel Core i9-9960X
Single-Core	2650	2684
Multi-Core	25286	30816

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

	Intel Core i9-9920X	Intel Core i9-9960X
Single-Core	1282	1230
Multi-Core	14563	18032

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new 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 i9-9960X
Announcement date	October 01, 2018	January 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA2066
Core name	Skylake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	9
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	3.1 MHz
Cores	12	16
Threads	24	32
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	8600 millions	8600 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	22 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 11% better than Core i9-9960X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9960X has 4 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: 4
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9960X is better: 23
Although it should be understood that all the figures that you have looked at here 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 of people who bought Intel Core i9-9920X and Intel Core i9-9960X before making a decision which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i9-9920X specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-9960X specs and review.