Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M vs Intel Core i9-7980XE

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M vs Intel Core i9-7980XE and see which is better for games or simple use for rendering, streaming, video editing, programming, machine learning. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests such as PassMark, Gears 5, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, AIDA64, PCMark 10, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, WPrime, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), GeekBench 6, 5.2, RealBench, 3DMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, UserBenchmark, Prime95, Handbrake, MATLAB, Blender, Blender, 7zip, VeraCrypt.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-7980XE or Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M.

Summary benchmark results

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

Xeon Platinum 8260M

60%

Core i9-7980XE

58%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Xeon Platinum 8260M is 3% better than Core i9-7980XE. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Xeon Platinum 8260M

69%

Core i9-7980XE

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 run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low game result, 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	121.9	107.0
Valorant	138.5	121.6
Cyberpunk 2077	77.6	68.1
Apex Legends	130.2	114.3
Call of Duty Warzone	103.9	91.2
Overwatch	112.2	98.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	95.6	83.9
DOOM Eternal	69.3	60.8
Warzone	108.1	94.9
Assassin's Creed	116.4	102.2
Valheim	115.0	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 that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Xeon Platinum 8260M

21%

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 i9-7980XE is more energy efficient than the Xeon Platinum 8260M 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

If you plan 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, to achieve maximum efficiency, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the benefit 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 Xeon Platinum 8260M	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	211	184
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5808	3455
Cinbench 20 Single-core	366	446
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	14048	7671
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1239	1281
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	35899	28196

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

	Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Single-Core	2291	2490
Multi-Core	34071	29612

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

	Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Single-Core	1071	1158
Multi-Core	33238	18658

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. 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. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Announcement date	October 01, 2020	April 01, 2017
Type	Server	Desktop
Socket	LGA3647	FCLGA2066
Core name	Cascade Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	2	9
Turbo Frequency	3.9 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	2.3 MHz	2.6 MHz
Cores	24	18
Threads	48	36
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	7510 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	1 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth		85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	35.75 MB	24.75 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	Yes	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-7980XE is 11% better than Xeon Platinum 8260M in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Xeon Platinum 8260M has 6 more core than Core i9-7980XE. 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 Xeon Platinum 8260M is better: 22
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7980XE is better: 11
However, it should be understood that all the number in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M and Intel Core i9-7980XE before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-7980XE specs and review.