Intel Xeon W-1290T vs Intel Core i9-7940X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Xeon W-1290T vs Intel Core i9-7940X tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for streaming, programming, machine learning, rendering, video editing. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software like World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Handbrake, WPrime, Blender, PCMark 10, Blender, Gears 5, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, VeraCrypt, MATLAB, AIDA64, RealBench, UserBenchmark, Furmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PassMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 7zip, 3DMark, Prime95, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-7940X or Intel Xeon W-1290T.

Summary benchmark results

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

Xeon W-1290T

55%

Core i9-7940X

58%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-7940X is 5% better than Xeon W-1290T. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Xeon W-1290T

54%

Core i9-7940X

58%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, 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. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), NBA 2K20, Metro Exodus, Half-Life: Alyx, League of Legends (LOL), Forza Horizon 4, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Monster Hunter World, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Ghostrunner, DOTA 2A, Hitman 3, Battlefield V, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	96.5	103.4
Valorant	109.7	117.5
Cyberpunk 2077	61.4	65.8
Apex Legends	103.1	110.5
Call of Duty Warzone	82.2	88.2
Overwatch	88.8	95.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	75.7	81.1
DOOM Eternal	54.8	58.8
Warzone	85.5	91.7
Assassin's Creed	92.1	98.7
Valheim	91.0	97.6

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 W-1290T

124%

Core i9-7940X

25%

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 Xeon W-1290T is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7940X since it has less power consumption: 35W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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 programming, streaming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the CPU uses 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 check whether the software 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 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 W-1290T	Intel Core i9-7940X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	108	188
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3171	2849
Cinbench 20 Single-core	240	607
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7463	5465
Cinbench 23 Single-core	640	1578
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	18031	15728

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

	Intel Xeon W-1290T	Intel Core i9-7940X
Single-Core	2944	2533
Multi-Core	18353	26889

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

	Intel Xeon W-1290T	Intel Core i9-7940X
Single-Core	1308	1263
Multi-Core	8329	15127

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 Xeon W-1290T	Intel Core i9-7940X
Announcement date	January 01, 2021	April 01, 2017
Type	Server	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	FCLGA2066
Core name	Comet Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	7
Turbo Frequency	4.7 MHz	4.3 MHz
Frequency	1.9 MHz	3.1 MHz
Cores	10	14
Threads	20	28
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm
Transistors count	2460 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	35 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	20 MB	19.25 MB
Overclocking	Yes	No
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 i9-7940X is 38% better than Xeon W-1290T in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7940X has 4 more core than Xeon W-1290T. 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 W-1290T is better: 12
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7940X is better: 22
Although it should be realized that all the figures in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Xeon W-1290T and Intel Core i9-7940X before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Xeon W-1290T specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-7940X specs and review.