Intel Core i7-11700B vs Intel Core i9-9900X Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9900X and Intel Core i7-11700B are separated by only a few percentage points in raw compute, despite being from different eras and market segments. The data shows a clean sweep for the older i9-9900X across all six shared Cinebench workloads, but the margins are consistently narrow, ranging from 1.3% to 1.6%. This makes the comparison less about outright dominance and more about context: one chip is a high-power, unlocked desktop part with extra cores, while the other is a locked mobile processor with a higher boost clock and newer architecture.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i9-9900X wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but its victories are remarkably slim. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the i9-9900X scores 1851 against the i7-11700B’s 1826, a 1.4% advantage. Single-core in R15 tells the same story: 261 versus 257, a 1.6% lead for the i9-9900X. The pattern holds in Cinebench R20, where the i9-9900X posts 7713 multicore and 1088 single-core, edging out the i7-11700B’s 7609 and 1074 by 1.4% and 1.3%, respectively. The gap widens ever so slightly in Cinebench R23 multicore: 18365 for the i9-9900X versus 18119 for the i7-11700B, again a 1.4% margin. The single-core R23 result is 2592 against 2558, a 1.3% lead.

The fact that the i7-11700B comes this close despite having 8 cores and 16 threads versus the i9-9900X’s 10 cores and 20 threads is significant. The i7-11700B’s boost clock is higher at 4.80 GHz versus 4.50 GHz, and its Tiger Lake architecture appears to compensate for the two-core deficit. However, the i9-9900X’s extra cores and threads provide just enough multicore punch to stay ahead in every test. The average benchmark score reinforces this near-parity: the i9-9900X averages 5301 across all its benchmarks, while the i7-11700B averages 5241, a difference of roughly 1.1%. Both chips sit at the 60th percentile against all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same performance tier in the broader market.

The i9-9900X’s nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X (average score 5306, delta -0.1%), the AMD EPYC 7281 (5315, -0.3%), and the Intel Core i9-10900KF (5316, -0.3%). The i7-11700B’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i9-10850K with an identical average score of 5240 (0% delta), followed by the Intel Core i5-14401E (5253, -0.2%) and the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 (5259, -0.3%). This places both chips in the upper-mid range of CPU performance, with the i9-9900X sitting marginally higher in the standings.

The Verdict

The data points to a narrow but consistent win for the Intel Core i9-9900X. If the only criterion is raw Cinebench performance, the i9-9900X is the faster chip in all six measured workloads. The margins are small — never more than 1.6% — but they are uniform, meaning the i9-9900X does not lose a single head-to-head test. Users who need every bit of multicore throughput from these two options should choose the i9-9900X, as it delivers 18365 in Cinebench R23 multicore versus 18119 for the i7-11700B.

However, the i7-11700B is not a clear loser by any stretch. It achieves 95.3% of the i9-9900X’s multicore score in Cinebench R23 (18119 / 18365) while operating at a 65 W TDP versus 165 W for the i9-9900X. That efficiency gap is enormous and may matter more than the 1.4% performance delta in real-world systems, especially in mobile or space-constrained builds. The i7-11700B also has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics Xe-LP), while the i9-9900X has none listed. For a system that does not require a discrete GPU, the i7-11700B is the only viable choice of the two.

The i9-9900X is the pick for users who prioritize absolute performance and have the power budget and cooling to handle a 165 W TDP. The i7-11700B is the pick for users who prioritize efficiency, integrated graphics, and a newer platform. But based purely on benchmark scores, the i9-9900X holds the crown.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The i9-9900X uses the Skylake-X architecture on a 14 nm process node, while the i7-11700B uses the Tiger Lake architecture on a 10 nm node. The i9-9900X is a desktop part from the Core i9 X-Series 9th Gen family, released in October 2018, while the i7-11700B is a mobile part from the Core 11th Gen Tiger Lake-H family, released in May 2021. Both are end-of-life products now.

Core and thread counts differ: the i9-9900X has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the i7-11700B has 8 cores and 16 threads. Cache configurations also vary significantly. The i9-9900X has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-11700B has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The newer chip has more L3 cache overall (24 MB versus 19.25 MB) and slightly more L1/L2 per core, which helps explain its competitive performance despite fewer cores.

Memory support differs as well. The i9-9900X supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus with a theoretical bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The i7-11700B also supports DDR4 but over a dual-channel bus, halving the memory bandwidth to 51.2 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe capabilities are another differentiator: the i9-9900X provides PCIe Gen 3 with 44 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-11700B provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The i9-9900X has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the i7-11700B is locked. The i7-11700B includes integrated UHD Graphics (Xe-LP); the i9-9900X lists no integrated graphics.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900X wins with a score of 18365, beating the Intel Core i7-11700B’s 18119 by a 1.4% margin.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Cinebench R20?

A: The i9-9900X scores 1088, and the i7-11700B scores 1074, giving the i9-9900X a 1.3% lead.

Q: Does the i7-11700B have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i7-11700B includes UHD Graphics (Xe-LP). The i9-9900X does not list any integrated graphics.

Q: How do the TDPs compare?

A: The i9-9900X has a TDP of 165 W, while the i7-11700B has a TDP of 65 W.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The i9-9900X has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the i7-11700B has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each?

A: The i9-9900X averages 5301 across its benchmarks, and the i7-11700B averages 5241.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-9900X wins in every measured benchmark category: multicore and single-core in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. Its strengths are rooted in having two additional cores and four additional threads, along with a quad-channel memory bus that offers 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth versus 51.2 GB/s for the i7-11700B. This makes the i9-9900X the better choice for heavily threaded workloads that scale with core count and memory bandwidth, such as rendering or scientific computing, where a 1.4% multicore advantage can translate into real time savings over long jobs.

The i7-11700B wins in efficiency and platform features. Its 65 W TDP is less than half of the i9-9900X’s 165 W, meaning it generates less heat and requires less substantial cooling. It also has a higher boost clock at 4.80 GHz versus 4.50 GHz, which helps it stay competitive in single-core tasks despite its architectural and core-count disadvantages. The inclusion of integrated graphics makes it a self-contained solution for systems without a discrete GPU. Its PCIe Gen 4 support with 20 lanes is newer than the i9-9900X’s PCIe Gen 3 with 44 lanes, which matters for storage and GPU bandwidth in modern builds. The i7-11700B also has a larger L3 cache (24 MB versus 19.25 MB), which can benefit certain cache-sensitive workloads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-9900X | Intel Core i7-11700B |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 165 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2066 | Intel BGA 1787 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Tiger Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 19.25 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 85.3 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 44 Lanes | Gen 4, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics (Xe-LP) |

| Multiplier | Unlocked | Locked |

| Release Date | 2018-10-18 | 2021-05-10 |

| Launch MSRP | $989 | Not listed |