Intel Core i7-12700E vs Intel Core i9-7980XE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two processors is unusually lopsided in raw win count, but the single loss for the Core i7-12700E is decisive in a specific workload class. The Core i9-7980XE takes 7 of the 8 recorded head-to-head comparisons, including every Cinebench iteration and Geekbench multicore. The Core i7-12700E wins only Geekbench single-core, but it does so by a commanding 31.5% margin, scoring 2094 against 1435.

That single-core result is the defining contrast. The i9-7980XE leads in all five Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both multicore and single-core variants) by a uniform 5% delta. Meanwhile, the i7-12700E’s Geekbench single-core advantage is more than six times larger than any of the i9’s wins. This indicates the i7-12700E is the better choice for lightly threaded, latency-sensitive applications that resemble Geekbench’s single-core workload, while the i9-7980XE dominates sustained multi-threaded rendering tasks.

Looking at the broader database context, the i9-7980XE sits at the 63rd percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 7018, while the i7-12700E ranks at the 62nd percentile with 6776. The i9’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260 (0.4% ahead), the Pentium Gold G6400 (0.7% ahead), and the Core i9-9960X (1.2% ahead), with the AMD EPYC 7302P trailing by 1.1%. The i7-12700E’s nearest rivals are closer: the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is 0.2% ahead, the Xeon Gold 6154 is 0.4% behind, and both the Xeon D-2775TE and Xeon Gold 5317 are 1% behind. These percentile positions show both processors landing in the same general performance tier, despite their very different architectural approaches.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial, spanning process technology, core design, memory configuration, and platform features.

The i9-7980XE uses Intel’s Skylake-X architecture on a 14 nm process, with a die size of 484 mm². It packs 18 cores and 36 threads, running at a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 24.75 MB of shared L3. The memory subsystem is quad-channel DDR4 with a measured bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The chip supports PCIe Gen 3 with 44 CPU lanes, has no integrated graphics, and is unlocked for overclocking. It was released in August 2017 and is now end-of-life.

The i7-12700E, by contrast, uses Alder Lake-S architecture on a 10 nm process, with a smaller die of 215 mm². It has 12 cores and 20 threads, which indicates a hybrid design with performance and efficiency cores, though the database does not break down the core types. Its base clock is 2.10 GHz with a boost of 4.80 GHz. Cache amounts differ per core: 80 KB of L1, 1.25 MB of L2, and 25 MB of shared L3. Memory support spans both DDR4 and DDR5, but the bus is dual-channel, and no memory bandwidth figure is recorded. PCIe support jumps to Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The chip includes UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics, is not multiplier-unlocked, and remains in active production. Its launch date is not recorded in the database.

The die size difference is notable: the i9-7980XE’s 484 mm² die is more than double the i7-12700E’s 215 mm². That larger die houses two additional cores and 16 additional threads, but at the cost of a much older process node and a significantly higher thermal design power of 165 watts versus 65 watts. The i7-12700E compensates with a much higher boost clock (4.80 GHz versus 4.40 GHz) and a newer architecture, which explains its Geekbench single-core dominance. The i9-7980XE also uses a different socket (Intel Socket 2066 versus Intel Socket 1700) and offers quad-channel memory versus dual-channel, giving it a 85.3 GB/s bandwidth advantage that likely contributes to its multicore wins.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. For any multi-threaded rendering or compute task represented in the Cinebench suite, the Core i9-7980XE is the stronger processor. It wins all five Cinebench tests by exactly 5%, from R15 multicore (2527 versus 2406) through R23 multicore (25072 versus 23879). Its Geekbench multicore lead is 4.9% (11198 versus 10676). These margins are consistent and repeatable across the entire benchmark set.

For single-threaded performance as measured by Geekbench, the Core i7-12700E is overwhelmingly superior. Its 2094 score against 1435 represents a 31.5% advantage, a gap far larger than any of the i9’s multicore wins. However, the i9-7980XE still edges out the i7-12700E in all three Cinebench single-core tests, each by 5%: R15 single-core 356 versus 339, R20 single-core 1486 versus 1415, and R23 single-core 3539 versus 3371. This suggests the Cinebench single-core workload favors the older Skylake architecture’s higher base clock and possibly its larger L2 cache, while Geekbench’s single-core test rewards the Alder Lake design’s higher boost clock and newer microarchitecture.

The i7-12700E’s integrated UHD Graphics 770 is a meaningful practical advantage for systems that do not use a discrete GPU, while the i9-7980XE requires a separate graphics card. The i9-7980XE also offers quad-channel memory and 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus the i7-12700E’s dual-channel memory and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, which changes platform expansion and memory bandwidth characteristics.

Users who prioritize the highest multi-threaded throughput in Cinebench-style workloads should choose the Core i9-7980XE. Users who need maximum single-thread responsiveness in Geekbench-style applications, or who want a lower 65-watt thermal profile with newer PCIe Gen 5 support and integrated graphics, should choose the Core i7-12700E. The i9-7980XE is end-of-life, while the i7-12700E remains in active production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks overall?

A: The Core i9-7980XE wins 7 of the 8 recorded head-to-head tests. The Core i7-12700E wins only Geekbench single-core.

Q: How big is the Core i7-12700E’s single-core advantage?

A: In Geekbench single-core, the i7-12700E scores 2094 versus the i9-7980XE’s 1435, a 31.5% lead. This is the largest margin in any test between the two.

Q: Does the Core i9-7980XE win every Cinebench test?

A: Yes. It wins R15 multicore (2527 versus 2406), R15 single-core (356 versus 339), R20 multicore (10530 versus 10029), R20 single-core (1486 versus 1415), R23 multicore (25072 versus 23879), and R23 single-core (3539 versus 3371), each by 5%.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Core i9-7980XE has 18 cores and 36 threads. The Core i7-12700E has 12 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The i9-7980XE supports DDR4 with a quad-channel bus and 85.3 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-12700E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, and its bandwidth is not recorded.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Core i7-12700E, which includes UHD Graphics 770. The Core i9-7980XE has no integrated graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the entire comparison is Geekbench single-core. The i7-12700E delivers 2094 points, crushing the i9-7980XE’s 1435 by 31.5%. This is not a marginal difference; it is a generational leap in single-thread efficiency. The Alder Lake architecture’s higher 4.80 GHz boost clock against 4.40 GHz, combined with the newer 10 nm process, explains this outcome. No other test in the set comes close to this margin.

The Cinebench results tell a different story. Every single Cinebench test, whether multicore or single-core, shows the i9-7980XE ahead by exactly 5%. In R15 multicore, the i9 scores 2527 against 2406. In R20 multicore, it is 10530 versus 10029. In R23 multicore, it is 25072 against 23879. The single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: R15 single-core 356 versus 339, R20 single-core 1486 versus 1415, R23 single-core 3539 versus 3371. The uniformity of this 5% delta across all three Cinebench versions suggests the i9-7980XE’s architectural advantages, including its 1 MB per-core L2 cache versus 1.25 MB per-core on the i7, plus its higher 2.60 GHz base clock, give it a consistent edge in this specific rendering workload.

Geekbench multicore narrows the gap slightly. The i9-7980XE wins with 11198 against 10676, a 4.9% margin. This is the smallest of the i9’s wins, yet it still shows the 18-core, 36-thread configuration outperforming the 12-core, 20-thread hybrid design in a heavily parallel workload. The i9’s quad-channel memory with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth likely contributes here, as does its larger physical core count.

The overall average benchmark scores place the i9-7980XE at 7018 and the i7-12700E at 6776, a 3.5% gap in favor of the older chip. Both processors sit within a narrow band of their nearest rivals: the i9’s closest competitor, the Xeon Platinum 8260, is 0.4% ahead, while the i7’s closest, the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX, is 0.2% ahead. These proximity values confirm that both chips are solidly mid-pack in the current database, with the i9-7980XE holding a slight overall edge despite its end-of-life status and much older process node. The i7-12700E’s single-core Geekbench victory is the exception that defines its use case: it is the better chip for single-threaded integer and floating-point workloads, even as it trails in every Cinebench metric and in Geekbench multicore.