Intel Core i7-980X vs Intel Core i7-990X Comparison

FAQ

Q: What is the architectural relationship between the Intel Core i7-980X and the Intel Core i7-990X?

A: Both processors share the same Westmere architecture, Gulftown codename, and Core i7 Extreme generation. They are built on the same 32 nm process at Intel, with 1,170 million transistors on a 239 mm² die.

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i7-990X operates with a base clock of 3.47 GHz and a boost clock of 3.73 GHz. The Intel Core i7-980X runs at a 3.33 GHz base clock and a 3.60 GHz boost clock.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-990X scores 6071 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 4.5% ahead of the Intel Core i7-980X's 5797 points. The 990X wins this test.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-980X wins the Geekbench multi-core test with a score of 3247, a 24.3% advantage over the Intel Core i7-990X's 2612 points.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-980X and the Intel Core i7-990X have an unlocked multiplier and are designated as end-of-life desktop parts.

Q: Do both chips use the same socket and memory configuration?

A: Both processors use Intel Socket 1366, support DDR3 memory in a triple-channel configuration, and use PCIe Gen 2. Neither supports ECC memory, and both lack integrated graphics.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-980X and the Intel Core i7-990X are fundamentally the same silicon. Both use the Westmere architecture with the Gulftown codename, and both belong to the Core i7 Extreme generation. The fabrication process is identical: 32 nm at Intel's foundry, with 1,170 million transistors packed into a 239 mm² die.

The core configuration does not change between the two parts. Each chip has 6 physical cores and 12 threads, with a cache hierarchy of 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is also consistent: DDR3 with a triple-channel bus, PCIe Gen 2 connectivity, and no ECC support.

The meaningful architectural difference is clock speed. The i7-990X raises the base clock to 3.47 GHz and the boost clock to 3.73 GHz, compared to the i7-980X's 3.33 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. That is a modest frequency bump, roughly 4% at both ends. The unlocked multiplier remains on both chips, so overclocking headroom is a feature shared across the pair.

The part numbers differ, with the i7-980X carrying SLBUZ and the i7-990X carrying SLBVZ, but the underlying design is otherwise indistinguishable. The release dates are separated by nearly a year, with the i7-980X appearing in March 2010 and the i7-990X following in February 2011. Both are now end-of-life. The 990X is effectively a higher-binned version of the same Gulftown die, clocked more aggressively for the same 130 W TDP.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits the two processors into distinct profiles. The Intel Core i7-990X dominates in rendering workloads. Across all four Cinebench tests, both single-core and multi-core, the 990X holds a consistent edge of roughly 4.4% to 4.7%. That includes Cinebench R15 multi-core at 611 versus 584, and Cinebench R23 multi-core at 6071 versus 5797. If the workload is heavily threaded and scales with clock speed, the 990X is the clear choice.

The Intel Core i7-980X, however, wins decisively in Geekbench. In Geekbench multi-core, the 980X scores 3247 against the 990X's 2612, a 24.3% margin. In Geekbench single-core, the 980X leads 659 to 556, an 18.5% advantage. This is a substantial reversal. The 980X appears to have a significant advantage in the specific workload mix that Geekbench exercises, despite its lower clock speeds.

The wins tally reflects this split: the 990X wins 6 out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, while the 980X wins 2. However, the magnitude of the 980X's Geekbench wins is much larger than the 990X's Cinebench wins. Users who prioritize Cinebench-style rendering should pick the 990X. Users whose applications resemble the Geekbench test suite would see the 980X perform far better, despite its lower nominal clocks.

The average benchmark scores are close, with the 980X at 1746 and the 990X at 1713, placing both in the same performance class. The 980X sits at the 41st percentile of all CPUs, while the 990X sits at the 40th. The 980X's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-8269U and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 3200GE, with delta percentages under 0.2%. The 990X's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U and Intel Core i7-4910MQ, also within 0.2%.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in only a few recorded specifications. The base clock is 3.33 GHz on the i7-980X and 3.47 GHz on the i7-990X. The boost clock is 3.60 GHz on the i7-980X and 3.73 GHz on the i7-990X. The release date is 2010-03-15 for the 980X and 2011-02-23 for the 990X. The part number is SLBUZ for the 980X and SLBVZ for the 990X.

All other core specifications are identical. Both have 6 cores, 12 threads, a 130 W TDP, Intel Socket 1366, Westmere architecture, Gulftown codename, 32 nm process, 1,170 million transistors, and a 239 mm² die. Cache sizes match: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Memory support is the same DDR3 triple-channel configuration. Both use PCIe Gen 2, lack integrated graphics, do not support ECC memory, and have unlocked multipliers. Neither has a launch MSRP recorded in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a clean split between Cinebench and Geekbench. In every Cinebench test, the Intel Core i7-990X comes out ahead. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the 990X scores 86 against the 980X's 82, a 4.7% difference. The largest Cinebench margin is in R15 multi-core, at 611 versus 584, which is 4.4% in favor of the 990X. The R20 and R23 tests land between those values: R20 multi-core is 2549 versus 2434 (4.5% ahead), R20 single-core is 359 versus 343 (4.5% ahead), and R23 multi-core is 6071 versus 5797 (4.5% ahead). Cinebench R23 single-core is 857 versus 818, a 4.6% margin.

The Geekbench results tell a different story. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel Core i7-980X scores 3247, which is 24.3% higher than the 990X's 2612. In Geekbench single-core, the 980X scores 659 against 556, an 18.5% lead. These are the two largest deltas in the entire comparison, and they go to the older, lower-clocked part.

The average benchmark scores reflect this tension. The 980X records an average score of 1746, while the 990X records 1713. The 980X ranks at the 41st percentile of all CPUs, and the 990X at the 40th, meaning both sit near the same midpoint of the database. The 980X's closest rival is the Intel Core i5-6600 with a delta of 0.1%, and the 990X's closest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 with a delta of 0.2%.

The data suggests that the 990X's clock speed advantage translates directly into Cinebench performance, but that the 980X holds a surprising advantage in Geekbench. The 24.3% multi-core margin is too large to ignore, and it flips the overall performance picture. For a user running Cinebench-style rendering, the 990X is the faster chip by a consistent 4.5% or so. For a user running Geekbench-style workloads, the 980X is dramatically faster. The win count favors the 990X at 6 wins to 2, but the magnitude of the 980X's wins means the average scores end up nearly tied.