Intel Core i9-10920X vs Intel Core i9-9920X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clean sweep: the Intel Core i9-10920X wins all eight recorded head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core i9-9920X. The margins, however, are not uniform, and the pattern of deltas reveals where the newer chip gains its advantage.

In the Cinebench suite, the results are closely grouped. The i9-10920X leads the i9-9920X by 3.7% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 2203 against 2121. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap of 3.9%, with 311 versus 299. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core delta remains at 3.7% (9181 versus 8839), while the single-core margin is 3.8% (1296 versus 1247). Cinebench R23 repeats the same pattern: a 3.7% multi-core lead (21861 versus 21046) and a 3.7% single-core lead (3086 versus 2971). These consistent 3.7% to 3.9% deltas suggest a modest but uniform improvement in both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering workloads.

The Geekbench results tell a very different story. Here, the i9-10920X opens up a much larger lead. In Geekbench multi-core, the i9-10920X scores 11165 against 9422 for the i9-9920X, a 15.6% advantage. The single-core Geekbench result is even more pronounced: 1673 versus 1393, a 16.7% gap. This is a substantial divergence from the Cinebench results. The data indicates that the i9-10920X's architectural refinements benefit Geekbench's workload characteristics far more than they benefit Cinebench's rendering tasks.

The average benchmark score reinforces this overall picture. The i9-10920X averages 6347 across all recorded benchmarks, placing it in the 62nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The i9-9920X averages 5917, sitting in the 61st percentile. While both chips are close in percentile ranking, the raw average score difference is 430 points in favor of the i9-10920X.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database provides additional context. The i9-9920X's average score of 5917 puts it within 1.1% of the Intel Xeon W-2170B (5985) and within 1.8% of the AMD EPYC 7401P (5814). The i9-10920X, with its 6347 average, trades blows with the AMD EPYC 7551 (6391, a 0.7% deficit) and sits 1.9% ahead of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X (6231). Notably, the i9-10920X's nearest rival list includes the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U (6247), which is 1.6% behind, a pairing that underscores how the i9-10920X's average score lands in a crowded mid-range field despite being a high-core-count desktop part.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i9-10920X is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark. Anyone choosing between these two based purely on performance should select the i9-10920X. It delivers a consistent single-digit percentage lead in Cinebench workloads and a much larger double-digit lead in Geekbench.

For users whose workloads resemble Cinebench, essentially sustained multi-threaded rendering or simulation, the i9-10920X offers a modest but real improvement of roughly 3.7%. That is not a transformative upgrade, but it is a measurable one. For users whose workloads resemble Geekbench, which tends to exercise a broader mix of integer, floating-point, and memory patterns, the i9-10920X provides a far more compelling 15.6% to 16.7% advantage.

The i9-9920X remains a perfectly capable 12-core, 24-thread processor. Its Cinebench scores are within striking distance of the i9-10920X, and its 61st percentile ranking shows it is not obsolete by any means. However, no recorded metric favors it. The only reason to choose the i9-9920X would be availability or platform familiarity, but from a pure performance standpoint, the data supports only one conclusion.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process node and share the same fundamental core configuration: 12 cores, 24 threads, a 3.50 GHz base clock, and a 165 W TDP. Both use the Intel Socket 2066 platform and are unlocked for overclocking. The core architecture, however, differs by one generation.

The i9-9920X is based on the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-X codename, and belongs to the Core i9 X-Series 9th Gen lineup. It was released on October 18, 2018, with a launch MSRP of $1189. Its die size is listed as 484 mm². The i9-10920X is based on the Cascade Lake architecture, codenamed Cascade Lake-X, and belongs to the Core 10th Gen series. It was released exactly one year later, on October 18, 2019. Its production status is listed as Active, while the i9-9920X is End-of-life.

The most visible architectural difference is the boost clock. The i9-9920X boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the i9-10920X boosts to 4.80 GHz. This 300 MHz advantage explains much of the single-core performance gap seen in the benchmarks. The base clocks are identical at 3.50 GHz, so the i9-10920X's advantage manifests only at higher load states where boost behavior matters.

Cache layouts are identical: 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is also the same in type, both support DDR4 with a quad-channel memory bus. The i9-9920X lists a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while the i9-10920X does not have a recorded memory bandwidth figure. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and neither has integrated graphics.

PCIe support differs slightly in the recorded data. The i9-9920X lists PCIe Gen 3 with 44 lanes (CPU only). The i9-10920X lists simply PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count in the database. Both are desktop market segment parts. The i9-9920X has a recorded part number of SREZ6, while the i9-10920X does not have one listed.

These differences, primarily the higher boost clock and the newer Cascade Lake microarchitecture, align with the benchmark results. The single-core deltas are driven by the boost clock advantage, while the multi-core deltas reflect the same clock improvement applied across all 12 cores. The larger Geekbench deltas suggest the Cascade Lake architecture brings additional efficiency or instruction-handling improvements that manifest in that benchmark's particular mix of tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-10920X boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i9-9920X boosts to 4.50 GHz. Both have a 3.50 GHz base clock.

Q: Are the core and thread counts the same?

A: Yes, both processors have 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two chips?

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench single-core, where the i9-10920X scores 1673 against 1393, a 16.7% advantage. The Geekbench multi-core gap is 15.6% (11165 versus 9422).

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 2066.

Q: What is the difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core scores?

A: The i9-10920X scores 21861, while the i9-9920X scores 21046, a 3.7% difference in favor of the i9-10920X.

Q: Which processor is still in production?

A: The Intel Core i9-10920X has an Active production status. The Intel Core i9-9920X is listed as End-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-10920X wins every recorded benchmark, so the question of where each chip wins is really about the magnitude of the i9-10920X's victory in different workload classes.

In Cinebench workloads, the i9-10920X wins by a consistent 3.7% to 3.9% margin. This applies across all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23) and across both single-core and multi-core tests. For users running rendering tasks that resemble Cinebench, the i9-10920X is the better choice, but the advantage is incremental. The i9-9920X remains competitive in this space, with scores that are only a few percentage points behind.

In Geekbench workloads, the i9-10920X wins by a much larger margin. The 15.6% multi-core and 16.7% single-core advantages indicate that the newer chip is substantially stronger in the types of tasks Geekbench measures. These include encryption, compression, image processing, and memory-bound operations. For users whose daily drivers involve these kinds of mixed workloads, the i9-10920X offers a more meaningful performance uplift.

There is no workload category in the recorded data where the i9-9920X comes out ahead. Its only consolation is that its Cinebench performance is close enough that the difference may not be noticeable in real-world rendering without careful measurement. The i9-9920X also has a recorded launch MSRP of $1189, which may be relevant to buyers looking at historical pricing, though the i9-10920X has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

For users deciding between these two on the used market or in a system build, the i9-10920X is the superior choice in every benchmark category. The i9-9920X should only be selected if the i9-10920X is unavailable or if the user's workloads are exclusively Cinebench-like and the small delta is deemed acceptable.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the Intel Core i9-9920X and the Intel Core i9-10920X:

• Boost clock: 4.50 GHz for the i9-9920X, 4.80 GHz for the i9-10920X
• Architecture: Skylake (Skylake-X) for the i9-9920X, Cascade Lake (Cascade Lake-X) for the i9-10920X
• Generation: Core i9 X-Series 9th Gen for the i9-9920X, Core 10th Gen for the i9-10920X
• Release date: October 18, 2018 for the i9-9920X, October 18, 2019 for the i9-10920X
• Production status: End-of-life for the i9-9920X, Active for the i9-10920X
• Die size: 484 mm² for the i9-9920X, not listed for the i9-10920X
• Memory bandwidth: 85.3 GB/s for the i9-9920X, not listed for the i9-10920X
• PCIe: Gen 3, 44 lanes (CPU only) for the i9-9920X, Gen 3 with no lane count listed for the i9-10920X
• Launch MSRP: $1189 for the i9-9920X, not listed for the i9-10920X
• Part number: SREZ6 for the i9-9920X, not listed for the i9-10920X

All other recorded specifications are identical: 12 cores, 24 threads, 3.50 GHz base clock, 165 W TDP, Intel Socket 2066, 14 nm process node, 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, 19.25 MB shared L3 cache, DDR4 memory support, quad-channel memory bus, no ECC support, no integrated graphics, Desktop market segment, and unlocked multiplier.