Intel Core i9-10940X vs Intel Core i9-9940X Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9940X and the Intel Core i9-10940X are two 14-core, 28-thread HEDT processors built for the same LGA 2066 platform. Despite being from adjacent generations, the benchmark data reveals a surprisingly close contest, with the older 9940X taking the majority of the wins. This analysis breaks down the head-to-head results, specification sheets, and architectural differences to determine which CPU holds the edge.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a decisive victory for the Intel Core i9-9940X, which wins 7 out of 8 tests. However, the margins are remarkably slim in most cases. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 9940X scores 2400 against the 10940X’s 2370, a 1.3% lead. The single-core test in R15 is similarly tight, with 338 points versus 334 points for a 1.2% advantage. This pattern repeats across Cinebench R20, where the 9940X posts 10000 multi-core and 1411 single-core points, beating the 10940X’s 9878 and 1394 by 1.2% in both tests. The story continues in Cinebench R23, where the 9940X’s multi-core score of 23810 edges out the 23520 of the 10940X, while the single-core result of 3361 versus 3320 also lands at a 1.2% delta.

The most substantial difference appears in Geekbench single-core, but here the tables are turned. The 10940X scores 1556, a 5.7% improvement over the 9940X’s 1468. This is the only test where the newer processor wins, and it is also the largest margin of victory in either direction across the entire benchmark suite. The Geekbench multi-core test is effectively a draw, with the 9940X scoring 10466 and the 10940X scoring 10464, resulting in a 0% delta.

Interpreting these results, the 9940X’s wins are consistent but narrow. A 1.2% to 1.3% lead in Cinebench tests is within the range of run-to-run variance, yet the fact that it holds this lead across every iteration of the Cinebench benchmark suggests a slight, real advantage in both single-threaded and heavily threaded workloads. The 10940X, meanwhile, demonstrates a clear superiority in Geekbench’s single-core workload, indicating a meaningful architectural improvement in that specific area. The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split: the 9940X averages 6657, while the 10940X averages 6605. Both processors sit at the 62nd percentile of all CPUs, and the 9940X’s nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X with an average score of 6647 (a 0.1% delta), while the 10940X is tied exactly with the Intel Pentium Gold G6405 at 6605.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-10940X has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, compared to the 4.50 GHz boost clock of the Intel Core i9-9940X.

Q: Do these CPUs have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-9940X and the Intel Core i9-10940X feature 14 cores and 28 threads.

Q: Which processor performs better in Geekbench single-core tests?

A: The Intel Core i9-10940X wins the Geekbench single-core test with a score of 1556, which is 5.7% higher than the Intel Core i9-9940X’s score of 1468.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i9-9940X has an average benchmark score of 6657, while the Intel Core i9-10940X has an average score of 6605. The 9940X’s score is 0.8% higher.

Q: Are both processors using the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-9940X and the Intel Core i9-10940X are built on a 14 nm process node.

Q: What is the production status of each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i9-9940X is marked as End-of-life, while the Intel Core i9-10940X is marked as Active.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i9-9940X is the better performer for most workloads. It wins 7 of the 8 head-to-head tests, including all multi-core Cinebench tests, where it holds a 1.2% to 1.3% lead. Its higher average benchmark score of 6657 versus 6605 reinforces this conclusion. Users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering workloads should choose the 9940X.

The Intel Core i9-10940X is the correct choice only for users who specifically value Geekbench single-core performance. Its 5.7% advantage in that test is the largest single delta in the entire comparison, suggesting a notable improvement in that specific metric. However, this single win does not offset the 9940X’s consistent, if narrow, victories elsewhere. The 10940X also holds an advantage in being an Active production part with a higher boost clock, which may matter for availability and lightly-threaded tasks that benefit from higher peak frequencies, but the data shows the 9940X remains the stronger overall option.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields, despite sharing the same core count and socket.

• Boost Clock: The Intel Core i9-10940X boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i9-9940X boosts to 4.50 GHz.
• Memory Bandwidth: The Intel Core i9-9940X has a listed memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while this field is null for the Intel Core i9-10940X.
• PCIe Lanes: The Intel Core i9-9940X is listed with 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Intel Core i9-10940X is simply listed as PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count.
• Release Date: The Intel Core i9-9940X was released on 2018-10-18, while the Intel Core i9-10940X was released on 2019-10-18.
• Launch MSRP: The Intel Core i9-9940X has a launch MSRP of $1387, while the Intel Core i9-10940X has no launch MSRP listed.
• Production Status: The Intel Core i9-9940X is End-of-life, whereas the Intel Core i9-10940X is Active.
• Part Number: The Intel Core i9-9940X has a part number of SREZ5, while the Intel Core i9-10940X has no part number listed.

Architecture Differences

Architecturally, these are two distinct generations of Intel’s X-Series HEDT platform, though they share many fundamental characteristics.

The Intel Core i9-9940X is built on the Skylake architecture, specifically using the Skylake-X codename. It belongs to the Core i9 X-Series 9th Gen family. The Intel Core i9-10940X, in contrast, uses the Cascade Lake architecture, with the codename Cascade Lake-X, and belongs to the Core i9 X-Series 10th Gen family.

Both CPUs are fabricated by Intel on a 14 nm process node. The 9940X has a die size of 484 mm², while the die size for the 10940X is not provided. The cache hierarchy is identical on paper: both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache.

Memory support is similar, with both supporting DDR4 memory in a quad-channel configuration. The 9940X lists a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while the 10940X does not have a specific bandwidth figure listed. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has integrated graphics. Both have an unlocked multiplier, both are marked for the Desktop market segment, and both use the Intel Socket 2066. The key differences are the architecture generation, the boost clock (4.50 GHz vs 4.80 GHz), and the fact that the 10940X’s PCIe specification omits the lane count that is explicitly stated for the 9940X.