Intel Core i9-7920X vs Intel Core i9-9920X Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9920X and Intel Core i9-7920X are both 12-core, 24-thread Skylake-X processors on the Intel Socket 2066 platform, but benchmark results show a consistent, if modest, performance advantage for the newer 9th-generation part. Across the head-to-head benchmark suite, the i9-9920X wins 7 of 8 tests, with the only loss being a statistical tie in Geekbench single-core. The data indicates that the i9-9920X is the stronger performer in nearly every workload category, though the margins are often slim enough that the older i9-7920X remains competitive in single-threaded tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite provides the clearest picture of the performance gap between these two processors. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9-9920X scores 2121 against the i9-7920X’s 2015, a 5.3% advantage. That same 5.3% delta appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i9-9920X posts 299 versus 284. The pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multi-core, with the i9-9920X at 8839 and the i9-7920X at 8396, again a 5.3% lead. Single-core in R20 shows a 5.2% gap, with scores of 1247 and 1185 respectively.

The most demanding test, Cinebench R23, reinforces the trend. In multi-core, the i9-9920X scores 21046, while the i9-7920X reaches 19991, a 5.3% difference. Single-core R23 results are 2971 for the i9-9920X and 2822 for the i9-7920X, matching the same 5.3% delta. This consistency across three generations of Cinebench suggests a fundamental clock-speed or efficiency advantage for the newer chip, rather than workload-specific optimization.

Geekbench results tell a slightly different story. In Geekbench multi-core, the i9-9920X scores 9422, which is 1.3% ahead of the i9-7920X’s 9297. The single-core Geekbench test is the sole victory for the i9-7920X, with a score of 1394 versus 1393 for the i9-9920X, a negligible -0.1% delta. This near-identical single-core result indicates that for lightly threaded applications, the two processors are effectively interchangeable, with the i9-7920X holding a razor-thin edge that would not be perceptible in real-world use.

The average benchmark score for the i9-9920X is 5917, compared to 5673 for the i9-7920X. Both processors sit at the 61st percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier. The i9-9920X’s nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7451 with an average score of 5915 (0% delta), the Intel Xeon W-2170B at 5985 (-1.1%), and the AMD EPYC 7401P at 5814 (1.8%). The i9-7920X, meanwhile, is closest to the AMD EPYC 7F32 at 5703 (-0.5%), the AMD EPYC 7351 at 5710 (-0.6%), and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X at 5730 (-1%). These rival comparisons show that both Intel parts compete in a crowded field of server and high-end desktop processors, with the i9-9920X landing slightly closer to the top of its immediate peer group.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i9-9920X wins every multi-core benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. It leads by 5.3% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core, and by 1.3% in Geekbench multi-core.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel Core i9-7920X wins?

A: Yes, the i9-7920X wins the Geekbench single-core test with a score of 1394, edging out the i9-9920X’s 1393. The delta is -0.1%, making it effectively a tie.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare between the two?

A: The i9-9920X has an average benchmark score of 5917, while the i9-7920X averages 5673. This represents a roughly 4.3% difference in overall performance.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor?

A: For the i9-9920X, the AMD EPYC 7451 (5915, 0% delta) and Intel Xeon W-2170B (5985, -1.1%) are closest. For the i9-7920X, the AMD EPYC 7F32 (5703, -0.5%) and AMD EPYC 7351 (5710, -0.6%) are the nearest competitors.

Q: Do both processors have the same socket and memory support?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 2066 and support DDR4 memory in a quad-channel configuration with 85.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i9-9920X has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, while the i9-7920X boosts to 4.40 GHz. The i9-9920X also has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 2.90 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-9920X is the clear winner for multi-threaded workloads that stress all cores. Its 5.3% advantage across the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests means that rendering, video encoding, and scientific computing tasks will complete noticeably faster on the newer chip. The 1.3% lead in Geekbench multi-core, while smaller, still favors the i9-9920X for general productivity applications that can leverage multiple threads. For users running heavy batch workloads, the i9-9920X is the safer choice.

The Intel Core i9-7920X wins only in the Geekbench single-core test, and even then by a hair. A score of 1394 versus 1393 is within run-to-run variance, so this cannot be considered a meaningful victory. In practice, single-threaded performance is a wash between the two processors, as evidenced by the i9-9920X’s wins in all three Cinebench single-core tests. The i9-7920X’s lower TDP of 140 watts, compared to the i9-9920X’s 165 watts, might make it more attractive for systems with tighter thermal or power constraints, but benchmark results show no performance benefit from that efficiency.

For gaming or lightly threaded applications, the choice is essentially neutral. Both processors deliver nearly identical single-core scores, and the i9-7920X’s single benchmark win does not indicate a real advantage. The i9-9920X’s higher clock speeds, both base and boost, give it the edge in sustained multi-core loads, while the i9-7920X’s only claim to superiority is its marginally lower power draw.

Specification Differences

The two processors share the same core and thread count: 12 cores and 24 threads each. Both have a 14 nm process node, a 484 mm² die size, and are built on the Skylake-X architecture. The socket is identical, Intel Socket 2066, and both support quad-channel DDR4 memory with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory, and both offer PCIe Gen 3 with 44 lanes from the CPU.

The key specification differences start with clock speeds. The i9-9920X has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, while the i9-7920X operates at 2.90 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. This 0.60 GHz base clock gap is substantial and likely explains much of the multi-core performance delta. The i9-9920X also has a higher TDP at 165 watts versus 140 watts for the i9-7920X.

Cache configuration differs as well. The i9-9920X has 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i9-7920X has 16.5 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core. The release dates differ, with the i9-7920X launching in 2017 and the i9-9920X in 2018. The launch MSRP for the i9-9920X was $1189, while the i9-7920X launched at $1199. Both are end-of-life products with unlocked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the Skylake-X architecture, but they belong to different generations. The i9-9920X is part of the Core i9 X-Series 9th Generation, while the i9-7920X is part of the Core i9 X-Series 7th Generation. Despite this generational label, the underlying architecture is the same Skylake design, and the process node is identical at 14 nm.

The most significant architectural difference is the L3 cache size. The i9-9920X offers 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache, which is 2.75 MB more than the i9-7920X’s 16.5 MB. This additional cache can help with workloads that have larger working sets, though benchmark results show only modest gains. The base clock difference of 0.60 GHz is more impactful, giving the i9-9920X a head start in all frequency-sensitive tasks.

Both processors use the same foundry, Intel, and share the same 484 mm² die size. They also have identical memory support, with quad-channel DDR4 and 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The PCIe configuration is the same, with Gen 3 and 44 lanes from the CPU. Neither processor includes integrated graphics, and both are unlocked for overclocking. The part numbers differ — SREZ6 for the i9-9920X and SR3NG for the i9-7920X — but the core architecture is fundamentally the same, with the i9-9920X benefiting from higher clocks and more cache.