Intel Core i9-7960X vs Intel Core i9-9940X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i9-9940X and the Intel Core i9-7960X is remarkably one-sided. Across all eight recorded tests, the i9-9940X emerges as the winner, though the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

In multi-threaded workloads, the i9-9940X's advantage is consistent but modest. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 1.7% lead (2400 vs 2359), and that exact 1.7% delta repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore (10000 vs 9833) and Cinebench R23 multicore (23810 vs 23413). The Geekbench multicore result follows the same pattern with a 1.5% gap (10466 vs 10307). These are narrow victories, suggesting that the two processors are nearly interchangeable when all cores are engaged.

Single-core performance tells a slightly different story. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i9-9940X leads by 1.5% (338 vs 333). Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1411 vs 1388, a 1.7% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core continues the trend at 3361 vs 3305, again 1.7%. The outlier is Geekbench single-core, where the i9-9940X posts a commanding 10.9% lead (1468 vs 1324). This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and indicates that the newer chip's higher boost clock delivers a substantial advantage in this particular workload.

The i9-9940X wins all eight head-to-head matchups. The database records 8 wins for the i9-9940X and 0 wins for the i9-7960X. However, the average benchmark score gap is only 6657 vs 6533, roughly a 1.9% difference. This places both processors at the 62nd percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy essentially the same tier of desktop performance.

Looking at the nearest rivals provides additional context. The i9-9940X sits within 0.7% of the Intel Core i9-12900E (avg score 6611) and 0.6% behind the AMD EPYC 72F3 (avg score 6700). It edges out the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X (6647) by just 0.1% and the Intel Core i5-13400E (6638) by 0.3%. The i9-7960X, meanwhile, is essentially tied with the Intel Xeon W-2191B (6531) at 0% delta, 0.4% ahead of the Intel Xeon D-2796TE (6510), and 0.5% behind the Intel Atom x7405C (6568). The Atom comparison is curious, though the Atom's score likely reflects a very different workload profile.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i9-9940X outperforms the Intel Core i9-7960X in every recorded benchmark. If the choice is strictly about measured performance, the i9-9940X is the pick. The single-core Geekbench margin of 10.9% is particularly decisive, suggesting that the i9-9940X handles lightly threaded tasks noticeably better.

But the multi-core results complicate the narrative. A 1.7% difference across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 is within the range of run-to-run variance for many systems. The i9-7960X actually has two more cores (16 vs 14) and four more threads (32 vs 28), yet it still loses in multi-threaded tests. This is a significant finding: the i9-9940X extracts more throughput from fewer resources.

The i9-7960X should only be selected if the two extra cores matter for a specific application's thread scheduling or if the user already owns one and cannot justify a lateral upgrade. For a new purchase, the i9-9940X is the stronger option across the board, even though both processors share the same 62nd percentile ranking.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-9940X wins every category in the head-to-head data. In multi-threaded rendering workloads (Cinebench R15, R20, R23 multicore), it leads by a consistent 1.7%. This consistency suggests a clock-speed advantage that scales across all cores, rather than a workload-specific quirk.

In single-threaded workloads, the i9-9940X's edge ranges from 1.5% to 10.9%. The Cinebench single-core tests show a modest 1.5% to 1.7% lead, while Geekbench single-core reveals a much larger 10.9% gap. This implies that the i9-9940X's 4.50 GHz boost clock, versus 4.40 GHz on the i9-7960X, provides a meaningful advantage in latency-sensitive tasks that Geekbench emphasizes.

The i9-7960X has no benchmark wins in this comparison. However, its 16-core, 32-thread configuration means it should theoretically handle heavily parallel workloads with more headroom. The recorded data shows it does not convert that thread advantage into higher scores, but the architectural difference remains worth noting for software that specifically scales with core count beyond 14.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-9940X has an average benchmark score of 6657, while the Intel Core i9-7960X scores 6533. This places the i9-9940X 1.9% ahead on average.

Q: How large is the single-core performance difference?

A: The i9-9940X leads in all single-core tests. The smallest margin is 1.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core (338 vs 333), and the largest is 10.9% in Geekbench single-core (1468 vs 1324).

Q: Does the i9-7960X win any benchmarks?

A: No. The head-to-head record shows 8 wins for the i9-9940X and 0 wins for the i9-7960X across all Cinebench and Geekbench tests.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i9-9940X is 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X, 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-13400E, 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i9-12900E, and 0.6% behind the AMD EPYC 72F3. The i9-7960X is tied with the Intel Xeon W-2191B, 0.4% ahead of the Intel Xeon D-2796TE, 0.5% behind the Intel Atom x7405C, and 0.8% behind the Intel Core i5-13500E.

Q: What is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench?

A: The i9-9940X leads by 1.7% in R15 multicore (2400 vs 2359), R20 multicore (10000 vs 9833), and R23 multicore (23810 vs 23413).

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-7960X has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i9-9940X has 14 cores and 28 threads. Despite this, the i9-9940X wins all multi-threaded benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental architecture. They are built on Intel's Skylake design, specifically the Skylake-X codename, and use the same 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel. Both have a die size of 484 mm² and fit the Intel Socket 2066.

The generations differ, however. The i9-9940X belongs to the Core i9 X-Series 9th Gen lineup, while the i9-7960X is part of the Core i9 X-Series 7th Gen family. This generation gap manifests in clock behavior and benchmark results, even though the underlying architectural blueprint is identical.

Cache configurations differ between the two. Each core has 64 KB of L1 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache on both processors. The shared L3 cache is where they diverge: the i9-9940X has 19.25 MB, while the i9-7960X has 22 MB. The i9-7960X's larger L3 cache does not translate into higher benchmark scores, which is an interesting data point for cache-sensitive workloads.

Both processors lack integrated graphics and do not support ECC memory. They share the same memory support for DDR4, a quad-channel memory bus, and identical memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. PCI Express connectivity is also identical: Gen 3 with 44 lanes from the CPU only.

The production status for both is end-of-life, and both have an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Part numbers differ (SREZ5 for the i9-9940X, SR3RR for the i9-7960X), and their release dates are about 14 months apart, with the i9-7960X launching in 2017 and the i9-9940X in 2018.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious specification difference. The i9-9940X has 14 cores and 28 threads, while the i9-7960X has 16 cores and 32 threads. The i9-7960X offers two additional cores and four additional threads.

Clock speeds also differ. The i9-9940X has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The i9-7960X runs at a 2.80 GHz base clock and 4.40 GHz boost. The i9-9940X enjoys a 0.50 GHz base clock advantage and a 0.10 GHz boost clock advantage.

The L3 cache differs, with the i9-9940X providing 19.25 MB shared and the i9-7960X providing 22 MB shared. This 2.75 MB difference favors the i9-7960X, though benchmark results do not reflect a performance benefit.

Generation and release timing separate the two. The i9-9940X is a 9th Gen X-Series part released in 2018, while the i9-7960X is a 7th Gen X-Series part released in 2017. The launch MSRP for the i9-9940X was $1387, and the i9-7960X launched at $1699.

All other specifications are identical: 165 W TDP, Intel Socket 2066, Skylake-X architecture, 14 nm process, 484 mm² die size, 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, DDR4 memory support, quad-channel bus, 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, no ECC, Gen 3 PCIe with 44 lanes, no integrated graphics, desktop market segment, end-of-life status, and unlocked multiplier.