Intel Core i9-7980XE vs Intel Core i9-9940X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a clear overall winner, but the story is not one-sided. The Intel Core i9-7980XE takes 7 of the 8 measured benchmarks, while the Intel Core i9-9940X manages only a single, narrow victory. The margins are consistent, and the pattern aligns directly with the core and clock configurations of each part.

In multi-core workloads, the i9-7980XE leads every time. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2527 against 2400 for the i9-9940X, a 5.3% advantage. That same 5.3% delta repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the scores are 10530 versus 10000. The i9-7980XE also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 25072 points, beating the i9-9940X's 23810 points, again by exactly 5.3%. The Geekbench multi-core test shows an even larger gap: 11198 versus 10466, a 7% lead for the i9-7980XE. These results are consistent with an 18-core part outpacing a 14-core part, despite the newer generation of the latter.

Single-core results are closer and more revealing. The i9-7980XE still wins all three Cinebench single-core tests, but the margins are identical to the multi-core deltas: 5.3%. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 356 versus 338. In R20, it scores 1486 versus 1411. In R23, it scores 3539 versus 3361. This is a curious pattern. The i9-9940X has a higher boost clock, but the database shows the i9-7980XE consistently ahead in Cinebench single-core. The only test the i9-9940X wins is Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1468 against 1435, a 2.2% edge. That is the sole benchmark where the newer part's higher clocks translate into a measurable win.

The average benchmark scores tell the same story. The i9-7980XE sits at 7018 points, while the i9-9940X sits at 6657 points. The percentile rankings are nearly identical, with the i9-7980XE at the 63rd percentile and the i9-9940X at the 62nd percentile, so both parts are firmly in the upper mid-range of all CPUs tracked. The i9-7980XE's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260 at 6992 points (0.4% behind), the Intel Pentium Gold G6400 at 6969 points (0.7% behind), and the Intel Core i9-9960X at 6938 points (1.2% behind). The AMD EPYC 7302P sits just ahead at 7100 points (1.1% ahead). For the i9-9940X, the nearest competition is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X at 6647 points (0.1% behind), the Intel Core i5-13400E at 6638 points (0.3% behind), and the Intel Core i9-12900E at 6611 points (0.7% behind). The AMD EPYC 72F3 leads it by 0.6% at 6700 points.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-threaded applications?

A: The Intel Core i9-7980XE. It wins every multi-core benchmark in the database: Cinebench R15 (2527 vs 2400), R20 (10530 vs 10000), R23 (25072 vs 23810), and Geekbench (11198 vs 10466). The margins range from 5.3% to 7%.

Q: Does the i9-9940X win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes, exactly one. It wins Geekbench single-core with 1468 points versus 1435 for the i9-7980XE, a 2.2% advantage. This is the only recorded test where the i9-9940X comes out ahead.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The i9-7980XE has 18 cores and 36 threads. The i9-9940X has 14 cores and 28 threads. Both use the same Skylake-X architecture, the same 14 nm process node, and the same 484 mm² die size.

Q: Are the single-core Cinebench results surprising given the clock speeds?

A: The i9-9940X has a higher boost clock (4.50 GHz versus 4.40 GHz) and a higher base clock (3.30 GHz versus 2.60 GHz). Yet the i9-7980XE wins all three Cinebench single-core tests by 5.3%. The i9-9940X only manages to win the Geekbench single-core test, which suggests different tests respond differently to the clock and architecture combination.

Q: What is the memory configuration for these two CPUs?

A: Both support DDR4 memory with a quad-channel bus and have identical theoretical memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Do these CPUs have integrated graphics?

A: No. The database lists integrated graphics as null for both parts. They are desktop CPUs that require a discrete graphics card.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same fundamental architecture: Skylake, specifically the Skylake-X variant. They share the same 14 nm process node, the same Intel foundry, and the same 484 mm² die size. The socket is identical as well, Intel Socket 2066, which means they are electrically and physically compatible with the same motherboards.

The core configuration is the primary architectural difference. The i9-7980XE offers 18 cores and 36 threads, while the i9-9940X offers 14 cores and 28 threads. This is a 4-core, 8-thread difference. The cache hierarchy reflects this. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache differs: the i9-7980XE has 24.75 MB, while the i9-9940X has 19.25 MB. The difference in L3 cache (5.5 MB) is directly proportional to the core count difference, as each core contributes a slice of the shared cache.

Clock speeds also differ. The i9-7980XE has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The i9-9940X has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The higher base clock on the i9-9940X is notable, as it means the part runs faster at stock settings across all cores, but the higher boost clock on the i9-7980XE is only 0.10 GHz lower, which explains why the single-core Cinebench results favor the older part. The TDP is identical at 165 watts for both, which is a reasonable figure for these high-core-count desktop parts.

Both are fully unlocked with an unlocked multiplier, making them suitable for overclocking. PCIe support is also identical: Gen 3 with 44 lanes from the CPU. The generation labels differ, with the i9-7980XE listed as Core i9 Extreme (X-Series 7th Gen) and the i9-9940X as Core i9 (X-Series 9th Gen). The release dates are about 14 months apart: the i9-7980XE launched on 2017-08-31, and the i9-9940X launched on 2018-10-18. Both are end-of-life in production status.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward recommendation for most users. The Intel Core i9-7980XE is the faster processor in the vast majority of workloads. It wins all four multi-core benchmarks and all three Cinebench single-core benchmarks. The only test where the i9-9940X wins is Geekbench single-core, and that margin is a slim 2.2%.

The i9-7980XE's advantages are consistent and measurable. A 5.3% lead in every Cinebench test, whether single-core or multi-core, is a strong signal that the architecture and clock behavior favor that part in that suite. The 7% lead in Geekbench multi-core further cements its position. The i9-9940X offers a higher base clock and a slightly higher boost clock, but those do not translate into wins in the database's recorded tests, except for the one Geekbench single-core run.

For users who prioritize multi-threaded performance, which is typically the case for content creation, rendering, compilation, and scientific computing, the i9-7980XE is the clear choice. Its 18 cores provide a tangible advantage over the 14 cores of the i9-9940X. The i9-9940X is not a bad processor; it sits at the 62nd percentile and its average score is only about 5% lower. But the i9-7980XE sits just one percentile higher and delivers better results in nearly every test.

The i9-9940X could be considered if the only workload in question is the specific Geekbench single-core test, or if the slightly higher clock speeds are more important than the core count for a particular application not represented in these benchmarks. But based strictly on the recorded data, the i9-7980XE is the superior part.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-7980XE | Intel Core i9-9940X |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores | 18 | 14 |

| Threads | 36 | 28 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| L3 Cache | 24.75 MB (shared) | 19.25 MB (shared) |

| Generation | Core i9 Extreme (X-Series 7th Gen) | Core i9 (X-Series 9th Gen) |

| Release Date | 2017-08-31 | 2018-10-18 |

| Part Number | SR3RS | SREZ5 |

Where Each One Wins

The i9-7980XE is the winner in multi-threaded scenarios. Its 4-core advantage over the i9-9940X is the decisive factor in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core, as well as Geekbench multi-core. The 5.3% delta in the Cinebench suite and the 7% delta in Geekbench are consistent with what you would expect from a part with 28.6% more cores. This makes the i9-7980XE the right pick for rendering, video encoding, 3D simulation, and any workload that scales with core count. The database also shows it wins all three Cinebench single-core tests, so it is not just a multi-core specialist; it handles lightly threaded Cinebench workloads better as well.

The i9-9940X has only one recorded win, and it is in Geekbench single-core. That test measures a specific mix of integer and floating-point operations, and the i9-9940X's higher clocks (3.30 GHz base, 4.50 GHz boost) give it a 2.2% edge there. If a user's primary application is heavily dependent on that particular single-threaded performance profile, the i9-9940X is the better choice. It also has a higher base clock across all cores, which could translate into better all-core performance in workloads that do not scale efficiently and are more sensitive to the sustained all-core frequency, though the recorded benchmarks do not show such a win.

In practical terms, the i9-7980XE is the go-to choice for a workstation that will be hammered with parallel tasks. The i9-9940X is a more niche pick for someone who values the single-threaded Geekbench result and the slightly higher clock speeds, and who does not need the extra 4 cores. The launch MSRP was $1999 for the i9-7980XE and $1387 for the i9-9940X, but the benchmark data shows that the higher price of the i9-7980XE buys a measurable performance advantage in nearly every scenario.