Intel Core i9-7980XE vs Intel Core i9-9980XE Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9980XE and Intel Core i9-7980XE are two 18-core, 36-thread desktop processors built on the same Skylake-X architecture. Both target the same Intel Socket 2066 platform, yet the data reveals a consistent, if modest, performance advantage for the newer 9th Generation part. The 9980XE wins all eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with its largest leads appearing in multi-threaded render workloads and its smallest advantage in single-threaded Geekbench tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victories for the Intel Core i9-9980XE come in the Cinebench suite, where it posts a uniform 6.8% advantage over the 7980XE across multi-core and single-core tests in R20 and R23. In Cinebench R15, the margin is nearly identical: the 9980XE scores 2699 against 2527 in multi-core (a 6.8% delta) and 380 against 356 in single-core (a 6.7% delta). This consistency suggests the performance gap is driven by a fundamental clock-speed advantage rather than workload-specific optimizations.

The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is particularly telling. The 9980XE reaches 26780, while the 7980XE manages 25072. That 1708-point gap represents a substantial real-world difference for prolonged render jobs. The single-core R23 scores follow the same pattern: 3780 versus 3539, again a 6.8% improvement. These numbers indicate that the 9980XE’s higher boost clock translates directly into throughput, with no apparent thermal throttling penalty in the benchmark data.

Geekbench results tell a different story. In the multi-core test, the 9980XE scores 11270 against 11198 for the 7980XE, a marginal 0.6% lead. Single-core Geekbench is nearly a tie: 1437 versus 1435, a 0.1% delta. This stark contrast with the Cinebench results suggests that Geekbench’s workload mix does not scale as strongly with the 9980XE’s clock advantage, perhaps because it places less sustained pressure on the CPU’s boost behavior. Still, the 9980XE wins outright in every single head-to-head comparison, with eight wins and zero losses.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this hierarchy. The 9980XE holds an average benchmark score of 7398, placing it in the 63rd percentile of all CPUs. The 7980XE averages 7018, also in the 63rd percentile, but its nearest rival comparisons show a tighter grouping. The 7980XE sits just 0.4% above the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260 and 0.7% above the Intel Pentium Gold G6400, while the 9980XE trails the AMD EPYC 7282 by only 0.1% and the Intel Core i9-9990XE by 0.2%. These percentile and rival data points suggest that while both chips occupy the same performance tier, the 9980XE sits at the top of that tier.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental architecture: Skylake, under the Skylake-X codename, built on Intel’s 14 nm process with a die size of 484 mm². They each feature 18 cores and 36 threads, with identical cache hierarchies. The L1 cache is 64 KB per core, L2 is 1 MB per core, and L3 is 24.75 MB shared. Neither supports ECC memory, and both use a quad-channel DDR4 memory bus with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. PCIe connectivity is identical as well: Gen 3 with 44 lanes available from the CPU.

The critical architectural difference lies in clock speeds. The 9980XE has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The 7980XE runs lower, with a 2.60 GHz base and a 4.40 GHz boost. That 400 MHz base-clock gap and 100 MHz boost-clock gap account for the consistent benchmark deltas. The 9980XE also belongs to the Core i9 Extreme (X-Series 9th Gen) generation, while the 7980XE is part of the X-Series 7th Gen. This generation step likely includes minor firmware or power-management refinements, although the silicon itself is otherwise identical in node, die size, and layout.

Both processors are unlocked for overclocking, and both carry a 165 W TDP. They share the same part-number families, with the 9980XE designated SREZ3 and the 7980XE SR3RS. The production status for both is end-of-life. The 9980XE launched on 2018-10-18, while the 7980XE launched over a year earlier on 2017-08-31. This release gap explains the clock-speed bump: Intel refined the silicon’s voltage-frequency curve, allowing the 9980XE to operate at higher clocks within the same 165 W thermal envelope.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i9-9980XE leads in every multi-core benchmark. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 26780 versus 25072 for the 7980XE, a 6.8% advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 9980XE scores 2699 against 2527, and in Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 11247 versus 10530.

Q: Is the single-core performance gap as large as the multi-core gap?

A: Yes, in Cinebench tests. The 9980XE leads by 6.7-6.8% in all Cinebench single-core tests: R15 (380 vs 356), R20 (1587 vs 1486), and R23 (3780 vs 3539). However, in Geekbench single-core, the gap shrinks to just 0.1%, with scores of 1437 versus 1435.

Q: Do the two CPUs have different memory support?

A: No. Both support DDR4 memory in a quad-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory. The memory bus and bandwidth figures are identical.

Q: What is the difference in boost clocks?

A: The 9980XE boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the 7980XE boosts to 4.40 GHz. The base clocks differ more substantially: 3.00 GHz for the 9980XE versus 2.60 GHz for the 7980XE. Both have a 165 W TDP.

Q: Are these CPUs still in production?

A: No. Both the Intel Core i9-9980XE and the Intel Core i9-7980XE are listed as end-of-life production status. The 9980XE was released on 2018-10-18, and the 7980XE was released on 2017-08-31.

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

A: The 9980XE’s average benchmark score of 7398 places it just 0.1% below the AMD EPYC 7282 and 0.2% below the Intel Core i9-9990XE. The 7980XE’s average score of 7018 puts it 0.4% above the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260 and 1.2% above the Intel Core i9-9960X.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, though not overwhelming, recommendation for the Intel Core i9-9980XE over the 7980XE. The 9980XE wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, with the most substantial margins appearing in Cinebench render tests. A 6.8% lead in multi-core Cinebench R23 (26780 vs 25072) and a matching 6.8% lead in single-core R23 (3780 vs 3539) demonstrate that the 9980XE’s higher base and boost clocks deliver consistent real-world gains. Users running prolonged CPU-bound workloads, such as video rendering or software compilation, should choose the 9980XE without hesitation.

The Geekbench results, however, temper the enthusiasm. With just a 0.6% multi-core lead (11270 vs 11198) and a 0.1% single-core lead, the 9980XE offers almost no advantage in workloads that mimic Geekbench’s shorter, bursty patterns. For users whose primary applications resemble Geekbench’s mix, the 7980XE could deliver nearly identical performance at a lower launch MSRP of $1999 versus $1979 for the 9980XE. Yet even in that scenario, the 9980XE remains technically superior.

Both processors occupy the 63rd percentile of all CPUs, and both are end-of-life products. The 9980XE’s average benchmark score of 7398 versus 7018 for the 7980XE represents a 5.4% overall improvement. Given that the 9980XE also launched with a slightly lower MSRP, the newer part is the stronger choice from every angle measured. The 7980XE remains a capable 18-core processor, but it is strictly outclassed by its successor in all eight tested metrics.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-9980XE | Intel Core i9-7980XE |

|---|---|---|

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

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

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

| Launch MSRP | $1979 | $1999 |

| Part Number | SREZ3 | SR3RS |

All other specifications are identical: 18 cores, 36 threads, 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, 24.75 MB shared L3, DDR4 quad-channel memory with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, no ECC support, and Gen 3 PCIe with 44 lanes. Both are unlocked, end-of-life desktop processors with no integrated graphics.