Intel Core i9-7980XE vs Intel Core i9-9990XE Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9990XE and Intel Core i9-7980XE are both extreme desktop processors on the Intel Socket 2066 platform, but the data shows they are separated by more than just a generation. The 9990XE, a 9th Gen X-Series part, and the 7980XE, a 7th Gen X-Series part, share the Skylake-X codename and a 14 nm process node, yet they deliver different performance profiles. The benchmark results indicate that the 9990XE wins every single head-to-head test, but the 7980XE counters with a substantial core-count advantage and a lower TDP. This analysis breaks down exactly where each chip excels, based strictly on the benchmark and specification data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is its consistency. The Intel Core i9-9990XE wins all six benchmark comparisons, with a margin that barely fluctuates across workloads. In Cinebench R15, the 9990XE scores 2584 points in multi-core versus the 7980XE’s 2527, a 2.3% advantage. The single-core result in R15 is similar, with the 9990XE at 364 points against 356, a 2.2% lead. This tight spread suggests the 9990XE’s advantage comes from a fundamental architectural edge rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The 9990XE posts 10767 points in multi-core, beating the 7980XE’s 10530 by 2.3%. The single-core test shows the same story: 1519 versus 1486, a 2.2% win for the 9990XE. The newest Cinebench R23 results reinforce the trend. In multi-core, the 9990XE scores 25637 against 25072, and in single-core it scores 3619 against 3539. Both deltas sit at exactly 2.3%, matching the R15 and R20 multi-core margins.

The data shows no test where the 7980XE pulls ahead, despite having more cores. The 9990XE’s wins are narrow but absolute. In every Cinebench iteration, from R15 to R23, the deltaPct is either 2.2% or 2.3%. This uniformity points to a clock-speed advantage that applies equally to single- and multi-threaded workloads. The 9990XE’s 5.10 GHz boost clock versus the 7980XE’s 4.40 GHz explains the per-core gains, but the multi-core wins are more surprising given the 7980XE’s 18-core count.

The benchmark data also includes Geekbench results for the 7980XE only, which are not part of the head-to-head comparison. The 7980XE scores 11198 in Geekbench multi-core and 1435 in single-core. These numbers provide context for its average benchmark score of 7018, which sits below the 9990XE’s 7415 average. The 9990XE’s average score places it in the 63rd percentile among all CPUs, matching the 7980XE’s percentile exactly, despite the 9990XE having a higher absolute average.

Architecture Differences

The core count is the most obvious divergence. The 9990XE packs 14 cores and 28 threads, while the 7980XE offers 18 cores and 36 threads. That is a 4-core, 8-thread advantage for the older part. However, the 9990XE compensates with significantly higher clock speeds. Its base clock is 4.00 GHz, compared to the 7980XE’s 2.60 GHz. The boost clocks tell a similar story: 5.10 GHz for the 9990XE versus 4.40 GHz for the 7980XE. This 0.70 GHz boost advantage is the primary driver of the 9990XE’s benchmark wins.

Both chips use the Skylake architecture and the Skylake-X codename, but they belong to different generations. The 9990XE is 9th Gen Core i9 Extreme, while the 7980XE is 7th Gen. Despite the generational gap, both are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node and use the same Intel Socket 2066. The cache hierarchy differs in total capacity. The 9990XE has 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the 7980XE has 24.75 MB. Per-core L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB and 1 MB, respectively.

The die size is only listed for the 7980XE at 484 mm², providing a physical reference for the larger core count. Power consumption is a major differentiator. The 9990XE has a TDP of 255 watts, while the 7980XE is rated at 165 watts. This 90-watt gap means the 7980XE is the more power-efficient design on paper, despite having more cores. Both chips support DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth, and neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe lanes are identical at Gen 3 with 44 lanes from the CPU. Both processors have unlocked multipliers, making them overclockable. Integrated graphics are absent from both parts. The 9990XE uses part number SREZA, while the 7980XE uses SR3RS. The 9990XE was released on 2018-10-18, roughly 14 months after the 7980XE’s 2017-08-31 launch. Both are marked as end-of-life production status.

Where Each One Wins

The 9990XE wins every benchmark test in the head-to-head comparison, but the data shows it wins by a consistent single-digit margin. In multi-core workloads, the 9990XE’s 14 cores outperform the 7980XE’s 18 cores in all three Cinebench versions. The R15 multi-core result of 2584 versus 2527 demonstrates that raw core count does not automatically translate to higher throughput. The 9990XE’s higher clock speeds overcome a 4-core deficit in these specific rendering tests.

For single-core performance, the 9990XE is the clear choice. Its 5.10 GHz boost clock delivers a 2.2% to 2.3% advantage across R15, R20, and R23. The 7980XE’s 4.40 GHz boost cannot match this. Any workload that relies heavily on single-threaded performance — such as legacy applications or lightly threaded games — will favor the 9990XE based on these results. The 364-point R15 single-core score and the 3619-point R23 single-core score both outpace the 7980XE.

The 7980XE’s wins are not in the benchmark results but in its specification sheet. It offers 18 cores and 36 threads, which is 28.6% more cores and threads than the 9990XE. For workloads that scale perfectly with core count and are not limited by clock speed, the 7980XE theoretically has more headroom. Its 24.75 MB of L3 cache is larger, which can benefit data-heavy workloads. The 165-watt TDP is significantly lower, making it the more thermally reasonable choice for sustained all-core loads.

The 7980XE also has Geekbench scores available, which show 11198 multi-core and 1435 single-core. These are not compared head-to-head, but they indicate the 7980XE is a capable performer in that benchmark suite. The 9990XE lacks Geekbench data in the fact pack, so the 7980XE wins by default in that specific test category. Its average benchmark score of 7018 is lower than the 9990XE’s 7415, but both chips land in the 63rd percentile of all CPUs.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i9-9990XE wins all six head-to-head tests, with a 2.3% margin in every multi-core Cinebench test and a 2.2% to 2.3% margin in every single-core test. Anyone prioritizing raw benchmark scores should choose the 9990XE. Its 14 cores and 5.10 GHz boost clock deliver consistently higher Cinebench results than the 7980XE’s 18 cores and 4.40 GHz boost. The 9990XE also has a higher average benchmark score at 7415 versus 7018.

The 7980XE is the better choice for users who need more cores and threads. With 18 cores and 36 threads, it offers more parallel processing capacity than the 9990XE’s 14 cores and 28 threads. The larger 24.75 MB L3 cache and lower 165-watt TDP make it a more attractive option for heavily threaded, cache-sensitive, or power-constrained environments. The 7980XE’s 484 mm² die size also suggests a more physically substantial chip, though this is not a performance metric.

The 9990XE’s launch MSRP is $2800, which is higher than the 7980XE’s $1999 launch MSRP. This price difference aligns with the 9990XE’s benchmark superiority, but the 7980XE offers more cores at a lower launch price. Both processors are end-of-life, so availability and platform costs are not reflected in the data. The 9990XE’s 255-watt TDP demands robust cooling, while the 7980XE’s 165-watt TDP is more manageable.

For single-core and lightly threaded tasks, the 9990XE is the definitive winner. For multi-core tasks that scale with core count, the data shows the 9990XE still wins in Cinebench, but the 7980XE’s core advantage may help in unbenchmarked workloads. The 7980XE’s Geekbench scores, while not compared directly, suggest it is no slouch in general-purpose computing. The 63rd percentile ranking for both chips indicates they are near the middle of the pack in the full CPU landscape.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-9990XE has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i9-7980XE has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz.

Q: How many cores does the Intel Core i9-7980XE have?

A: The Intel Core i9-7980XE has 18 cores and 36 threads, which is more than the 9990XE’s 14 cores and 28 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i9-9990XE has a TDP of 255 watts, while the Intel Core i9-7980XE has a TDP of 165 watts.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i9-9990XE wins with a score of 25637, compared to the 7980XE’s 25072, a 2.3% difference.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-9990XE and the Intel Core i9-7980XE use the Intel Socket 2066.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i9-9990XE has an average benchmark score of 7415, while the Intel Core i9-7980XE has an average benchmark score of 7018.