We will be outlining the Core i9-7900X CPU's performance while using an ASUS X299-Deluxe LGA 2066 motherboard. A 32GB (4x8GB) kit of G.Skill's Trident Z 3200MHz CL14 DDR4 memory serves our test system.
Today's comparison processors come in the form of:
- Broadwell-E i7-6800K (6C12T) and i7-6950X (10C20T).
- Kaby Lake's i7-7700K (4C8T).
- Ryzen 7's 1800X (8C16T).
Each processor is tested at its default out-of-the-box settings and when overclocked to a reasonable level. For the Intel CPUs, we ensured that forced-turbo was disabled so that Intel's defined Turbo Boost parameters were functioning correctly. As such, all-core load frequencies for the tested chips are as follows:
- Core i9-7900X = 4.0GHz (most of the time, with Handbrake or synthetic stress tests as an exception).
- Core i7-6950X = 3.4GHz (most of the time, with Handbrake or synthetic stress tests as an exception).
- Core i7-6800K = 3.5GHz.
- Core i7-7700K = 4.4GHz.
- Ryzen 7 1800X = 3.7GHz.
CPU Test System Common Components:
- Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition (custom fan curve to eliminate thermal throttling).
- CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 & Corsair H110i GT.
- Games SSD: SK hynix SE3010 SATA 6Gbps 960GB.
- Power Supply: Seasonic Platinum 760W.
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (Creators Edition).
Skylake-X LGA 2066 System (i9-7900X):
- 7900X CPU: Intel Core i9 7900X ‘Skylake-X' (ES) 10 cores, 20 threads (4.6GHz @ 1.20V overclocked).
- Motherboard: ASUS X299-Deluxe (LGA 2066, X299).
- Memory: 32GB (4x8GB) G.Skill Trident Z 3200MHz 14-14-14-34 DDR4 @ 1.35V.
- System Drive: Samsung 840 500GB.
Ryzen AM4 System (Ryzen 7 1800X):
- 1800X CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 1800X ‘Summit Ridge' 8 cores, 16 threads (4.05GHz @ 1.425V overclocked).
- Motherboard: Gigabyte Aorus AX370-Gaming 5 & ASUS Crosshair VI Hero (AM4, X370, AGESA 1006).
- Memory: 16GB (2x8GB) G.Skill FlareX 3200MHz 14-14-14-34 DDR4 @ 1.35V.
- System Drive: SanDisk Ultra Plus 256GB.
Kaby Lake LGA 1151 System (i7-7700K):
- 7700K CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K ‘Kaby Lake' (Retail) 4 cores, 8 threads (4.8GHz @ 1.35V overclocked).
- Motherboard: ASUS Maximus VIII Hero (LGA 1151, Z170).
- Memory: 16GB (2x8GB) G.Skill FlareX 3200MHz 14-14-14-34 DDR4 @ 1.35V.
- System Drive: Micron M600 256GB.
Broadwell-E LGA 2011-3 System (i7-6800K, i7-6950X):
- 6800K CPU: Intel Core i7 6800K ‘Broadwell-E' (Retail) 6 cores, 12 threads (4.2GHz @ 1.275V overclocked).
- 6950X CPU: Intel Core i7 6950X ‘Broadwell-E' (Retail) 10 cores, 20 threads (4.2GHz @ 1.275V overclocked).
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix X99 Gaming (LGA 2011-v3, X99).
- Memory: 32GB (4x8GB) G.Skill Trident Z 3200MHz 14-14-14-34 DDR4 @ 1.35V (at 3000MHz for the 6800K due to IMC weakness).
- System Drive: SanDisk Ultra Plus 256GB.
Software:
- ASUS X299-Deluxe BIOS v0501 (pre-release).
- GeForce 382.33 VGA drivers.
Tests:
Productivity-related:
- Cinebench R15 – All-core & single-core CPU benchmark (CPU)
- HandBrake – Convert 6.27GB 4K video recording using the Normal Profile setting and MP4 container (CPU)
- Mozilla Kraken – Browser-based JavaScript benchmark (CPU)
- x265 Benchmark – 1080p H.265/HEVC encoding benchmark (CPU)
- 7-Zip – Built-in 7-Zip benchmark test (CPU & Memory)
- SiSoft Sandra – Memory bandwidth (Memory)
Gaming-related:
- 3DMark Time Spy – Time Spy (DX12) test (Gaming)
- Ashes of the Singularity Escalation – Built-in benchmark tool CPU-Focused test, 1920 x 1080, Extreme quality preset, DX12 version (Gaming)
- Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Built-in benchmark tool, 1920 x 1080, Very High quality preset, DX12 (Gaming)
- Grand Theft Auto V – Built-in benchmark tool, 1920 x 1080, Maximum quality settings, Maximum Advanced Graphics, DX11 (Gaming)
- Metro: Last Light Redux – Built-in benchmark tool, 1920 x 1080, Very High quality settings, SSAA Enabled, AF 16X, High Tessellation, DX11 (Gaming)
- Total War Warhammer – Built-in benchmark tool, 1920 x 1080, Ultra quality preset, DX12 version (Gaming)
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