Intel Core i9-7900X ‘Skylake-X’ 10C20T CPU Indepth Analysis

1. Introducing Skylake-X: Core i9-7900X2. Overclocking the Core i9-7900X3. Testing Methodology4. CPU Tests 1: Cinebench, Handbrake, x265 Encoding5. CPU & Memory Tests: 7-Zip, Kraken, Sandra6. Gaming Tests 1: 3DMark, GTA V, Metro LL7. Gaming Tests 2: Ashes, GRW, Total War8. 1440P & 4K Gaming Tests: GRW & GTA V9. Technical: Power Draw, Efficiency, Temperatures10. Closing Thoughts11. View All Pages

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)

Become a Patron!

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here