Intel Core i9-8950HK vs Intel Core i9-7900X. Specifications, performance, tests

Comprehensive background on the processors being compared, detailing their series, generation, and targeted market segment.

• Segment
  Mobile Desktop / Server
• Family
  Intel Core i9 Intel Core i9
• Generation
  8 7
• CPU group
  Intel Core i 8000H Intel Core i 7000X

Essential parameters including the number of cores, threads, base and turbo frequencies, and cache size. These metrics provide insight into the processor’s speed—higher values generally indicate better performance.

• Frequency
  2.90 GHz 3.30 GHz
• CPU Cores
  6 10
• Turbo (1 Core)
  4.80 GHz 4.30 GHz
• CPU Threads
  12 20
• Hyperthreading
  Yes Yes
• Overclocking
  Yes Yes
• Core architecture
  normal normal

The integrated graphics (iGPU) do not influence the CPU performance significantly; they serve as a substitute for a dedicated graphics card in the absence of one or are utilized in mobile devices.

• GPU name
  Intel UHD Graphics 630 no iGPU
• GPU frequency
  0.35 GHz
• GPU (Turbo)
  1.15 GHz No turbo
• Execution units
  24
• Shader
  192
• Max. GPU Memory
  64 GB --
• Max. displays
  3
• Generation
  9.5
• DirectX Version
  12
• Technology
  14 nm
• Release date
  Q4/2017

This section details the built-in codecs used for encoding and decoding media content, which significantly enhance processing speed and efficiency.

• h265 / HEVC (8 bit)
  Decode / Encode No
• h265 / HEVC (10 bit)
  Decode / Encode No
• h264
  Decode / Encode No
• VP9
  Decode / Encode No
• VP8
  Decode / Encode No
• AV1
  No No
• AVC
  Decode / Encode No
• VC-1
  Decode No
• JPEG
  Decode / Encode No

Overview of the types and quantities of RAM supported by Intel Core i9-7900X and Intel Core i9-8950HK. The supported memory frequencies may vary depending on the motherboard configuration.

• Memory type
  DDR4-2400 SO-DIMM DDR4-2666
• ECC
  No No
• Memory channels
  2 4
• PCIe version
  3.0 3.0
• PCIe lanes
  16 44

• AES-NI
  Yes Yes

Analyze the TDP (Thermal Design Power) requirements of Intel Core i9-8950HK and Intel Core i9-7900X to make an informed decision on the appropriate cooling system. Remember that TDP refers to thermal watts, not electrical watts.

• TDP (PL1)
  65 W 140 W

Information on architecture, interfaces, and additional instructions supported by Intel Core i9-8950HK and Intel Core i9-7900X, including virtual machine technologies and fabrication processes.

• Instruction set (ISA)
  x86-64 (64 bit) x86-64 (64 bit)
• Virtualization
  VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d
• ISA extensions
  SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2 SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX-512
• L3-Cache
  12.00 MB 14.00 MB
• Architecture
  Coffee Lake H Skylake X
• Technology
  14 nm 14 nm
• Socket
  BGA 1440 LGA 2066
• Release date
  Q1/2018 Q2/2017