i9-11900K vs i7-990X EE

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-990X EE
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
4.33
Core i9-11900K
2021
8 cores / 16 threads, 125 Watt
16.48
+281%

Core i9-11900K outperforms Core i7-990X EE by a whopping 281% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-990X EE and Core i9-11900K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1375416
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data19.14
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency3.0412.02
Architecture codenameGulftown (2010−2011)Rocket Lake (2021)
Release dateno data (2024 years ago)16 March 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$539

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-990X EE and Core i9-11900K basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores6 (Hexa-Core)8 (Octa-Core)
Threads1216
Base clock speedno data3.5 GHz
Boost clock speed3.73 GHz5.2 GHz
Bus rate6400 MHz8 GT/s
L1 cacheno data80 KB (per core)
L2 cacheno data512 KB (per core)
L3 cacheno data16 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die sizeno data276 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-990X EE and Core i9-11900K compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configurationno data1
SocketLGA-1366FCLGA1200
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i9-11900K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
TSX-+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i7-990X EE and Core i9-11900K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protection-+
SGXno data-
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i9-11900K are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i9-11900K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR4
Maximum memory sizeno data128 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data50 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel UHD Graphics 750
Max video memoryno data64 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.3 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-990X EE and Core i9-11900K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i9-11900K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data5120 x 3200 @60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data5120 x 3200 @60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i9-11900K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12.1
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i9-11900K.

PCIe versionno data4.0
PCI Express lanesno data20

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-990X EE 4.33
i9-11900K 16.48
+281%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-990X EE 6624
i9-11900K 25226
+281%

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i7-990X EE 4204
i9-11900K 10545
+151%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i7-990X EE 22228
i9-11900K 62024
+179%

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

i7-990X EE 5.17
i9-11900K 3.98
+29.9%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i7-990X EE 9
i9-11900K 27
+202%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 4.33 16.48
Physical cores 6 8
Threads 12 16
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 125 Watt

i9-11900K has a 280.6% higher aggregate performance score, 33.3% more physical cores and 33.3% more threads, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 4% lower power consumption.

The Core i9-11900K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-990X EE in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-990X EE and Core i9-11900K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-990X EE
Core i7-990X EE
Intel Core i9-11900K
Core i9-11900K

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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