Intel Core i9-9960X vs Intel Pentium 997

Intel Core i9-9960X or Intel Core i9-9960X – which processor offers superior performance? In this comparison, we examine disparities and assess which of these two CPUs outperforms the other. We delve into technical specifications and benchmark outcomes.
The Intel Core i9-9960X features 16 processor cores and has the capability to manage 32 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q4/2018 and belongs to the 9 generation of the Intel Core i9 series.
To use the Intel Core i9-9960X, you'll need a motherboard with a LGA 2066 socket.
The Intel Pentium 997 features 2 processor cores and has the capability to manage 2 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q3/2012 and belongs to the 3 generation of the Intel Pentium series.
To use the Intel Pentium 997, you'll need a motherboard with a BGA 1023 socket.

The Intel Core i9-9960X has 16 CPU cores and can calculate 32 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core i9-9960X is 3.1 GHz
and turbo frequency for one core is 4.5 GHz.
The number of CPU cores greatly affects the speed of the processor and is an important performance indicator.
The Intel Pentium 997 has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 2 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Pentium 997 is 1.6 GHz

The Intel Core i9-9960X does not have integrated graphics.
The Intel Pentium 997 has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Intel Pentium 997 uses the Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge GT1), which has 48 texture shaders
and 6 execution units.
The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.

The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 128.0 GB distributed across 4 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 16.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.

The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 165 W watts.
TDP indicates the cooling solution needed to effectively manage the processor's heat. It generally provides an approximate indication of the actual power consumption of the CPU itself.
The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 17 W watts.

The Intel Core i9-9960X is manufactured using a 14 nm process.
A smaller manufacturing process indicates a more contemporary and energy-efficient CPU.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 22.0 MB cache.
A substantial cache can significantly enhance the processor's performance, particularly in scenarios like gaming.
The Intel Pentium 997 is manufactured using a 32 nm process.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 2.0 MB cache.