Core i7-980X vs Core i5-7600K
Core i7-980X
Core i5-7600K
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i7-980X is positioned at rank 1052 and the Core i5-7600K is on rank 578, so the Core i5-7600K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-980X
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7600K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-980X | Core i5-7600K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($84) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-980X | Core i5-7600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+78%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($84) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-980X and Core i5-7600K
Core i7-980X
The Core i7-980X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,817 points. Launch price was $959.
Core i5-7600K
The Core i5-7600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,813 points. Launch price was $242.
Processing Power
The Core i7-980X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i5-7600K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i7-980X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-980X versus 4.2 GHz on the Core i5-7600K — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-7600K (base: 3.33 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i7-980X uses the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-7600K uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-980X scores 6,817 against the Core i5-7600K's 6,813 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-980X. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-980X vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-7600K.
| Feature | Core i7-980X | Core i5-7600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4.2 GHz+17% |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz | 3.8 GHz+14% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+100% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Gulftown (2010−2011) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 6,817 | 6,813 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 4,143 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,100 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,800 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-980X uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-7600K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-980X | Core i5-7600K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-980X) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-7600K). The Core i5-7600K includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 630), while the Core i7-980X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7600K targets Gaming/Desktop.
| Feature | Core i7-980X | Core i5-7600K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Gaming/Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-980X launched at $999 MSRP, while the Core i5-7600K debuted at $217. At current prices ($150 vs $84), the Core i5-7600K is $66 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-980X delivers 45.4 pts/$ vs 81.1 pts/$ for the Core i5-7600K — making the Core i5-7600K the 56.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-980X | Core i5-7600K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $999 | $217-78% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150 | $84-44% |
| Performance per Dollar | 45.4 | 81.1+79% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2017 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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