Intel Core i9-7960X vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   If you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-7960X vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX and decide which is better for games or normal use for rendering, machine learning, video editing, streaming, programming. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, RealBench, 3DMark, Handbrake, Furmark, PCMark 10, Gears 5, DaVinci Resolve Studio, AIDA64, 7zip, MATLAB, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, UserBenchmark, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), VeraCrypt, SuperPi, Blender, WPrime, PassMark, Prime95.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Valheim
Fortnite
Death Stranding
Apex Legends
Red Dead Redemption 2
Fallout 76
Overwatch
Borderlands 3
Watch Dogs Legion
Halo Infinite
Last Man Standing
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Grand Theft Auto V
Cyberpunk 2077
Valorant
Rainbow Six Siege
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
DOOM: Eternal
Assassin's Creed Valhalla

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX or Intel Core i9-7960X.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i9-7960X

58%

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

59%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 1% better than Core i9-7960X. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-7960X

60%

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

61%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Microsoft Flight Simulator, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Monster Hunter World, Metro Exodus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Control, Hitman 3, Half-Life: Alyx, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), League of Legends (LOL), Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Ghostrunner, NBA 2K20, Battlefield V.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.9	107.8
Valorant	121.4	122.5
Cyberpunk 2077	68.0	68.6
Apex Legends	114.2	115.1
Call of Duty Warzone	91.1	91.8
Overwatch	98.4	99.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.8	84.5
DOOM Eternal	60.7	61.2
Warzone	94.7	95.5
Assassin's Creed	102.0	102.9
Valheim	100.8	101.6

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-7960X

22%

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

15%

To make a final resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i9-7960X is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX as it consumes less power: 165W vs. 250W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, video editing or video rendering, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i9-7960X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Cinbench 15 Single-core	184	174
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3161	5189
Cinbench 20 Single-core	611	398
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5496	11463
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1103	1103
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	22189	33213

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i9-7960X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Single-Core	2605	2357
Multi-Core	27039	32318

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i9-7960X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Single-Core	1113	1135
Multi-Core	18501	19382

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-7960X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Announcement date	October 01, 2017	August 13, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	sTR4
Core name	Skylake	Colfax
Architecture	x86	Zen+
Generation	7	2
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	2.8 MHz	3 MHz
Cores	16	32
Threads	32	64
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography		12 nm
Transistors count	7800 millions	18800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	250 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		2933
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s
L1 cache		3MB
L2 cache		16MB
L3 cache	22 MB	64MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		YD299XAZUIHAF YD299XAZAFWOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 6% better than Core i9-7960X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 16 more core than Core i9-7960X. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7960X is better: 9
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is better: 27
Although it should be understood that all the figures in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-7960X and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX before making a decision which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-7960X specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX specs and review.