AMD Ryzen 9 5900 vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the detailed tests AMD Ryzen 9 5900 vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and understand which is better for games or normal use for programming, rendering, streaming, machine learning, video editing. Here you can find useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or several benchmarks. A thorough 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 synthetic type tests like WPrime, Gears 5, RealBench, SuperPi, UserBenchmark, MATLAB, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), AIDA64, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Furmark, Blender, PassMark, Dolphin Emulator, Handbrake, PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, 3DMark, 7zip, DaVinci Resolve Studio, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Prime95.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X or AMD Ryzen 9 5900.

Summary benchmark results

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

Ryzen 9 5900

62%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

69%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is 10% better than Ryzen 9 5900. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen 9 5900

59%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

65%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Control, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Monster Hunter World, Forza Horizon 4, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), DOTA 2A, Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Battlefield V, NBA 2K20, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Ghostrunner, League of Legends (LOL), Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, Horizon Zero Dawn.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	103.8	115.8
Valorant	118.0	131.6
Cyberpunk 2077	66.1	73.7
Apex Legends	110.9	123.7
Call of Duty Warzone	88.5	98.7
Overwatch	95.6	106.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	81.4	90.8
DOOM Eternal	59.0	65.8
Warzone	92.0	102.7
Assassin's Creed	99.1	110.6
Valheim	97.9	109.3

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 tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Ryzen 9 5900

89%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

15%

To make a finishing choice 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 Ryzen 9 5900 is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X since it has less power consumption: 65W vs. 280W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, programming, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	AMD Ryzen 9 5900	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	285	209
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3789	7398
Cinbench 20 Single-core	668	509
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	8653	17444
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1815	1270
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	23790	47102

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

	AMD Ryzen 9 5900	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Single-Core	3487	2686
Multi-Core	39560	64446

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

	AMD Ryzen 9 5900	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Single-Core	1743	1312
Multi-Core	15530	27290

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	AMD Ryzen 9 5900	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Announcement date	January 12, 2021	November 25, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	AM4	sTRX4
Core name	Vermeer	Castle Peak
Architecture	Zen 3	Zen 2
Generation	4	3
Turbo Frequency	4.7 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	12	32
Threads	24	64
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	9400 millions	22600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	280 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	3200	3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache		2MB
L2 cache	6MB	16MB
L3 cache	64MB	128MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	100-000000062	100-000000011 100-100000011WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is 18% better than Ryzen 9 5900 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has 20 more core than Ryzen 9 5900. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 5900 is better: 11
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is better: 21
However, it should be understood that the summary data that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought AMD Ryzen 9 5900 and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X before making a selection which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• AMD Ryzen 9 5900 specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X specs and review.