AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X and understand which is better for games or normal use for video editing, machine learning, streaming, programming, rendering. Here is all information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough review of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as WPrime, SuperPi, PCMark 10, GeekBench 6, 5.2, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), RealBench, Furmark, UserBenchmark, PassMark, 3DMark, Prime95, Handbrake, Dolphin Emulator, VeraCrypt, MATLAB, AIDA64, 7zip, Blender, Gears 5.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X or AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X.

Summary benchmark results

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

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

57%

Ryzen Threadripper 2990X

58%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 2990X is 1% better than Ryzen Threadripper 2920X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

57%

Ryzen Threadripper 2990X

60%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	100.5	106.0
Valorant	114.2	120.5
Cyberpunk 2077	63.9	67.5
Apex Legends	107.3	113.3
Call of Duty Warzone	85.6	90.4
Overwatch	92.5	97.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	78.8	83.1
DOOM Eternal	57.1	60.2
Warzone	89.1	94.0
Assassin's Creed	95.9	101.2
Valheim	94.8	100.0

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: FullHD, 2K or 4K. 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

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

20%

Ryzen Threadripper 2990X

15%

To make a finishing 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 Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 2990X as it consumes less power: 180W vs. 250W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, video rendering or video editing, streaming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, 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 Threadripper 2920X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	176	168
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2584	2982
Cinbench 20 Single-core	439	410
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5843	6721
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1003	1033
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	18215	18752

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X
Single-Core	2481	2262
Multi-Core	25788	26548

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X
Single-Core	1103	1125
Multi-Core	12232	17679

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.

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X
Announcement date	October 02, 2018	August 13, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	sTR4	TR4
Core name	Colfax	Colfax
Architecture	Zen+	Zen+
Generation	2	2
Turbo Frequency	4.3 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	3.4 MHz
Cores	12	32
Threads	24	64
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	12 nm	12 nm
Transistors count	18800 millions	18800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	180 W	250 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	2933	2933
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	1.125MB	3MB
L2 cache	6MB	16MB
L3 cache	32MB	64MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	YD292XA8UC9AF YD292XA8AFWOF	YD299XAZUIHAF YD299XAZAFWOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is 2% better than Ryzen Threadripper 2990X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 2990X has 20 more core than Ryzen Threadripper 2920X. 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 Threadripper 2920X is better: 8
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X is better: 22
Although it should be understood that all the figures in the article above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X before making a decision which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X specs and review.