AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X vs Intel Core i9-10980XE

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   If you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice after reading the full tests AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X vs Intel Core i9-10980XE and understand which is better for games or normal use for video editing, rendering, machine learning, programming, streaming. Here you can find all information from real video editing and streaming tests or different benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like VeraCrypt, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 3DMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, SuperPi, Prime95, PassMark, MATLAB, Blender, RealBench, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, Furmark, WPrime, PCMark 10, UserBenchmark, 7zip, DaVinci Resolve Studio, AIDA64, Handbrake, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10980XE or AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X.

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 2950X

59%

Core i9-10980XE

60%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10980XE is 1% better than Ryzen Threadripper 2950X. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

58%

Core i9-10980XE

61%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. 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 small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, Hitman 3, Half-Life: Alyx, DOTA 2A, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Hunter World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Battlefield V, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, Control, Metro Exodus, Forza Horizon 4, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	103.3	108.7
Valorant	117.4	123.5
Cyberpunk 2077	65.7	69.2
Apex Legends	110.3	116.1
Call of Duty Warzone	88.0	92.6
Overwatch	95.1	100.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	81.0	85.2
DOOM Eternal	58.7	61.8
Warzone	91.6	96.3
Assassin's Creed	98.6	103.7
Valheim	97.4	102.5

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 that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K 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

Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

22%

Core i9-10980XE

28%

To make a finishing resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i9-10980XE is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X since it has less power consumption: 180W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. 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 plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, streaming, machine learning, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor 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 make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that 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 Threadripper 2950X	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	180	211
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3187	3800
Cinbench 20 Single-core	449	480
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7003	8848
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1127	1191
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	21444	24309

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	2484	2626
Multi-Core	30571	34005

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	1222	1417
Multi-Core	14988	20280

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. 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, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Announcement date	August 31, 2018	October 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	sTR4	FCLGA2066
Core name	Colfax	Cascade Lake
Architecture	Zen+	x86
Generation	2	10
Turbo Frequency	4.4 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	3 MHz
Cores	16	18
Threads	32	36
Bus rate		8 GT/s DMI3
Bit	64	64
Lithography	12 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	18800 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	180 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory		256 Gb
Memory Frequency	2933
Memory bandwidth		94 GB/s
L1 cache	1.5MB
L2 cache	8MB
L3 cache	32MB	24.75 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	YD295XA8UGAAF YD295XA8AFWOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is 14% better than Core i9-10980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10980XE has 2 more core than Ryzen Threadripper 2950X. 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 2950X is better: 7
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10980XE is better: 30
All the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X and Intel Core i9-10980XE before making a choice which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-10980XE specs and review.