AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X vs Intel Core i9-7980XE

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X vs Intel Core i9-7980XE and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, programming, machine learning, rendering. Here you can find all information from real video editing and streaming tests or many benchmarks. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like WPrime, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 7zip, Gears 5, AIDA64, 3DMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, RealBench, SuperPi, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, Handbrake, MATLAB, PassMark, PCMark 10, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, UserBenchmark, VeraCrypt, Blender.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-7980XE 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 i9-7980XE

58%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is 1% better than Core i9-7980XE. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

58%

Core i9-7980XE

60%

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 run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Metro Exodus, Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, League of Legends (LOL), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Battlefield V, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, Forza Horizon 4, Control, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), DOTA 2A, NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	103.3	107.0
Valorant	117.4	121.6
Cyberpunk 2077	65.7	68.1
Apex Legends	110.3	114.3
Call of Duty Warzone	88.0	91.2
Overwatch	95.1	98.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	81.0	83.9
DOOM Eternal	58.7	60.8
Warzone	91.6	94.9
Assassin's Creed	98.6	102.2
Valheim	97.4	100.9

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: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

22%

Core i9-7980XE

23%

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 i9-7980XE 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. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, streaming, video editing or video rendering, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software 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 run, and all the advantages 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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	180	184
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3187	3455
Cinbench 20 Single-core	449	446
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7003	7671
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1127	1281
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	21444	28196

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Single-Core	2484	2490
Multi-Core	30571	29612

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Single-Core	1222	1158
Multi-Core	14988	18658

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, 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, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Announcement date	August 31, 2018	April 01, 2017
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	sTR4	FCLGA2066
Core name	Colfax	Skylake
Architecture	Zen+	x86
Generation	2	9
Turbo Frequency	4.4 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	2.6 MHz
Cores	16	18
Threads	32	36
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	12 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	18800 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	180 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory		128 Gb
Memory Frequency	2933
Memory bandwidth		85 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 25% better than Core i9-7980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7980XE 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: 12
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7980XE is better: 25
Although it should be understood that all the figures that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X and Intel Core i9-7980XE before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-7980XE specs and review.