AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the detailed tests AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and decide which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, streaming, video editing, rendering, programming. Here you can find useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or different benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications such as World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Prime95, RealBench, Blender, VeraCrypt, MATLAB, PassMark, Handbrake, AIDA64, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, GeekBench 6, 5.2, UserBenchmark, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, WPrime, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), SuperPi, 7zip, Blender.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X or AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX.

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 2970WX

58%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

66%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is 12% better than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX. 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 2970WX

57%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

64%

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. 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 summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, NBA 2K20, Metro Exodus, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Forza Horizon 4, League of Legends (LOL), Control, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	100.8	113.6
Valorant	114.5	129.1
Cyberpunk 2077	64.1	72.3
Apex Legends	107.7	121.3
Call of Duty Warzone	85.9	96.8
Overwatch	92.8	104.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.0	89.1
DOOM Eternal	57.3	64.5
Warzone	89.3	100.7
Assassin's Creed	96.2	108.4
Valheim	95.1	107.1

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: 2K, 4K or FullHD. So 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 Threadripper 2970WX

14%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

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 Threadripper 3960X is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX as it consumes less power: 250W vs. 280W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, programming, video editing or video rendering, 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 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. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the benefit 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 2970WX	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	173	209
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	4324	5933
Cinbench 20 Single-core	431	509
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	10008	13552
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1098	1270
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	20987	34255

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Single-Core	2290	2663
Multi-Core	28963	54830

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Single-Core	1082	1306
Multi-Core	12545	25072

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 later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Announcement date	October 02, 2018	November 25, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	sTR4	sTRX4
Core name	Colfax	Castle Peak
Architecture	Zen+	Zen 2
Generation	2	3
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.8 MHz
Cores	24	24
Threads	48	48
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	12 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	18800 millions	22600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	250 W	280 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	2933	3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	2.25MB	1.5MB
L2 cache	12MB	12MB
L3 cache	64MB	128MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	YD297XAZUHCAF YD297XAZAFWOF	100-000000010 100-100000010WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is 21% better than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX in terms of CPU frequency. 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 2970WX is better: 3
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is better: 28
Although it should be understood that all the data that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X specs and review.