AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs Intel Core i9-9900K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the full tests AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs Intel Core i9-9900K and understand which is better for games or normal use for streaming, rendering, programming, machine learning, video editing. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or several benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as VeraCrypt, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PCMark 10, Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, MATLAB, Furmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), AIDA64, 3DMark, Blender, PassMark, UserBenchmark, Blender, Gears 5, 7zip, RealBench, Prime95.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9900K or AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX.

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 2990WX

59%

Core i9-9900K

55%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 6% better than Core i9-9900K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

61%

Core i9-9900K

55%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, 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 little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Metro Exodus, NBA 2K20, League of Legends (LOL), DOTA 2A, Monster Hunter World, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ghostrunner, Hitman 3, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Control, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	107.8	98.2
Valorant	122.5	111.6
Cyberpunk 2077	68.6	62.5
Apex Legends	115.1	104.9
Call of Duty Warzone	91.8	83.7
Overwatch	99.2	90.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	84.5	77.0
DOOM Eternal	61.2	55.8
Warzone	95.5	87.0
Assassin's Creed	102.9	93.7
Valheim	101.6	92.6

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

15%

Core i9-9900K

45%

To make a final choice 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 i9-9900K is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX as it consumes less power: 250W vs. 95W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, streaming, programming, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using 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 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 2990WX	Intel Core i9-9900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	174	219
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5189	2245
Cinbench 20 Single-core	398	518
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11463	4995
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1103	1284
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	33213	12450

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	2357	2947
Multi-Core	32318	18753

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	1135	1301
Multi-Core	19382	9986

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 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 still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Intel Core i9-9900K
Announcement date	August 13, 2018	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	sTR4	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Colfax	Coffee Lake
Architecture	Zen+	x86
Generation	2	9
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	5 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	32	8
Threads	64	16
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	12 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	18800 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	250 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory		128 Gb
Memory Frequency	2933
Memory bandwidth		41.6 GB/s
L1 cache	3MB
L2 cache	16MB
L3 cache	64MB	16 MB
Overclocking	Yes	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	YD299XAZUIHAF YD299XAZAFWOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-9900K is 16% better than Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 24 more core than Core i9-9900K. 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 2990WX is better: 25
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9900K is better: 13
Although it should be understood that the summary data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX and Intel Core i9-9900K before making a decision which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-9900K specs and review.