AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X vs AMD Ryzen 9 5900

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X vs AMD Ryzen 9 5900 and see which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, rendering, video editing, streaming, programming. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like DaVinci Resolve Studio, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, Handbrake, Prime95, UserBenchmark, 3DMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), RealBench, PCMark 10, SuperPi, Blender, MATLAB, Dolphin Emulator, WPrime, 7zip, VeraCrypt, Gears 5, Furmark, AIDA64, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PassMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 5900 or AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X.

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 2990X

58%

Ryzen 9 5900

62%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 9 5900 is 6% better than Ryzen Threadripper 2990X. 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 2990X

60%

Ryzen 9 5900

59%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.0	103.8
Valorant	120.5	118.0
Cyberpunk 2077	67.5	66.1
Apex Legends	113.3	110.9
Call of Duty Warzone	90.4	88.5
Overwatch	97.6	95.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.1	81.4
DOOM Eternal	60.2	59.0
Warzone	94.0	92.0
Assassin's Creed	101.2	99.1
Valheim	100.0	97.9

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: 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Ryzen Threadripper 2990X

15%

Ryzen 9 5900

89%

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 9 5900 is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 2990X as it consumes less power: 250W vs. 65W. 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, streaming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the processor uses all threads and cores 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 check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit 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 2990X	AMD Ryzen 9 5900
Cinbench 15 Single-core	168	285
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2982	3789
Cinbench 20 Single-core	410	668
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6721	8653
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1033	1815
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	18752	23790

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X	AMD Ryzen 9 5900
Single-Core	2262	3487
Multi-Core	26548	39560

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X	AMD Ryzen 9 5900
Single-Core	1125	1743
Multi-Core	17679	15530

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 benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X	AMD Ryzen 9 5900
Announcement date	August 13, 2018	January 12, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	TR4	AM4
Core name	Colfax	Vermeer
Architecture	Zen+	Zen 3
Generation	2	4
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	4.7 MHz
Frequency	3.4 MHz	3 MHz
Cores	32	12
Threads	64	24
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	12 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	18800 millions	9400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	250 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	2933	3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	3MB
L2 cache	16MB	6MB
L3 cache	64MB	64MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	YD299XAZUIHAF YD299XAZAFWOF	100-000000062

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen Threadripper 2990X is 11% better than Ryzen 9 5900 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 2990X has 20 more core than Ryzen 9 5900. 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 2990X is better: 17
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 5900 is better: 16
All the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X and AMD Ryzen 9 5900 before making a selection which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 9 5900 specs and review.