AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X tests and see which is better for games or simple use for programming, streaming, rendering, machine learning, video editing. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, 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 Dolphin Emulator, MATLAB, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PassMark, 7zip, Prime95, Furmark, Blender, Handbrake, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Gears 5, 3DMark, PCMark 10, SuperPi, RealBench, AIDA64, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, WPrime, VeraCrypt.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X or AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X.

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 3960X

66%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

69%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is 4% better than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

64%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

65%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.6	115.8
Valorant	129.1	131.6
Cyberpunk 2077	72.3	73.7
Apex Legends	121.3	123.7
Call of Duty Warzone	96.8	98.7
Overwatch	104.5	106.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.1	90.8
DOOM Eternal	64.5	65.8
Warzone	100.7	102.7
Assassin's Creed	108.4	110.6
Valheim	107.1	109.3

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: 4K, 2K 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 3960X

15%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

15%

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, machine learning, streaming, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using 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 3960X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	209	209
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5933	7398
Cinbench 20 Single-core	509	509
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	13552	17444
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1270	1270
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	34255	47102

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Single-Core	2663	2686
Multi-Core	54830	64446

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Single-Core	1306	1312
Multi-Core	25072	27290

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 3960X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Announcement date	November 25, 2019	November 25, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	sTRX4	sTRX4
Core name	Castle Peak	Castle Peak
Architecture	Zen 2	Zen 2
Generation	3	3
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	3.8 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	24	32
Threads	48	64
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	22600 millions	22600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	280 W	280 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	3200	3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	1.5MB	2MB
L2 cache	12MB	16MB
L3 cache	128MB	128MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	100-000000010 100-100000010WOF	100-000000011 100-100000011WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is 2% better than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has 8 more core than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X. 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 3960X is better: 1
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is better: 22
Although it should be understood that all the number in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X before making a choice which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X specs and review.