AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X vs Intel Core i9-9900K

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   Let's say there are difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the full tests AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X vs Intel Core i9-9900K and see which is better for games or normal use for streaming, programming, video editing, rendering, machine learning. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or various 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 comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like Blender, RealBench, SuperPi, UserBenchmark, Prime95, 3DMark, VeraCrypt, WPrime, AIDA64, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PassMark, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, MATLAB, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 7zip, Furmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

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 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%

Core i9-9900K

55%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is 16% better than Core i9-9900K. 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 3960X

64%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.6	98.2
Valorant	129.1	111.6
Cyberpunk 2077	72.3	62.5
Apex Legends	121.3	104.9
Call of Duty Warzone	96.8	83.7
Overwatch	104.5	90.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.1	77.0
DOOM Eternal	64.5	55.8
Warzone	100.7	87.0
Assassin's Creed	108.4	93.7
Valheim	107.1	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 tested computers not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. 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 3960X

15%

Core i9-9900K

45%

To make a final 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 Core i9-9900K is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X as it consumes less power: 280W vs. 95W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to 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

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, video rendering or video editing, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the processor uses all cores and threads 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 program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since 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 3960X	Intel Core i9-9900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	209	219
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5933	2245
Cinbench 20 Single-core	509	518
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	13552	4995
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1270	1284
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	34255	12450

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	2663	2947
Multi-Core	54830	18753

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	1306	1301
Multi-Core	25072	9986

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. 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. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X	Intel Core i9-9900K
Announcement date	November 25, 2019	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	sTRX4	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Castle Peak	Coffee Lake
Architecture	Zen 2	x86
Generation	3	9
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	5 MHz
Frequency	3.8 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	24	8
Threads	48	16
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	22600 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	280 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory		128 Gb
Memory Frequency	3200
Memory bandwidth		41.6 GB/s
L1 cache	1.5MB
L2 cache	12MB
L3 cache	128MB	16 MB
Overclocking	Yes	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	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 5% better than Core i9-9900K in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 3960X has 16 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 3960X is better: 27
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9900K is better: 11
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Intel Core i9-9900K before making a choice which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-9900K specs and review.