AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X vs Intel Core i9-9980XE

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   If you have difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the full tests AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X vs Intel Core i9-9980XE and understand which is better for games or simple use for video editing, machine learning, streaming, programming, rendering. Here is all information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like Blender, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Furmark, SuperPi, AIDA64, RealBench, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, VeraCrypt, PCMark 10, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PassMark, MATLAB, 7zip, 3DMark, WPrime, Prime95, Gears 5.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9980XE 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 i9-9980XE

59%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is 10% better than Core i9-9980XE. 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%

Core i9-9980XE

60%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. 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: NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4, Metro Exodus, Hitman 3, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, Control, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), League of Legends (LOL).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.6	106.2
Valorant	129.1	120.7
Cyberpunk 2077	72.3	67.6
Apex Legends	121.3	113.5
Call of Duty Warzone	96.8	90.5
Overwatch	104.5	97.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.1	83.3
DOOM Eternal	64.5	60.3
Warzone	100.7	94.1
Assassin's Creed	108.4	101.4
Valheim	107.1	100.2

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 comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. Therefore, 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%

Core i9-9980XE

23%

To make a final decision 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 i9-9980XE is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X since it has less power consumption: 280W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, machine learning, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in 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	Intel Core i9-9980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	209	201
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5933	3240
Cinbench 20 Single-core	509	459
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	13552	7516
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1270	1124
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	34255	22944

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X	Intel Core i9-9980XE
Single-Core	2663	2551
Multi-Core	54830	32096

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X	Intel Core i9-9980XE
Single-Core	1306	1178
Multi-Core	25072	17856

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. 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. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X	Intel Core i9-9980XE
Announcement date	November 25, 2019	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	sTRX4	FCLGA2066
Core name	Castle Peak	Skylake
Architecture	Zen 2	x86
Generation	3	9
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	3.8 MHz	3 MHz
Cores	24	18
Threads	48	36
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	22600 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	280 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory		128 Gb
Memory Frequency	3200
Memory bandwidth		85 GB/s
L1 cache	1.5MB
L2 cache	12MB
L3 cache	128MB	24.75 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
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 21% better than Core i9-9980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 3960X has 6 more core than Core i9-9980XE. 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: 30
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9980XE is better: 6
Although it should be understood that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Intel Core i9-9980XE before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-9980XE specs and review.