AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X vs AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   If you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X vs AMD Ryzen 9 5950X tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for video editing, programming, machine learning, streaming, rendering. Here is all information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like PassMark, RealBench, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, Prime95, Handbrake, 7zip, SuperPi, Blender, 3DMark, MATLAB, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, WPrime, PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, Gears 5, Furmark, Dolphin Emulator, AIDA64, Geekbench 5.2, DaVinci Resolve Studio.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 5950X or AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X.

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 3970X

80%

Ryzen 9 5950X

71%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is 11% better than Ryzen 9 5950X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

73%

Ryzen 9 5950X

66%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	130.2	117.2
Valorant	147.9	133.1
Cyberpunk 2077	82.8	74.6
Apex Legends	139.1	125.1
Call of Duty Warzone	110.9	99.8
Overwatch	119.8	107.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	102.1	91.9
DOOM Eternal	74.0	66.6
Warzone	115.4	103.8
Assassin's Creed	124.3	111.8
Valheim	122.8	110.5

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: 2K, FullHD or 4K. Therefore, 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 3970X

15%

Ryzen 9 5950X

57%

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 Ryzen 9 5950X is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X since it has less power consumption: 280W vs. 105W. 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 machine learning, programming, video rendering or video editing, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU includes all cores and threads 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 work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	209	277
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	7398	4569
Cinbench 20 Single-core	509	647
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	17444	10428
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1270	1639
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	47102	28641

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Single-Core	2686	3455
Multi-Core	64446	46183

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Single-Core	1312	1814
Multi-Core	27290	18863

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 3970X	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Announcement date	November 25, 2019	November 05, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	sTRX4	AM4
Core name	Castle Peak	Vermeer
Architecture	Zen 2	Zen 3
Generation	3	5
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	4.9 MHz
Frequency	3.7 MHz	3.4 MHz
Cores	32	16
Threads	64	32
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	22600 millions	9400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	280 W	105 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	3200	3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	2MB
L2 cache	16MB	8MB
L3 cache	128MB	64MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	100-000000011 100-100000011WOF	100-000000059 100-100000059WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is 8% better than Ryzen 9 5950X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has 16 more core than Ryzen 9 5950X. 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 3970X is better: 21
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is better: 11
All the number that you have looked at here 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 3970X and AMD Ryzen 9 5950X before making a decision which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 9 5950X specs and review.