AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X vs AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X vs AMD Ryzen 9 5900X tests and see which is better for games or normal use for video editing, machine learning, rendering, streaming, programming. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or various benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like VeraCrypt, Gears 5, AIDA64, Prime95, MATLAB, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, Handbrake, SuperPi, Blender, UserBenchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, Furmark, 7zip, DaVinci Resolve Studio, RealBench, 3DMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PCMark 10, WPrime.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 5900X or AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X.

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 3990X

74%

Ryzen 9 5900X

61%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is 17% better than Ryzen 9 5900X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

71%

Ryzen 9 5900X

58%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. 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. 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 other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Shadow of the Tomb Raider, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Ghostrunner, DOTA 2A, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Control, Half-Life: Alyx, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4, Monster Hunter World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Hitman 3, League of Legends (LOL), Battlefield V.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	126.3	102.7
Valorant	143.5	116.7
Cyberpunk 2077	80.4	65.3
Apex Legends	134.9	109.7
Call of Duty Warzone	107.6	87.5
Overwatch	116.2	94.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	99.0	80.5
DOOM Eternal	71.8	58.3
Warzone	111.9	91.0
Assassin's Creed	120.6	98.0
Valheim	119.1	96.8

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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

15%

Ryzen 9 5900X

51%

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 Ryzen 9 5900X is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X as it consumes less power: 280W vs. 105W. 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

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, 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 find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because 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 3990X	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	200	270
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	10542	3684
Cinbench 20 Single-core	495	637
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	24763	8468
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1254	1622
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	74422	21878

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Single-Core	2528	3470
Multi-Core	81559	39428

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Single-Core	1341	1612
Multi-Core	37544	14387

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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of 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 there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Announcement date	February 07, 2020	November 05, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	sTRX4	AM4
Core name	Castle Peak	Vermeer
Architecture	Zen 2	Zen 3
Generation	3	4
Turbo Frequency	4.3 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	2.9 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	64	12
Threads	128	24
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	4MB
L2 cache	32MB	6MB
L3 cache	256MB	64MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	100-000000163 100-100000163WOF	100-000000061 100-100000061WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 9 5900X is 21% better than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 3990X has 52 more core than Ryzen 9 5900X. 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 3990X is better: 20
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is better: 12
However, it should be realized that all the number that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X and AMD Ryzen 9 5900X before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 9 5900X specs and review.