Intel Core i9-10980XE vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Perhaps you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-10980XE vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and understand which is better for games or normal use for programming, video editing, streaming, machine learning, rendering. Here is all information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special test applications such as World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PCMark 10, RealBench, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), GeekBench 6, 5.2, PassMark, Blender, MATLAB, UserBenchmark, AIDA64, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, 3DMark, Blender, Prime95, Furmark, Handbrake, SuperPi, WPrime, 7zip, VeraCrypt.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X or Intel Core i9-10980XE.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i9-10980XE

60%

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 13% better than Core i9-10980XE. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10980XE

61%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

65%

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 play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think 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 less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: DOTA 2A, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, Metro Exodus, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), League of Legends (LOL), Control, Monster Hunter World, Ghostrunner, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Microsoft Flight Simulator, NBA 2K20, Hitman 3, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	108.7	115.8
Valorant	123.5	131.6
Cyberpunk 2077	69.2	73.7
Apex Legends	116.1	123.7
Call of Duty Warzone	92.6	98.7
Overwatch	100.0	106.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.2	90.8
DOOM Eternal	61.8	65.8
Warzone	96.3	102.7
Assassin's Creed	103.7	110.6
Valheim	102.5	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 participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with 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. 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

Core i9-10980XE

28%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

15%

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 i9-10980XE is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X as it consumes less power: 165W vs. 280W. 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU uses all threads and cores 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 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

	Intel Core i9-10980XE	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	211	209
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3800	7398
Cinbench 20 Single-core	480	509
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	8848	17444
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1191	1270
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	24309	47102

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

	Intel Core i9-10980XE	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Single-Core	2626	2686
Multi-Core	34005	64446

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

	Intel Core i9-10980XE	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Single-Core	1417	1312
Multi-Core	20280	27290

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 can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-10980XE	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Announcement date	October 01, 2019	November 25, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	sTRX4
Core name	Cascade Lake	Castle Peak
Architecture	x86	Zen 2
Generation	10	3
Turbo Frequency	4.8 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	18	32
Threads	36	64
Bus rate	8 GT/s DMI3
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	9200 millions	22600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	280 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4
Max. Memory	256 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	94 GB/s
L1 cache		2MB
L2 cache		16MB
L3 cache	24.75 MB	128MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		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 3970X is 18% better than Core i9-10980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has 14 more core than Core i9-10980XE. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10980XE is better: 9
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is better: 28
Although it should be understood that all the number in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i9-10980XE and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X before deciding which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i9-10980XE specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X specs and review.