Intel Core i9-7980XE vs AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   If you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i9-7980XE vs AMD Ryzen 9 3950X tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, streaming, programming, video editing, rendering. Here is all information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like SuperPi, RealBench, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Prime95, VeraCrypt, Blender, PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, MATLAB, WPrime, AIDA64, 7zip, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 3950X or Intel Core i9-7980XE.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-7980XE

58%

Ryzen 9 3950X

61%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 9 3950X is 4% better than Core i9-7980XE. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-7980XE

60%

Ryzen 9 3950X

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	107.0	103.7
Valorant	121.6	117.9
Cyberpunk 2077	68.1	66.0
Apex Legends	114.3	110.8
Call of Duty Warzone	91.2	88.4
Overwatch	98.5	95.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.9	81.3
DOOM Eternal	60.8	58.9
Warzone	94.9	91.9
Assassin's Creed	102.2	99.0
Valheim	100.9	97.8

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. 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

Core i9-7980XE

23%

Ryzen 9 3950X

40%

To make a finishing choice 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 3950X is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7980XE as it consumes less power: 165W vs. 105W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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 first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because 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

	Intel Core i9-7980XE	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	184	217
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3455	3897
Cinbench 20 Single-core	446	531
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7671	9148
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1281	1371
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	28196	24050

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

	Intel Core i9-7980XE	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Single-Core	2490	2718
Multi-Core	29612	39170

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

	Intel Core i9-7980XE	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Single-Core	1158	1286
Multi-Core	18658	15407

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. 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 can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain 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.

	Intel Core i9-7980XE	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Announcement date	April 01, 2017	October 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	AM4
Core name	Skylake	Matisse
Architecture	x86	Zen 2
Generation	9	3
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	4.7 MHz
Frequency	2.6 MHz	3.5 MHz
Cores	18	16
Threads	36	32
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	7800 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	105 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s
L1 cache		1MB
L2 cache		8MB
L3 cache	24.75 MB	64MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000051 100-100000051WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 9 3950X is 25% better than Core i9-7980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7980XE has 2 more core than Ryzen 9 3950X. 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 i9-7980XE is better: 19
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 3950X is better: 17
However, it should be understood that the summary data that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i9-7980XE and AMD Ryzen 9 3950X before making a decision which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-7980XE specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 9 3950X specs and review.