Intel Core i9-7980XE vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-7980XE vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, rendering, programming, machine learning. Here is all information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as GeekBench 6, 5.2, WPrime, SuperPi, MATLAB, Prime95, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, VeraCrypt, 7zip, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, AIDA64, Blender, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, Handbrake, RealBench, PassMark, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX 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 Threadripper 2990WX

59%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 1% better than Core i9-7980XE. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-7980XE

60%

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

61%

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 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, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Control, Metro Exodus, Hitman 3, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Monster Hunter World, League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	107.0	107.8
Valorant	121.6	122.5
Cyberpunk 2077	68.1	68.6
Apex Legends	114.3	115.1
Call of Duty Warzone	91.2	91.8
Overwatch	98.5	99.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.9	84.5
DOOM Eternal	60.8	61.2
Warzone	94.9	95.5
Assassin's Creed	102.2	102.9
Valheim	100.9	101.6

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

Power consumption

Core i9-7980XE

23%

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

15%

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 Core i9-7980XE is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX since it has less power consumption: 165W vs. 250W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, video rendering or video editing, programming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that 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 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 Threadripper 2990WX
Cinbench 15 Single-core	184	174
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3455	5189
Cinbench 20 Single-core	446	398
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7671	11463
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1281	1103
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	28196	33213

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

	Intel Core i9-7980XE	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Single-Core	2490	2357
Multi-Core	29612	32318

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

	Intel Core i9-7980XE	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Single-Core	1158	1135
Multi-Core	18658	19382

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful 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 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 in the newest 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 i9-7980XE	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Announcement date	April 01, 2017	August 13, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	sTR4
Core name	Skylake	Colfax
Architecture	x86	Zen+
Generation	9	2
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	2.6 MHz	3 MHz
Cores	18	32
Threads	36	64
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	12 nm
Transistors count	7800 millions	18800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	250 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		2933
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s
L1 cache		3MB
L2 cache		16MB
L3 cache	24.75 MB	64MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		YD299XAZUIHAF YD299XAZAFWOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 13% better than Core i9-7980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 14 more core than Core i9-7980XE. 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: 10
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is better: 26
However, it should be understood that all the figures in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-7980XE and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX before making a decision which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-7980XE specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX specs and review.