Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, programming, video editing, rendering, streaming. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as PassMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, MATLAB, SuperPi, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 3DMark, UserBenchmark, WPrime, VeraCrypt, Prime95, Blender, Furmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Handbrake, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, 7zip, PCMark 10, AIDA64, RealBench.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X or Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M.

Summary benchmark results

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

Xeon Platinum 8260M

60%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

69%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is 13% better than Xeon Platinum 8260M. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Xeon Platinum 8260M

69%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

65%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	121.9	115.8
Valorant	138.5	131.6
Cyberpunk 2077	77.6	73.7
Apex Legends	130.2	123.7
Call of Duty Warzone	103.9	98.7
Overwatch	112.2	106.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	95.6	90.8
DOOM Eternal	69.3	65.8
Warzone	108.1	102.7
Assassin's Creed	116.4	110.6
Valheim	115.0	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 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: 4K, 2K 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Xeon Platinum 8260M

21%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

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 Xeon Platinum 8260M is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X since it has less power consumption: 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will find out 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 use only one core to run, 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 Xeon Platinum 8260M	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	211	209
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5808	7398
Cinbench 20 Single-core	366	509
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	14048	17444
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1239	1270
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	35899	47102

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

	Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Single-Core	2291	2686
Multi-Core	34071	64446

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

	Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Single-Core	1071	1312
Multi-Core	33238	27290

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. 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 can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Announcement date	October 01, 2020	November 25, 2019
Type	Server	Desktop
Socket	LGA3647	sTRX4
Core name	Cascade Lake	Castle Peak
Architecture	x86	Zen 2
Generation	2	3
Turbo Frequency	3.9 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	2.3 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	24	32
Threads	48	64
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	7510 millions	22600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	280 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4
Max. Memory	1 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache		2MB
L2 cache		16MB
L3 cache	35.75 MB	128MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	Yes	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 37% better than Xeon Platinum 8260M in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has 8 more core than Xeon Platinum 8260M. 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 Xeon Platinum 8260M is better: 18
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is better: 18
Although it should be understood that all the number in the text above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X before making a choice which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X specs and review.