AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X tests and see which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, machine learning, rendering, programming. Here you can find useful information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step 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 such as 3DMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, 7zip, GeekBench 6, 5.2, VeraCrypt, RealBench, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, AIDA64, Furmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, Handbrake, PassMark, MATLAB, Prime95, WPrime, UserBenchmark, Gears 5, PCMark 10.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X or AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X.

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 3970X

69%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

74%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is 6% better than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

65%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

71%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you 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: Shadow of the Tomb Raider, DOTA 2A, Monster Hunter World, League of Legends (LOL), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Hitman 3, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghostrunner, Metro Exodus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Battlefield V, NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Half-Life: Alyx, Control, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	115.8	126.3
Valorant	131.6	143.5
Cyberpunk 2077	73.7	80.4
Apex Legends	123.7	134.9
Call of Duty Warzone	98.7	107.6
Overwatch	106.6	116.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	90.8	99.0
DOOM Eternal	65.8	71.8
Warzone	102.7	111.9
Assassin's Creed	110.6	120.6
Valheim	109.3	119.1

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: FullHD, 2K 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

15%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

15%

Software benchmarks

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, streaming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the processor uses all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit 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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	209	200
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	7398	10542
Cinbench 20 Single-core	509	495
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	17444	24763
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1270	1254
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	47102	74422

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Single-Core	2686	2528
Multi-Core	64446	81559

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

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Single-Core	1312	1341
Multi-Core	27290	37544

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 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, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Announcement date	November 25, 2019	February 07, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	sTRX4	sTRX4
Core name	Castle Peak	Castle Peak
Architecture	Zen 2	Zen 2
Generation	3	3
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	4.3 MHz
Frequency	3.7 MHz	2.9 MHz
Cores	32	64
Threads	64	128
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	22600 millions	22600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	280 W	280 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	3200	3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	2MB	4MB
L2 cache	16MB	32MB
L3 cache	128MB	256MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	100-000000011 100-100000011WOF	100-000000163 100-100000163WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is 21% better than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 3990X has 32 more core than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X. 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 3970X is better: 6
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is better: 23
Although it should be understood that all the number in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X specs and review.