AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs Intel Core i9-12900K: What is the difference?
55points
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
79points
Intel Core i9-12900K
i9-12900KF
Comparison winner
vs
63 facts in comparison
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Intel Core i9-12900K
Why is AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX better than Intel Core i9-12900K?
- 2.14x faster CPU speed?
32 x 3GHzvs8 x 3.2GHz & 8 x 2.4GHz - 40 more CPU threads?
64vs24 - 2MB bigger L2 cache?
16MBvs14MB - 34MB bigger L3 cache?
64MBvs30MB - 2 more memory channels?
4vs2 - Supports ECC memory?
Why is Intel Core i9-12900K better than AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX?
- 1867MHz higher ram speed?
4800MHzvs2933MHz - 32°C higher maximum operating temperature?
100°Cvs68°C - 2nm smaller semiconductor size?
10nmvs12nm - 1GHz higher turbo clock speed?
5.2GHzvs4.2GHz
- 125W lower TDP?
125Wvs250W - 2 newer version of PCI Express (PCIe)?
5vs3 - Has integrated graphics?
- Has NX bit?
Which are the most popular comparisons?
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
vs
Intel Core i5-1135G7
AMD Ryzen 3 5300U
vs
Intel Core i3-1115G4
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
AMD Ryzen 3 3250U
vs
Intel Core i3-1115G4
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
vs
Intel Core i7-11800H
Intel Core i3-1115G4
vs
Intel Core i5-1135G7
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
AMD Ryzen 7 5700U
vs
Intel Core i7-1165G7
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
vs
Intel Core i3-1115G4
Price comparison
User reviews
Overall Rating
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
0 User reviews
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
0.
0/10
0 User reviews
Intel Core i9-12900K
6 User reviews
Intel Core i9-12900K
8.7/10
6 User reviews
Features
Value for money
No reviews yet
7.8/10
6 votes
Gaming
No reviews yet
9.2/10
6 votes
Performance
No reviews yet
9.0/10
6 votes
Reliability
No reviews yet
8.5/10
6 votes
Energy efficiency
No reviews yet
7.5/10
6 votes
Performance
CPU speed
32 x 3GHz
8 x 3.2GHz & 8 x 2.4GHz
The CPU speed indicates how many processing cycles per second can be executed by a CPU, considering all of its cores (processing units). It is calculated by adding the clock rates of each core or, in the case of multi-core processors employing different microarchitectures, of each group of cores.
CPU threads
More threads result in faster performance and better multitasking.
turbo clock speed
4.2GHz
5.2GHz
When the CPU is running below its limitations, it can boost to a higher clock speed in order to give increased performance.
Has an unlocked multiplier
✔AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
✔Intel Core i9-12900K
Some processors come with an unlocked multiplier which makes them easy to overclock, allowing you to gain increased performance in games and other apps.
L2 cache
A larger L2 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L3 cache
A larger L3 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L1 cache
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-12900K)
A larger L1 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L2 core
0.5MB/core
Unknown.
Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-12900K)
More data can be stored in the L2 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
L3 core
2MB/core
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-12900K)
More data can be stored in the L3 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
Benchmarks
PassMark result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using multiple threads.
PassMark result (single)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using a single thread.
Geekbench 5 result (multi)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s multi-core performance.
(Source: Primate Labs, 2022)
Cinebench R20 (multi) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s multi-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
Cinebench R20 (single) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s single-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
Geekbench 5 result (single)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s single-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)
Blender (bmw27) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
(Intel Core i9-12900K)
The Blender (bmw27) benchmark measures the performance of a processor by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render the scene in less time.
Blender (classroom) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-12900K)
The Blender (classroom) benchmark measures the performance of a processor by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render the scene in less time.
performance per watt
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-12900K)
This means the CPU is more efficient, giving a greater amount of performance for each watt of power used.
Integrated graphics
GPU clock speed
∅
Not applicable
300MHz
The graphics processing unit (GPU) has a higher clock speed.
GPU turbo
∅
Not applicable
1550MHz
When the GPU is running below its limitations, it can boost to a higher clock speed in order to give increased performance.
GPU execution units
∅
Not applicable
A graphics processing unit (GPU) with a greater number of execution units can deliver better graphics.
supported displays
∅
Not applicable
Using multiple displays you can create a larger workspace, making it easier to work across multiple apps.
DirectX version
∅
Not applicable
DirectX is used in games, with newer versions supporting better graphics.
OpenGL version
∅
Not applicable
OpenGL is used in games, with newer versions supporting better graphics.
OpenCL version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
Some apps use OpenCL to apply the power of the graphics processing unit (GPU) for non-graphical computing. Newer versions introduce more functionality and better performance.
texture mapping units (TMUs)
∅
Not applicable
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-12900K)
TMUs take textures and map them to the geometry of a 3D scene. More TMUs will typically mean that texture information is processed faster.
render output units (ROPs)
∅
Not applicable
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-12900K)
The ROPs are responsible for some of the final steps of the rendering process, writing the final pixel data to memory and carrying out other tasks such as anti-aliasing to improve the look of graphics.
Memory
RAM speed
2933MHz
4800MHz
It can support faster memory, which will give quicker system performance.
maximum memory bandwidth
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
76.8GB/s
This is the maximum rate that data can be read from or stored into memory.
DDR memory version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
DDR (Double Data Rate) memory is the most common type of RAM. Newer versions of DDR memory support higher maximum speeds and are more energy-efficient.
memory channels
More memory channels increases the speed of data transfer between the memory and the CPU.
maximum memory amount
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
The maximum amount of memory (RAM) supported.
bus transfer rate
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-12900K)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
Supports ECC memory
✔AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
✖Intel Core i9-12900K
Error-correcting code memory can detect and correct data corruption. It is used when is it essential to avoid corruption, such as scientific computing or when running a server.
eMMC version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-12900K)
A higher version of eMMC allows faster memory interfaces, having a positive effect on the performance of a device. For example, when transferring files from your computer to the internal storage over USB.
bus speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-12900K)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
Features
uses multithreading
✔AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
✔Intel Core i9-12900K
Multithreading technology (such as Intel’s Hyperthreading or AMD’s Simultaneous Multithreading) provides increased performance by splitting each of the processor’s physical cores into virtual cores, also known as threads. This way, each core can run two instruction streams at once.
Has AES
✔AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
✔Intel Core i9-12900K
AES is used to speed up encryption and decryption.
Has AVX
✔AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
✔Intel Core i9-12900K
AVX is used to help speed up calculations in multimedia, scientific and financial apps, as well as improving Linux RAID software performance.
SSE version
SSE is used to speed up multimedia tasks such as editing an image or adjusting audio volume. Each new version contains new instructions and improvements.
Has F16C
✔AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
✔Intel Core i9-12900K
F16C is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
bits executed at a time
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-12900K)
NEON provides acceleration for media processing, such as listening to MP3s.
Has MMX
✔AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
✔Intel Core i9-12900K
MMX is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
Has TrustZone
✖AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
✖Intel Core i9-12900K
A technology integrated into the processor to secure the device for use with features such as mobile payments and streaming video using digital rights management (DRM).
front-end width
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-12900K)
The CPU can decode more instructions per clock (IPC), meaning that the CPU performs better
Price comparison
Which are the best CPUs?
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs. Intel Core i9-9980XE: Which High-End Desktop CPU Is Best?
AMD and Intel have both scaled up the core count of their flagship processors recently. AMD shook up the desktop processor market with the launch of its initial Ryzen Threadripper lineup in 2017, forcing Intel to respond. Now we’re into the second post-Threadripper generation and the competition is getting serious, with Intel firing off an 18-core/36-thread Core i9-9980XE to combat AMD’s 32-core/64-thread beast, the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX.
Does Intel’s latest CPU have what it takes to keep AMD’s best off the top of the HEDT (High-End Desktop chip) mountain? Let’s explore.
Features
AMD’s Threadripper processors excel at heavily multi-threaded workloads thanks to their high core counts. The entry-level Threadripper CPU offers 12 cores and 24 threads for your computing needs, and the top-of-the-line Threadripper 2990WX has three times that many threads to work with.
Due to its unique design, the extra cores on the 2990WX come at the cost of memory throughput and single-threaded performance. As a general rule, CPU clock speeds decrease as core counts grow. As such, the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX’s base clock is only 3GHz, 500MHz less than then 16-core AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X. AMD also limited the maximum boost clock to 4.2GHz on the 2990WX, which is 200MHz slower than the top speed of the 16-core 2950WX.
The Threadripper 2990WX is built in a quad-die layout, which is effectively two dual-die Threadripper 2950X processors in one multi-chip module. Unfortunately, AMD’s Zen+ architecture doesn’t allow all four dies to communicate directly with memory controllers, which limits the performance of the second half of the processor on certain memory-intensive tasks.
AMD’s Threadripper 2990WX lacks memory throughput, but it does support corruption-preventing error-correcting code (ECC) memory, which Intel’s Core i9-9980XE does not support. Intel restricts ECC support to its Xeon-class processor lineup to differentiate its enthusiast-class processors from its enterprise-class offerings. AMD’s processors also natively accept DDR4-2933, whereas Intel’s platform is officially limited to DDR4-2666. Both platforms support quad-channel memory configurations.
Like AMD’s other Zen/Zen+ processors, the Threadripper 2990WX features the company’s Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) technology, which dynamically adjusts the CPUs parameters to match the current workload and power delivery environment. PBO ensures the CPU always operates at its maximum efficiency and performance output. Think of it as an automated overclocking feature that will extract the most performance possible from the silicon given the capabilities of your motherboard, cooler and power supply.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| CPU | Intel Core i9-9980XE | Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX |
| Socket | LGA 2066 | TR4 |
| Cores / Threads | 18 / 36 | 32 / 64 |
| TDP | 165W | 250W |
| Base Frequency | 3.0 GHz | 3.0 GHz |
| Max Boost Frequency | 4.4 (Turbo Boost 2.0) / 4.5 GHz (Turbo Boost 3.0) | 4.2 GHz (Precision Boost Overdrive) |
| L3 Cache | 24.75MB | 64MB |
| Integrated Graphics | No | No |
| Graphics Base/Turbo (MHz) | N/A | N/A |
| Memory Support | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2933 (Varies) |
| Memory Controller | Quad-Channel | Quad-Channel |
| Unlocked Multiplier | Yes | Yes |
| PCIe Lanes | 44 | 64 (Four to the chipset) |
| Architecture | Skylake-X | Zen+ |
Intel’s Core i9-9980XE is built on a refresh of the company’s Skylake-X series.
The new processor features 18 physical cores and 36 logical threads, just like the outgoing Core i9-7980XE. But the i9-9980XE features Solder-based Thermal Interface Material (Solder-TIM), which improves heat dissipation. As a result, the new processor features a 3GHz base clock, which is up 400MHz from the Core i9-7980XE.
Intel’s Core i9-9980XE also supports the company’s Turbo Boost 3.0 technology, which increases the clock speed of the CPU when extra performance is warranted. The Core i9-9980XE boosts to different clock speeds depending on the number of cores in use. With 1-2 cores, you can expect 4.5GHz; 3-4 cores can hit 4.2GHz; and with between five and 12 cores active, you should see 4.1GHz. Once you start using more than 13-cores concurrently, the boost clock will dip below 4GHz, and with final two cores active, the CPU will top out at 3.8Ghz.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Active Cores | 1 -2 | 3 — 4 | 5 — 12 | 13 — 16 | 17 — 18 |
| Core i9-9980XE Turbo Boost | 4. 5 |
4.2 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
Winner: AMD. AMD’s Threadripper 2990WX offers almost twice as many cores as Intel’s Core i9-9980XE. It supports ECC memory, and it natively accepts faster memory modules. The 2990WX also boasts 20 more PCIe lanes for bandwidth-intensive components like graphics and NVMe storage, and more than twice as much L3 cache as Intel’s flagship.
Overclocking
If you’re building a workstation-class PC for mission critical tasks, you really shouldn’t be overclocking your processor. However, that won’t stop enthusiasts with deep pockets from buying the highest-end chips, which means there is a subset of customers that will push the limits of even top-of-the-line processors.
If overclocking is what you’re after, Intel’s platform can hit higher maximum clock speeds. AMD presses its silicon near the limits of its capabilities at stock settings, so there often isn’t much overclocking headroom.
That trend doesn’t change with the high-end Threadripper lineup.
AMD’s Precision Boost Overdrive technology dynamically adjusts the clock rate and CPU voltage to match the given workload. And in our experience, it does a better job at maintaining a good balance of higher single- and multi-core boost frequencies than manually adjusting the motherboard’s parameters in the BIOS.
In most of our test suite, Intel’s i9-9980XE at stock clocks outperforms our overclocked Threadripper 2990WX. But the Core i9-9980XE requires a lot more manual finesse to reach the CPU’s highest overclocking potential. You can overclock the Core i9-9980XE, but you’ll be tightly restricted by your cooling solution. You’ll also need high-end components, like a top-notch power supply, motherboard and cooler, to reach the heights of Core i9-9980XE overclocking.
Winner: Tie If you want to overclock your processor, Intel’s platform will yield higher performance gains than a Threadripper processor, but you’ll have to pay dearly for the extra performance.
Plan to spend copious amounts of money on premium components to unlock the best the silicon has to offer.
AMD’s overclocking headroom isn’t nearly as high, but you’ll be able to squeeze out gains in several areas without resorting to exotic cooling solutions. Also, don’t underestimate the advantages of AMD’s PBO, an automated overclocking feature that makes extreme tuning an absolute snap.
Cooling Requirements
Both Intel and AMD enable overclocking on their top-of-the line desktop processors, but keeping these CPUs cool is no easy task–especially once you start cranking up the voltage. Don’t expect an off-the-shelf air cooler to keep the temperatures in line on either chip under heavy workloads if you push the core frequency beyond the stock settings.
Our Intel Core i9-9980XE was stable at 4.4GHz with a Corsair h215i cooler, but the processor was sitting around 95 degrees Celsius after running a benchmark test in Blender. If you’re serious about overclocking one of Intel’s extreme edition processors, plan to build a custom water-cooling loop to expel the heat efficiently.
AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX doesn’t produce as much heat as Intel’s flagship processor when overclocked, but you should still spring for a liquid-cooling system to keep the temperatures in check. In our tests, we managed to run the Threadripper 2990WX with an oversized air cooler, and we even enabled AMD Power Boost Overdrive (PBO). But the fan had to spin at full speed to keep up, which made for a noisy computing environment.
We had good results with a Corsair h215i dual-fan closed-loop cooler with AMD’s top chip, but we would still recommend a custom loop if you plan to push a Threadripper 2990WX to its limits for extended periods.
Winner: AMD. Intel recommends liquid cooling as a minimum requirement for stock operation of the Core i9-9980XE. Meanwhile, AMD recommends an air cooler for its Threadripper 2990WX. You can get away with an air cooler for the Threadripper 2990WX, but better coolers can extract more performance when overclocking.
Motherboard Options
AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper processors must be paired with an expensive X399-based motherboard with a TR4 CPU socket.
Asus, Gigabyte, MSI and ASRock make boards for AMD’s Threadripper lineup, but none of AMD’s partners make a budget option. Expect to pay at least $270 for an X399 motherboard, but some models sell for upwards of $700.
X399 motherboards often come equipped with four 16x/8x PCIe slots with support 4-way SLI and Crossfire setups, high-end audio, Wi-Fi, and network adapters—and you’d be hard pressed to find one without multiple m.2 slots. X399 motherboards are usually well equipped for overclocking with high-quality MOSFETs, VRMs and capacitors and a high level of copper content in the circuitry. In short, Threadripper motherboards are among the best available, but they carry price tags that match their feature sets.
AMD released the X399 chipset alongside the first-generation Ryzen Threadripper processors, and all first-generation motherboards support the second-generation Threadripper processors.
Intel’s Core i9-9980XE also pairs with an existing chipset and fits into an existing socket.
Intel reused the X299 chipset for the new i9 chip, which means there are dozens of motherboards on the market that support Intel’s new flagship processor.
Many of the X299 motherboards that you can buy cost as much or more than the average X399 motherboard. However, we’ve seen X299 motherboards sell for under $180 (and one for as low as $99 ), and there are several options available in the $200 to $250 range, which makes Intel’s motherboards somewhat more accessible than AMD’s.
The higher-priced X299 motherboards offer the same high-end options as AMD’s X399 motherboards, but if you’re not interested in overclocking your CPU to its limits, you don’t need an 8-layer PCB with overweight copper circuitry. And if you don’t like RGB lighting, you can still find X299 motherboards that don’t have on-board blinkers.
Winner: Intel. If you’re in the market for a $1800+ processor, we would not recommend skimping out on a cheap motherboard. However, we must give Intel the advantage here simply for the fact that it gives its customers the option to avoid flashy features that they don’t need.
There are also many more choices if you’re shopping for an Intel board, as well.
Gaming Performance
We’ll be blunt here: If you’re just looking for a gaming CPU, you should probably look elsewhere. These chips are just too expensive to be worthwhile for gamers. Even if you have money to burn, an Intel Core i9-9900K is objectively the better option than either a Core i9-9980XE or a Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX. But if you need one of these CPUs for productivity reasons, it doesn’t hurt to know that when the workday is over, you can enjoy some high-performance gaming.
Both CPUs in this showdown will do just fine for your gaming needs, but Intel’s Core i9-9980XE is unquestionably the stronger contender for gaming workloads. We haven’t even tested the overclocked gaming performance of Intel’s new flagship CPU, and it already enjoys a top-three slot in most of our game benchmarks.
Far Cry 5
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Grand Theft Auto V
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Middle-earth: Shadow Of War
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Hitman
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[Note that we didn’t re-publish our full gaming test results here.
For all our gaming results between the Core i9-9980XE and the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX, see our review of the Core i9-9980XE.]
AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX isn’t as powerful as Intel’s flagship CPU in gaming workloads at sub-4K resolutions, but it’s certainly capable of running games well. The 2990WX performs roughly on par with AMD Ryzen 5 2600X with the frame rate falling within a few FPS for most of our test suite, including Far Cry 5, GTA V, Hitman and Project Cars 2.
Shadow of War leans heavier on GPU horsepower than the processor, so we don’t see large deltas between the fastest and slowest CPUs. This is a reminder that many games are limited by a GPU bottleneck.
Keep in mind that once you start raising your gaming resolutions above 1080p resolution, these performance differences tend to shrink as the GPU becomes the bottleneck. When gaming at 4K with the same high-end graphics card, frame rates between the Intel and AMD CPUs here tends to be about the same.
Winner: Intel. The Core i9-9980XE is much stronger than AMD’s Threadripper 2990WX for gaming workloads, but if you buy one of these CPUs just for gaming, you’re missing the point—and wasting your money.
Productivity Performance
A high-core count processor isn’t the most efficient option for most lightly-threaded office productivity tasks, so neither the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX nor the Intel Core i9-9980XE excel in our office productivity tests.
Intel’s Extreme Edition i9 consistently outpaces AMD’s Threadripper 2990WX in Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite, but lower-cost processors from both companies walk all over these flagship CPUs for these tasks.
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Intel’s i9-9980XE also lands in the middle of the pack of our web browsing tests, including Kraken JavaScript Benchmark, WebXPRT and MotionMark 1.0. AMD’s Threadripper 2990WX lands at the bottom of the pack.
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The Threadripper 2990WX outperformed the i9-9980XE in our PCMark 10 photo editing test.
But in every other test, Intel’s processor took the lead.
Winner: Intel. The Core i9-9980XE is not a good value for productivity workloads, but compared to the Threadripper 2990WX, Intel’s processor is the superior option. That said, if lightweight office work is your primary use for your computer, there are other more-affordable options (from Intel or AMD) that would be a better choice.
Rendering
AMD’s Threadripper 2990WX trails Intel’s Core i9-9980XE in most productivity tasks, but the tables turn when you bring rendering and encoding performance into the mix. The extra cores available with AMD’s Threadripper processor handily outperform Intel’s best processor in heavily multi-threaded workloads.
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The Threadripper 2990WX is hands-down the fastest desktop processor that we’ve tested in the POV-RAY raytracing benchmark, with the overclocked Threadripper shaving 12 seconds off the 36-second rendering time that the Core i9-9980XE pulled off.
The Threadripper 2990WX also returned the highest score we’ve ever seen in Cinebench R15 for a desktop processor. With PBO disabled, our 2990WX sample achieved 5175 CB points, which is more then 1,400 points higher than the stock clocked Core i9-9980XE.
Intel’s Core i9-9980XE trampled over AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX in single-threaded rendering tasks, but there’s no reason to buy one of these CPUs just for single-threaded applications.
Winner: AMD. AMD’s Threadripper 2990WX excels in applications that can address all the cores and don’t require high single-core performance. And video rendering happens to be one of the best examples of just such a heavily threaded task.
Encoding & Compression
AMD’s platform is far superior for video rendering, but Intel’s platform favors video and audio encoding. If you convert video into different formats with Handbrake, you can save yourself a lot of time with an i9-9980XE compared to a Threadripper 2990WX.
Our i9-9980XE sample encoded a 4.19GB MKV file into an MP4 format in 439 seconds, whereas our Threadripper 2990WX required 595 seconds for the same job.
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The Intel processor also outperformed our Threadripper while converting a .WAV file to MP3 using LAME, which isn’t surprising because audio encoding is largely a single-threaded operation.
The Threadripper 2990WX also suffers in some workloads, such as multi-core compression, due to memory bandwidth limitations and software/operating systems that aren’t designed to accommodate the unique architecture.
Winner: Intel. Intel’s Core i9-9980XE has fewer threads to tackle the big multi-threaded jobs like video rendering and encoding, which cripples its ability to compete with the 2990WX in those types of tasks. But Intel’s superior per-thread performance gives it the edge in tasks that don’t scale well across many computational threads.
Value Proposition
No matter how you slice it, an Intel i9 Extreme Edition or Threadripper WX CPU doesn’t represent a good value for your money if you’re running mundane desktop applications.
But that’s not what these processors are for. If you’re in the market for a great value on a high-end CPU for common tasks, look for a consumer-level processor, such as a Core i9-9900K or a Ryzen 2700X. If you’re looking for a workhorse CPU that can handle anything your throw at it, expect performance to be prioritized much more more than price.
If we keep the comparison strictly between the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX and the Core i9-9980XE, the choice is clear. AMD’s processor offers more cores and more threads for heavily multi-threaded applications than Intel’s high-end offering, and it costs less to pick up.
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Intel’s processors offer faster single-threaded performance than AMD’s processors. But if you’re only worried about single-thread performance, you probably shouldn’t be shopping for a processor with 18-plus cores.
Winner: AMD. The Threadripper 2990WX’s 32 cores and 64 threads make it an incredible bargain, even with a $1,700+ price tag.
AMD’s platform is still a better overall value after factoring the extra cost of an X399 motherboard compared to an Intel X299 board.
When we started putting this comparison together, we were pretty sure AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX would come out on top. After all, we concluded that Intel’s Core i9-9980XE is “too expensive” and “has a hard time scrapping with AMD’s fastest Ryzen Threadripper models.”
But, we’d argue that most people buying a CPU of this caliber probably aren’t doing so primarily for the gaming performance—they certainly shouldn’t be. And if office productivity such as word processing, web browsing and mainstream photo editing is your primary goal, there’s no reason to consider a HEDT platform. If you eliminate those two criteria from our comparison, AMD’s Threadripper 2990WX comes out on top as the best high-performance desktop processor.
But if you zoom out and assume that you want the best of everything after paying an astounding premium for this class of hardware, then we come to a dead heat.
That leaves you to make the decision based on which of these categories are more important to you in your daily use. Each processor has its benefits, but the Intel processor does offer the best balance of single- and multi-threaded performance, largely because you won’t encounter the few worrying performance hiccups born of the Threadripper 2990WX’s unique design.
Conversely, if your workloads fit into certain buckets, such as heavily-threaded rendering applications, Threadripper 2990WX delivers a real tangible benefit and you get more cores for less money.
Between these two stupid-expensive chips, it’s a tie. But the best overall chip for most HEDT customers is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X, because it brings you all the goodness of the Threadripper platform for hundreds less than these top-end monster chips. You still get 32 computing threads, plus higher clocks than the 2990WX and fewer memory latency issues due to a lower module / core count. At $899 (and sometimes less if you can find it on sale) the 2950X is an astounding performer and our current favorite HEDT CPU.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Round | Intel Core i9-9980XE | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX |
| Features | Row 1 — Cell 1 | ✗ |
| Overclocking | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cooling Requirements | Row 3 — Cell 1 | ✗ |
| Motherboards | ✗ | Row 4 — Cell 2 |
| Gaming Performance | ✗ | Row 5 — Cell 2 |
| Productivity Performance | ✗ | Row 6 — Cell 2 |
| Rendering | Row 7 — Cell 1 | ✗ |
| Encoding & Compression | ✗ | Row 8 — Cell 2 |
| Value | Row 9 — Cell 1 | ✗ |
| Total | 5 | 5 |
MORE: Best CPUs
MORE: Intel & AMD Processor Hierarchy
MORE: All CPUs Content
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Intel Core i9-9980XE
Kevin Carbotte is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware who primarily covers VR and AR hardware.
He has been writing for us for more than four years.
Topics
Components
CPUs
Intel Core i9 9960X vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX:
performance comparison
VS
Intel Core i9 9960X
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Which is better: 16-core Intel Core i9 9960X at 3.1 GHz or AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX with 32 cores at 3.0 GHz? To find out, read our comparative testing of these desktop processors in popular benchmarks, games and heavy applications.
- Overview
- Differences
- Performance
- Features
- Comments
Overview
Overview and comparison of the main metrics from NanoReview
Single -flow performance
Rating in tests using one nucleus
Core i9 9960x
52 52
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
46
Multi -flow productivity
Tests in the benchmarks, where all nuclei 9 are involved0024
What are the main differences between 2990WX and 9960X
Reasons to choose Intel Core i9 9960X
- 34% lower than Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX peak power consumption of 165 vs 250 watts
- Over 17°C higher maximum operating temperature
- 20% faster in single core vbench5 test – 1176 and 979 points
- 5% higher frequency in Turbo Boost (4.
4 GHz vs. 4.2 GHz)
Reasons to choose AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
- Supports up to 2048 GB DDR4-2933
- Has 42 MB more L3 cache
- Has 16 more physical cores
- More modern process technology — 12 vs 14 nanometers
Benchmark tests
Compare the results of processor tests in benchmarks
Cinebench R23 (single core)
Core i9 9960X
+7%
1079
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
1013
Cinebench R23 (multi-core)
Core i9 9960X
17967
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
+66%
29881
Passmark CPU (single core)
Core i9 9960X
+14%
2612
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
2295
Passmark CPU (multi -core)
Core i9 9960x
30726
Ryzen Threadripper 2990wx
+6%
32671
Geekbench 5 (single core)
Core i9 9960X
+20%
1178
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
981
Geekbench 5 (multi -core)
Core i9 9960x
15360
Ryzen Threadaripper 2990wx
+14%
17553
▶️ Add your score to Cinebench R23
Specifications
List of full specifications for Intel Core i9 9960X and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
General information
| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |
| Release date | October 8, 2018 | August 13, 2018 |
| Type | Desktop | Desktop |
| Instruction set architecture | x86-64 | x86-64 |
| Codename | Skylake | Zen+ |
| Model number | i9-9960X | — |
| Socket | LGA-2066 | sTR4 |
| Integrated graphics | No | No |
Capacity
| Number of cores | 16 | 32 |
| Number of threads | 32 | 64 |
| Frequency | 3. 1 GHz |
3.0 GHz |
| Max. frequency in Turbo Boost | 4.4 GHz | 4.2 GHz |
| Bus frequency | — | 100 MHz |
| Multiplier | — | 30x |
| Bus speed | 8 GT/s | — |
| Level 1 cache | 32KB (per core) | 96KB (per core) |
| Level 2 cache | 1MB (per core) | 512KB (per core) |
| Level 3 cache | 22MB (shared) | 64MB (shared) |
| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | Yes |
Power consumption
| Number of transistors | — | 19.2 billion |
| Process | 14 nanometers | 12 nanometers |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 165 W | 250 W |
| Critical temperature | 85°C | 68°C |
Memory support
| Memory type | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2933 |
Max. size |
128 GB | 2048 GB |
| Number of channels | 4 | 4 |
| Max. bandwidth | — | 87.42 GB/s |
| ECC support | No | Yes |
Other
| Site Intel Core i9 9960X | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX | |
| PCI Express Version | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Max. PCI Express lanes | 44 | 60 |
| Extended instructions | SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX-2, AVX-512 | — |
Poll
What processor do you think is the best?
Core i9 9960x
0 (0%)
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
2 (100%)
Voted in total: 2
Intel Core 10980xe against AMD Ryzen ThreaAdripPPPPPPPPPER
VS
Intel Core i9 10980XE
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Which is better: 18-core Intel Core i9 10980XE at 3.
0 GHz or AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX with 32 cores at 3.0 GHz? To find out, read our comparative testing of these desktop processors in popular benchmarks, games and heavy applications.
- Overview
- Differences
- Performance
- Features
- Comments
Overview
Overview and comparison of the main metrics from NanoReview
Single-threaded performance
Rating in tests using a single core
Core i9 10980XE
54
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
46
Multi-threaded performance
66
Key differences
What are the main differences between 2990WX and 10980XE
Reasons to choose Intel Core i9 10980XE
- 34% lower than Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX peak power consumption — 165 vs 250 watts
- Arrived 1 year and 2 months later than rival temp
- 28% faster in single core Geekbench v5 — 1252 and 979 points
- 10% higher frequency in Turbo Boost (4.
6 GHz vs. 4.2 GHz)
Reasons to choose AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
- Supports up to 2048 GB of DDR4-2933
- Has 39 MB more L3 cache
- Has 14 more physical cores
- vs.
Benchmark tests
Compare the results of processor tests in benchmarks
Cinebench R23 (single core)
Core i9 10980XE
+8%
1089
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
1013
Cinebench R23 (multi -core)
Core i9 10980xe
17651
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
+69%
29881
Passmark CPU (single core)
Core i9 10980XE
+17%
2677
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
2295
Passmark CPU (multi-core)
Core i9 10980XE
+2%
33225
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
32671
Geekbench 5 (single core)
Core i9 10980XE
+28%
1254
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
981
Geekbench 5 (multi -core)
Core i9 10980xe
17379
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
+1%
17553
▶️ Add your score to Cinebench R23
Specifications
List of full technical specifications for Intel Core i9 10980XE and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
General information
| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |
| Release date | October 7, 2019 | August 13, 2018 |
| Type | Desktop | Desktop |
| Instruction set architecture | x86-64 | x86-64 |
| Codename | Cascade Lake | Zen+ |
| Model number | i9-10980XE | — |
| Socket | LGA-2066 | sTR4 |
| Integrated graphics | No | No |
Performance
| Cores | 18 | 32 |
| Number of threads | 36 | 64 |
| Frequency | 3. 0 GHz |
3.0 GHz |
| Max. frequency in Turbo Boost | 4.6 GHz | 4.2 GHz |
| Bus frequency | 100 MHz | 100 MHz |
| Multiplier | 30x | 30x |
| Level 1 cache | 64KB (per core) | 96KB (per core) |
| Level 2 cache | 1MB (per core) | 512KB (per core) |
| Level 3 cache | 25MB (shared) | 64MB (shared) |
| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | Yes |
Power consumption
| Number of transistors | — | 19.2 billion |
| Process | 14 nanometers | 12 nanometers |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 165 W | 250 W |
| Critical temperature | 86°C | 68°C |
Memory support
| Memory type | DDR4-2933 | DDR4-2933 |
Max.
|