AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs Intel Core i9-7980XE

Comparative analysis of AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and Intel Core i9-7980XE processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 10 month(s) later
  • Around 109424% higher clock speed: 4600 MHz vs 4.20 GHz
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 7 nm vs 14 nm
  • 2.6x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 57% lower typical power consumption: 105 Watt vs 165 Watt
  • Around 9% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2707 vs 2484
  • Around 8% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 32665 vs 30228
  • Around 8% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1276 vs 1177
Specifications (specs)
Launch date 7 July 2019 vs September 2017
Maximum frequency 4600 MHz vs 4.20 GHz
Manufacturing process technology 7 nm vs 14 nm
L3 cache 64 MB vs 25344 KB (shared)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 105 Watt vs 165 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 2707 vs 2484
PassMark - CPU mark 32665 vs 30228
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1276 vs 1177

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-7980XE

  • 6 more cores, run more applications at once: 18 vs 12
  • 12 more threads: 36 vs 24
  • 3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • Around 36% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 16370 vs 12037
  • Around 27% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 10876 vs 8594
  • Around 34% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 40.947 vs 30.575
  • 6.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 484.771 vs 72.097
  • Around 86% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 3.237 vs 1.745
  • 3.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 21.073 vs 5.887
  • 9.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 218.231 vs 22.686
Specifications (specs)
Number of cores 18 vs 12
Number of threads 36 vs 24
L2 cache 1024 KB (per core) vs 6 MB
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 16370 vs 12037
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 10876 vs 8594
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 40.947 vs 30.575
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 484.771 vs 72.097
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 3.237 vs 1.745
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 21.073 vs 5.887
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 218.231 vs 22.686

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-7980XE

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2707
2484
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
32665
30228
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1276
1177
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
12037
16370
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score
CPU 1
CPU 2
8594
10876
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
30.575
40.947
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
72.097
484.771
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
1.745
3.237
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
5.887
21.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
22.686
218.231
Name AMD Ryzen 9 3900X Intel Core i9-7980XE
PassMark - Single thread mark 2707 2484
PassMark - CPU mark 32665 30228
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1276 1177
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 12037 16370
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 8594 10876
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 30.575 40.947
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 72.097 484.771
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 1.745 3.237
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 5.887 21.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 22.686 218.231

Compare specifications (specs)

AMD Ryzen 9 3900X Intel Core i9-7980XE

Essentials

Architecture codename Zen 2 Skylake
Family Ryzen
Launch date 7 July 2019 September 2017
OPN PIB 100-100000023BOX
OPN Tray 100-000000023
Place in performance rating 1006 176
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop
Launch price (MSRP) $1,999
Price now $2,005.50
Processor Number i9-7980XE
Series Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status Launched
Value for money (0-100) 4.08

Performance

Base frequency 3800 MHz 2.60 GHz
L2 cache 6 MB 1024 KB (per core)
L3 cache 64 MB 25344 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 7 nm 14 nm
Maximum frequency 4600 MHz 4.20 GHz
Number of cores 12 18
Number of threads 24 36
Unlocked
64 bit support
Bus Speed 8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache 64 KB (per core)
Maximum core temperature 94°C
Number of QPI Links 0

Memory

Max memory channels 2 4
Supported memory types DDR4-3200 DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size 128 GB

Compatibility

Sockets supported AM4 FCLGA2066
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 105 Watt 165 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1
Thermal Solution PCG 2017X

Peripherals

PCI Express revision 4.0 3.0
PCIe configurations x16
Max number of PCIe lanes 44
Scalability 1S Only

Security & Reliability

Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)

Advanced Technologies

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Number of AVX-512 FMA Units 2

Virtualization

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)