AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX vs Intel Core i9-7960X

Comparative analysis of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX and Intel Core i9-7960X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Security & Reliability. 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 Threadripper 2970WX

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 0 month(s) later
  • 8 more cores, run more applications at once: 24 vs 16
  • 16 more threads: 48 vs 32
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 12 nm vs 14 nm
  • 2.3x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • 2.9x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 6% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 30669 vs 28922
Specifications (specs)
Launch date October 2018 vs September 2017
Number of cores 24 vs 16
Number of threads 48 vs 32
Manufacturing process technology 12 nm vs 14 nm
L1 cache 2304 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L3 cache 64 MB vs 22528 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark 30669 vs 28922

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-7960X

  • Around 44% higher maximum core temperature: 98°C vs 68°C
  • Around 33% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • Around 52% lower typical power consumption: 165 Watt vs 250 Watt
  • Around 7% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2495 vs 2330
  • Around 9% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1111 vs 1016
  • Around 28% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 13236 vs 10347
Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature 98°C vs 68°C
L2 cache 1024 KB (per core) vs 12 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 165 Watt vs 250 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 2495 vs 2330
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1111 vs 1016
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 13236 vs 10347

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-7960X

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2330
2495
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
30669
28922
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1016
1111
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
10347
13236
Name AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX Intel Core i9-7960X
PassMark - Single thread mark 2330 2495
PassMark - CPU mark 30669 28922
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1016 1111
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 10347 13236
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 11415
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 21.307
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 175.691
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 1.437
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 12.347
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 31.909

Compare specifications (specs)

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX Intel Core i9-7960X

Essentials

Architecture codename Zen Skylake
Family AMD Ryzen Processors
Launch date October 2018 September 2017
OPN PIB YD297XAZAFWOF
OPN Tray YD297XAZUHCAF
OS Support Windows 10 - 64-Bit Edition, RHEL x86 64-Bit, Ubuntu x86 64-Bit
Place in performance rating 943 941
Price now $1,299.99 $1,899
Series AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processors Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Value for money (0-100) 3.52 3.99
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop
Launch price (MSRP) $1,810
Processor Number i9-7960X
Status Launched

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3 GHz 2.80 GHz
Die size 213 mm
L1 cache 2304 KB 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 12 MB 1024 KB (per core)
L3 cache 64 MB 22528 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 12 nm 14 nm
Maximum core temperature 68°C 98°C
Maximum frequency 4.2 GHz 4.20 GHz
Number of cores 24 16
Number of threads 48 32
Transistor count 19200 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed 8 GT/s DMI3
Number of QPI Links 0

Memory

Max memory channels 4 4
Supported memory frequency 2933 MHz
Supported memory types DDR4 DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size 128 GB

Compatibility

Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1 1
Sockets supported sTR4 FCLGA2066
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 250 Watt 165 Watt
Thermal Solution Not included PCG 2017X
Low Halogen Options Available

Peripherals

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

Advanced Technologies

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

Virtualization

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

Security & Reliability

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