AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX vs Intel Core i9-7980XE

Comparative analysis of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX and Intel Core i9-7980XE 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).

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

Intel Core i9-7980XE

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 1 month(s) later
6 more cores, run more applications at once: 24 vs 18
12 more threads: 48 vs 36
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 12 nm vs 14 nm
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2.6x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 4% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 31038 vs 29953

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2018 vs September 2017
Number of cores	24 vs 18
Number of threads	48 vs 36
Manufacturing process technology	12 nm vs 14 nm
L1 cache	2304 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L3 cache	64 MB vs 25344 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	31038 vs 29953

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-7980XE

Around 38% higher maximum core temperature: 94°C vs 68°C
Around 50% 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 5% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2459 vs 2339
Around 16% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1177 vs 1016
Around 58% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 16370 vs 10347

Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature	94°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	2459 vs 2339
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1177 vs 1016
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	16370 vs 10347

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-7980XE

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2339

2459

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

31038

29953

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1016

1177

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

10347

16370

Name	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX	Intel Core i9-7980XE
PassMark - Single thread mark	2339	2459
PassMark - CPU mark	31038	29953
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1016	1177
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	10347	16370
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		10876
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		40.947
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		484.771
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		3.237
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		21.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		218.231

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX	Intel Core i9-7980XE
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	961	149
Price now	$1,299.99	$2,005.50
Series	AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processors	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Value for money (0-100)	3.52	4.08
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$1,999
Processor Number		i9-7980XE
Status		Launched
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3 GHz	2.60 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	25344 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	12 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	68°C	94°C
Maximum frequency	4.2 GHz	4.20 GHz
Number of cores	24	18
Number of threads	48	36
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)