AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs Intel Core i9-7960X

Comparative analysis of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX 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).

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

Intel Core i9-7960X

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

CPU is newer: launch date 11 month(s) later
16 more cores, run more applications at once: 32 vs 16
32 more threads: 64 vs 32
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 12 nm vs 14 nm
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 11% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 32193 vs 28923

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	13 August 2018 vs September 2017
Number of cores	32 vs 16
Number of threads	64 vs 32
Manufacturing process technology	12 nm vs 14 nm
L1 cache	3072 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L3 cache	64 MB vs 22528 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	32193 vs 28923

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-7960X

Around 44% higher maximum core temperature: 98°C vs 68°C
Around 52% lower typical power consumption: 165 Watt vs 250 Watt
Around 9% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2498 vs 2284
Around 9% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1111 vs 1018
Around 24% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 13236 vs 10702
Around 44% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 11415 vs 7913

Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature	98°C vs 68°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	165 Watt vs 250 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2498 vs 2284
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1111 vs 1018
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	13236 vs 10702
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11415 vs 7913

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-7960X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2284

2498

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

32193

28923

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1018

1111

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

10702

13236

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

7913

11415

Name	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Intel Core i9-7960X
PassMark - Single thread mark	2284	2498
PassMark - CPU mark	32193	28923
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1018	1111
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	10702	13236
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	7913	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 2990WX	Intel Core i9-7960X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zen	Skylake
Family	AMD Ryzen Processors
Launch date	13 August 2018	September 2017
OPN PIB	YD299XAZAFWOF
OPN Tray	YD299XAZUIHAF
OS Support	Windows 10 - 64-Bit Edition, RHEL x86 64-Bit, Ubuntu x86 64-Bit
Place in performance rating	915	940
Price now	$1,729.99	$1,899
Series	AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processors	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Value for money (0-100)	4.09	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	3072 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	16 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	32	16
Number of threads	64	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)