AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X vs Intel Core i9-9820X

Comparative analysis of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Intel Core i9-9820X 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.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Intel Core i9-9820X

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 1 month(s) later
22 more cores, run more applications at once: 32 vs 10
44 more threads: 64 vs 20
Around 10% higher clock speed: 4.5 GHz vs 4.10 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 7 nm vs 14 nm
3.2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 60% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
7.8x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
4x more maximum memory size: 512 GB vs 128 GB
Around 9% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2667 vs 2453
3.2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 63277 vs 20045
Around 64% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 16764 vs 10201

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	25 Nov 2019 vs October 2018
Number of cores	32 vs 10
Number of threads	64 vs 20
Maximum frequency	4.5 GHz vs 4.10 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm vs 14 nm
L1 cache	2 MB vs 64K (per core)
L2 cache	16 MB vs 1 MB (per core)
L3 cache	128 MB vs 16.5 MB (shared)
Maximum memory size	512 GB vs 128 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2667 vs 2453
PassMark - CPU mark	63277 vs 20045
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	16764 vs 10201

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9820X

Around 35% higher maximum core temperature: 92°C vs 68 °C
Around 70% lower typical power consumption: 165 Watt vs 280 Watt

Maximum core temperature	92°C vs 68 °C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	165 Watt vs 280 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-9820X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2667

2453

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

63277

20045

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

16764

10201

Name	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Intel Core i9-9820X
PassMark - Single thread mark	2667	2453
PassMark - CPU mark	63277	20045
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1264
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	22457
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	16764	10201

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Intel Core i9-9820X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zen 2	Skylake
Launch date	25 Nov 2019	October 2018
Launch price (MSRP)	$1999
Place in performance rating	242	769
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		i9-9820X
Series		Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status		Launched
Performance
Base frequency	3.7 GHz	3.30 GHz
L1 cache	2 MB	64K (per core)
L2 cache	16 MB	1 MB (per core)
L3 cache	128 MB	16.5 MB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	68 °C	92°C
Maximum frequency	4.5 GHz	4.10 GHz
Number of cores	32	10
Number of threads	64	20
Unlocked
64 bit support
Bus Speed		8 GT/s DMI3
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		72 °C
Number of QPI Links		0
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	4	4
Maximum memory size	512 GB	128 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2666
Compatibility
Sockets supported	sTRX4	FCLGA2066
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	280 Watt	165 Watt
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		1
Thermal Solution		PCG 2017X
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	64	44
PCI Express revision	4.0	3.0
Scalability		1S Only
Advanced Technologies
Fused Multiply-Add 3 (FMA3)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2)
Intel® AES New Instructions
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)