AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X vs Intel Core i7-6850K

Comparative analysis of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X and Intel Core i7-6850K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Graphics, 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).

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Intel Core i7-6850K

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

CPU is newer: launch date 7 year(s) 5 month(s) later
26 more cores, run more applications at once: 32 vs 6
52 more threads: 64 vs 12
Around 39% higher clock speed: 5.3 GHz vs 3.80 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 5 nm vs 14 nm
10.7x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
21.3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
8.5x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 72% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 4131 vs 2401
8.6x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 98683 vs 11429

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	19 Oct 2023 vs May 2016
Number of cores	32 vs 6
Number of threads	64 vs 12
Maximum frequency	5.3 GHz vs 3.80 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	5 nm vs 14 nm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 32 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	128 MB (shared) vs 15360 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	4131 vs 2401
PassMark - CPU mark	98683 vs 11429

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-6850K

2.5x lower typical power consumption: 140 Watt vs 350 Watt

Thermal Design Power (TDP)	140 Watt vs 350 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-6850K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4131

2401

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

98683

11429

Name	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X	Intel Core i7-6850K
PassMark - Single thread mark	4131	2401
PassMark - CPU mark	98683	11429
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		992
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		5955
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		3926
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		7.896
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		80.964
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.995
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		3.838
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		10.813

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X	Intel Core i7-6850K
Essentials
Launch date	19 Oct 2023	May 2016
Launch price (MSRP)	$2499	$475
Place in performance rating	11	1727
Architecture codename		Broadwell E
Price now		$549.99
Processor Number		i7-6850K
Series		Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		7.70
Vertical segment		Desktop
Performance
Base frequency	4 GHz	3.60 GHz
Die size	4x 71 mm²
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	32 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	128 MB (shared)	15360 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	5 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	95°C
Maximum frequency	5.3 GHz	3.80 GHz
Number of cores	32	6
Number of threads	64	12
Transistor count	26,280 million
Unlocked
64 bit support
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		72 °C
Memory
ECC memory support
Supported memory types	DDR5	DDR4 2400/2133
Max memory channels		4
Maximum memory size		128 GB
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	sTR5	FCLGA2011-3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	350 Watt	140 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Peripherals
PCIe configurations	Gen 5, 48 Lanes, (CPU only)
Max number of PCIe lanes		40
PCI Express revision		3.0
Scalability		1S Only
Graphics
Processor graphics		None
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Turbo Boost Max 3.0
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)