Intel Core i9-9900KS vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-9900KS and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, 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.

Intel Core i9-9900KS

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9900KS

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 2 month(s) later
Around 14% higher clock speed: 5.00 GHz vs 4.4 GHz
Around 47% higher maximum core temperature: 100°C vs 68°C
Around 42% lower typical power consumption: 127 Watt vs 180 Watt
Around 24% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 3035 vs 2457
Around 33% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1408 vs 1059

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	Nov 2019 vs 31 August 2018
Maximum frequency	5.00 GHz vs 4.4 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100°C vs 68°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	127 Watt vs 180 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	3035 vs 2457
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1408 vs 1059

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
8 more cores, run more applications at once: 16 vs 8
16 more threads: 32 vs 16
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
4x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 51% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 29459 vs 19461
Around 33% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 12581 vs 9451
Around 8% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 7974 vs 7373

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	16 vs 8
Number of threads	32 vs 16
Manufacturing process technology	12 nm vs 14 nm
L1 cache	1536 KB vs 512 KB
L2 cache	8 MB vs 2 MB
L3 cache	32 MB vs 16 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	29459 vs 19461
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	12581 vs 9451
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	7974 vs 7373

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-9900KS
CPU 2: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3035

2457

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

19461

29459

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1408

1059

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

9451

12581

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

7373

7974

Name	Intel Core i9-9900KS	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
PassMark - Single thread mark	3035	2457
PassMark - CPU mark	19461	29459
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1408	1059
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	9451	12581
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	7373	7974

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake	Zen+
Launch date	Nov 2019	31 August 2018
Launch price (MSRP)	$513 - $524
Place in performance rating	827	837
Processor Number	i9-9900KS
Series	9th Generation Intel Core i9 Processors	AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processors
Status	Launched
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Family		AMD Ryzen Processors
OPN PIB		YD295XA8AFWOF
OPN Tray		YD295XA8UGAAF
OS Support		Windows 10 - 64-Bit Edition, RHEL x86 64-Bit, Ubuntu x86 64-Bit
Price now		$899.99
Value for money (0-100)		8.50
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	4.00 GHz	3.5 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s
L1 cache	512 KB	1536 KB
L2 cache	2 MB	8 MB
L3 cache	16 MB	32 MB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	12 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	68°C
Maximum frequency	5.00 GHz	4.4 GHz
Number of cores	8	16
Number of threads	16	32
Die size		213 mm
Transistor count		9600 million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4
Supported memory frequency		2933 MHz
Graphics
Device ID	0x3E98
Graphics base frequency	350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.20 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Clear Video technology
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory	64 GB
Processor graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3
Graphics image quality
4K resolution support
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX	12
OpenGL	4.5
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1151	sTR4
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	127 Watt	180 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2015D	Not included
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Secure Boot
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel SSE4.1, Intel SSE4.2, Intel AVX2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
AMD SenseMI
The "Zen" Core Architecture
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)