Intel Core i9-9960X vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-9960X and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, 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 i9-9960X

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9960X

4 more cores, run more applications at once: 16 vs 12
8 more threads: 32 vs 24
Around 2% higher clock speed: 4.40 GHz vs 4.3 GHz
Around 25% higher maximum core temperature: 85°C vs 68°C
2.7x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 9% lower typical power consumption: 165 Watt vs 180 Watt
Around 5% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2617 vs 2489
Around 20% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 30618 vs 25557
Around 8% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1158 vs 1068
Around 47% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 14294 vs 9726
Around 41% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 13076 vs 9262

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	16 vs 12
Number of threads	32 vs 24
Maximum frequency	4.40 GHz vs 4.3 GHz
Maximum core temperature	85°C vs 68°C
L2 cache	1 MB (per core) vs 6 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	165 Watt vs 180 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2617 vs 2489
PassMark - CPU mark	30618 vs 25557
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1158 vs 1068
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	14294 vs 9726
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	13076 vs 9262

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 12 nm vs 14 nm
Around 13% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 45% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later

Manufacturing process technology	12 nm vs 14 nm
L1 cache	1152 KB vs 64K (per core)
L3 cache	32 MB vs 22 MB (shared)

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-9960X
CPU 2: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2617

2489

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

30618

25557

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1158

1068

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

14294

9726

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

13076

9262

Name	Intel Core i9-9960X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
PassMark - Single thread mark	2617	2489
PassMark - CPU mark	30618	25557
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1158	1068
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	14294	9726
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	13076	9262

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-9960X	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Skylake	Zen
Launch date	October 2018	October 2018
Place in performance rating	619	896
Processor Number	i9-9960X
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processors
Status	Launched
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Family		AMD Ryzen Processors
OPN PIB		YD292XA8AFWOF
OPN Tray		YD292XA8UC9AF
OS Support		Windows 10 - 64-Bit Edition, RHEL x86 64-Bit, Ubuntu x86 64-Bit
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.10 GHz	3.5 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache	64K (per core)	1152 KB
L2 cache	1 MB (per core)	6 MB
L3 cache	22 MB (shared)	32 MB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	12 nm
Maximum core temperature	85°C	68°C
Maximum frequency	4.40 GHz	4.3 GHz
Number of cores	16	12
Number of QPI Links	0
Number of threads	32	24
Unlocked
Die size		213 mm
Transistor count		9600 million
Memory
Max memory channels	4	4
Maximum memory size	128 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4
Supported memory frequency		2933 MHz
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FCLGA2066	sTR4
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	165 Watt	180 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2017X	Not included
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	44
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
Scalability	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Number of AVX-512 FMA Units	2
AMD SenseMI
The "Zen" Core Architecture
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)