Intel Core i9-9980XE vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-9980XE 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, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core.

Intel Core i9-9980XE

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9980XE

6 more cores, run more applications at once: 18 vs 12
12 more threads: 36 vs 24
Around 2% higher clock speed: 4.40 GHz vs 4.3 GHz
Around 24% higher maximum core temperature: 84°C vs 68°C
3x 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 3% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2563 vs 2489
Around 25% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 32054 vs 25557
Around 26% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 11679 vs 9262
Around 7% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1141 vs 1068
Around 62% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 15743 vs 9726

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	18 vs 12
Number of threads	36 vs 24
Maximum frequency	4.40 GHz vs 4.3 GHz
Maximum core temperature	84°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	2563 vs 2489
PassMark - CPU mark	32054 vs 25557
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11679 vs 9262
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1141 vs 1068
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	15743 vs 9726

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 29% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later

Manufacturing process technology	12 nm vs 14 nm
L3 cache	32 MB vs 24.75 MB (shared)

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-9980XE
CPU 2: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2563

2489

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

32054

25557

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

11679

9262

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1141

1068

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

15743

9726

Name	Intel Core i9-9980XE	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
PassMark - Single thread mark	2563	2489
PassMark - CPU mark	32054	25557
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11679	9262
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1141	1068
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	15743	9726

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-9980XE	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Skylake	Zen
Launch date	October 2018	October 2018
Place in performance rating	625	896
Processor Number	i9-9980XE
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	3.00 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	24.75 MB (shared)	32 MB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	12 nm
Maximum core temperature	84°C	68°C
Maximum frequency	4.40 GHz	4.3 GHz
Number of cores	18	12
Number of QPI Links	0
Number of threads	36	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™)