Intel Core i9-9980XE vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-9980XE and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X 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.

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9980XE

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 month(s) later
  • 2 more cores, run more applications at once: 18 vs 16
  • 4 more threads: 36 vs 32
  • Around 24% higher maximum core temperature: 84°C vs 68°C
  • 2.3x 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 4% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2563 vs 2457
  • Around 9% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 32054 vs 29382
  • Around 46% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 11679 vs 7974
  • Around 8% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1141 vs 1059
  • Around 25% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 15743 vs 12581
Specifications (specs)
Launch date October 2018 vs 31 August 2018
Number of cores 18 vs 16
Number of threads 36 vs 32
Maximum core temperature 84°C vs 68°C
L2 cache 1 MB (per core) vs 8 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 165 Watt vs 180 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 2563 vs 2457
PassMark - CPU mark 32054 vs 29382
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 11679 vs 7974
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1141 vs 1059
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 15743 vs 12581

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 12 nm vs 14 nm
  • Around 33% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • 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
L1 cache 1536 KB vs 64K (per core)
L3 cache 32 MB vs 24.75 MB (shared)

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-9980XE
CPU 2: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2563
2457
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
32054
29382
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score
CPU 1
CPU 2
11679
7974
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1141
1059
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
15743
12581
Name Intel Core i9-9980XE AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
PassMark - Single thread mark 2563 2457
PassMark - CPU mark 32054 29382
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 11679 7974
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1141 1059
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 15743 12581

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i9-9980XE AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

Essentials

Architecture codename Skylake Zen+
Launch date October 2018 31 August 2018
Place in performance rating 625 839
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 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 3.00 GHz 3.5 GHz
Bus Speed 8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache 64K (per core) 1536 KB
L2 cache 1 MB (per core) 8 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 4.4 GHz
Number of cores 18 16
Number of QPI Links 0
Number of threads 36 32
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™)