Intel Core i9-9990XE vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-9990XE and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 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 i9-9990XE

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9990XE

Around 13% higher clock speed: 5.10 GHz vs 4.5 GHz
Around 24% higher maximum core temperature: 84°C vs 68 °C
Around 10% lower typical power consumption: 255 Watt vs 280 Watt
Around 11% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2970 vs 2667

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	5.10 GHz vs 4.5 GHz
Maximum core temperature	84°C vs 68 °C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	255 Watt vs 280 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2970 vs 2667

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 1 month(s) later
18 more cores, run more applications at once: 32 vs 14
36 more threads: 64 vs 28
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 7 nm vs 14 nm
2.3x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 14% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
6.6x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
4x more maximum memory size: 512 GB vs 128 GB
2.1x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 63277 vs 30162

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	25 Nov 2019 vs 19 Oct 2018
Number of cores	32 vs 14
Number of threads	64 vs 28
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm vs 14 nm
L1 cache	2 MB vs 64K (per core)
L2 cache	16 MB vs 1 MB (per core)
L3 cache	128 MB vs 19.25 MB (shared)
Maximum memory size	512 GB vs 128 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	63277 vs 30162

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-9990XE
CPU 2: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2970

2667

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

30162

63277

Name	Intel Core i9-9990XE	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
PassMark - Single thread mark	2970	2667
PassMark - CPU mark	30162	63277
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		1264
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		22457
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		16764

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-9990XE	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Skylake	Zen 2
Launch date	19 Oct 2018	25 Nov 2019
Place in performance rating	382	243
Processor Number	i9-9980XE
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Launched
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$1999
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	4.00 GHz	3.7 GHz
Bus Speed	4 × 8 GT/s
L1 cache	64K (per core)	2 MB
L2 cache	1 MB (per core)	16 MB
L3 cache	19.25 MB (shared)	128 MB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	7 nm
Maximum core temperature	84°C	68 °C
Maximum frequency	5.10 GHz	4.5 GHz
Number of cores	14	32
Number of QPI Links	0
Number of threads	28	64
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	4	4
Maximum memory size	128 GB	512 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200
ECC memory support
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1
Sockets supported	FCLGA2066	sTRX4
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	255 Watt	280 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	44	64
PCI Express revision	3.0	4.0
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
Fused Multiply-Add 3 (FMA3)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2)
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)