AMD Athlon X4 970 vs Intel Core i9-9980XE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark comparisons between the Intel Core i9-9980XE and the AMD Athlon X4 970 are decisively one-sided. Across all five measured tests, the Intel part takes every win, with margins that range from roughly 7.7x to 8.7x the Athlon’s output. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i9-9980XE scores 1,587 against the Athlon’s 182, a difference of 772%. That is not a small edge; it is a full order of magnitude in raw performance. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a similar story: Intel scores 2,699 while AMD manages only 310, a 770.6% advantage. Both Cinebench R20 multi-core and R23 multi-core show a 769.2% delta, with scores of 11,247 versus 1,294 and 26,780 versus 3,081 respectively. Even the single-core R23 result, which is typically the most competitive metric between different architectures, lands at 3,780 versus 435, a 769% lead for Intel.

What these numbers indicate is not a close contest but a fundamental mismatch in processing capacity. The i9-9980XE’s multi-core scores are consistently around 8.7 times higher than the Athlon’s, while its single-core scores are roughly 8.7 times higher as well. The smallest relative gap is in R20 single-core, but even that is 772%. For context, the database shows that the i9-9980XE’s average benchmark score is 7,398, placing it at the 63rd percentile of all CPUs. The Athlon X4 970, despite having a similar percentile ranking of 63, has an average score of 6,850, which is actually lower than the Intel part’s average, even though the percentile is the same. This is a case where the percentile metric does not reflect the head-to-head results, because the Athlon’s average is pulled up by a set of Passmark tests that the Intel part does not have recorded. The head-to-head tests, however, are unambiguous.

The Intel part’s wins are not narrow. In every single recorded comparison, the delta exceeds 760%. There is no test where the Athlon closes the gap to within even half the Intel score. The data shows a clear pattern: for any workload that uses the Cinebench suite, the i9-9980XE is the dominant processor. The Athlon’s best relative showing is in R20 single-core, where it reaches 11.5% of Intel’s score, but that is still a massive deficit. The single-core performance gap is particularly notable because it suggests that even lightly threaded applications will favor the Intel chip by a wide margin. The multi-core results, with the i9-9980XE scoring 26,780 in R23, indicate that heavily threaded workloads such as rendering or video encoding will see an even larger benefit.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins more benchmark tests in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i9-9980XE wins all five recorded head-to-head tests. The AMD Athlon X4 970 wins zero. The wins for Intel cover Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any single test?

A: The largest recorded gap is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Intel Core i9-9980XE scores 1,587 versus the Athlon’s 182, a delta of 772%. This is the only test where the difference exceeds 770%.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare in Cinebench R23?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i9-9980XE scores 26,780, while the AMD Athlon X4 970 scores 3,081. This represents a 769.2% advantage for Intel, which is consistent with the other multi-core tests.

Q: Are the single-core results closer than the multi-core results?

A: No. The single-core deltas are similar to the multi-core deltas. In R20 single-core, the delta is 772%, and in R23 single-core, it is 769%. The multi-core deltas are 770.6% (R15), 769.2% (R20), and 769.2% (R23). There is no meaningful difference in relative performance between the two categories.

Q: Does the Athlon X4 970 have any benchmark where it scores higher than the i9-9980XE?

A: In the recorded head-to-head benchmarks, no. The Athlon has zero wins. The database does list additional Passmark tests for the Athlon, such as data compression and integer math, but these are not compared against the Intel part in the head-to-head set, so no conclusion can be drawn from them regarding relative performance.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU, and how do their percentiles compare?

A: The Intel Core i9-9980XE has an average benchmark score of 7,398 and sits at the 63rd percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Athlon X4 970 has an average benchmark score of 6,850 and also sits at the 63rd percentile. Despite the lower average score, the Athlon’s percentile matches Intel’s, likely due to the different distribution of benchmark scores in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design lineages. The Intel Core i9-9980XE is built on the Skylake-X architecture, specifically the Skylake microarchitecture, and is manufactured on a 14 nm process at Intel’s own foundry. It uses the Intel Socket 2066 platform and belongs to the Core i9 Extreme generation. The die size is listed as 484 mm², which reflects a large, high-core-count design. The AMD Athlon X4 970, in contrast, uses the Excavator architecture with the Bristol Ridge codename. It is built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 250 mm² and a transistor count of 3,100 million. The socket is AMD Socket AM4.

The core counts are vastly different. The Intel part has 18 cores and 36 threads, while the AMD part has 4 cores and 4 threads. This is a 14-core and 32-thread difference, which directly explains the multi-core benchmark results. The Intel chip also features a much larger cache hierarchy. Its L1 cache is 64 KB per core, L2 is 1 MB per core, and L3 is 24.75 MB shared. The Athlon has a total L1 cache of 320 KB and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache listed. The absence of L3 on the Athlon is a significant architectural difference, as the Intel part can rely on a substantial shared cache for data reuse across cores.

Memory support also differs. Both support DDR4, but the Intel part uses a quad-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The Athlon uses a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s. That is more than a 2x difference in theoretical memory bandwidth, which can affect memory-bound workloads. Neither CPU supports ECC memory. PCIe lane counts also differ: the Intel part provides Gen 3 with 44 lanes from the CPU, while the Athlon provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes. This makes the Intel part suitable for multi-GPU configurations or high-bandwidth peripherals, whereas the Athlon is limited in expansion capability.

The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Athlon does not. This means the i9-9980XE can be overclocked by adjusting the multiplier, whereas the Athlon is locked. The production status also differs: the Intel part is end-of-life, while the Athlon is still listed as active. The release dates are about a year apart, with the Intel part released in October 2018 and the Athlon in July 2017.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets show several clear differences. Core count: 18 versus 4. Thread count: 36 versus 4. Base clock: the Intel part runs at 3.00 GHz, while the Athlon runs at 3.80 GHz. Boost clock: the Intel part reaches 4.50 GHz, the Athlon 4.00 GHz. The Athlon has a higher base clock, but the Intel part has a higher boost clock. TDP is vastly different: the Intel part is rated at 165 watts, while the Athlon is rated at 65 watts. This reflects the core count and performance differences.

Socket types are different: Intel Socket 2066 versus AMD Socket AM4. The process node is 14 nm for Intel and 28 nm for AMD. The foundry is Intel versus GlobalFoundries. Die size: 484 mm² versus 250 mm². Transistors: the Intel part has no listed count, while the Athlon has 3,100 million. Cache: the Intel part has 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core, plus 24.75 MB L3 shared. The Athlon has 320 KB L1 total and 2 MB L2 total, with no L3. Memory bus: quad-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 85.3 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. PCIe lanes: 44 versus 8. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier; the Athlon is locked. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $1979, while the Athlon has no listed MSRP. The Intel part is end-of-life, the Athlon is active. The Intel part number is SREZ3, while the Athlon’s is AD970XAUABBOXAD970XAUM44AB.

The Verdict

The data points to a single conclusion: the Intel Core i9-9980XE is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. It wins all five head-to-head tests with deltas above 760%. The multi-core performance is roughly 8.7 times higher, and even single-core performance is about 8.7 times higher. The Athlon X4 970 cannot compete in any recorded metric. The Intel part also offers more cores, threads, cache, memory bandwidth, and PCIe lanes. The only areas where the Athlon has an advantage are lower TDP, higher base clock, and a smaller die size, but none of these appear in the benchmark results as a performance benefit.

The Intel part is suitable for workloads that demand high multi-core throughput, such as rendering, compilation, or scientific simulation. Its 18 cores and 36 threads, combined with 24.75 MB of L3 cache and quad-channel memory, make it a serious workstation-class part. The Athlon, with 4 cores and 4 threads, is more comparable to an entry-level desktop processor. Its lack of L3 cache and lower memory bandwidth further limit its performance profile. The percentile data shows both CPUs at the 63rd percentile, but that is misleading given the head-to-head results. The average benchmark score for the Intel part is 7,398, which is higher than the Athlon’s 6,850, but the percentile similarity suggests that the database’s percentile calculation may be heavily influenced by the specific test set each CPU has recorded.

For a user who needs maximum processing power, the i9-9980XE is the clear choice. For a user who prioritizes low power consumption, the Athlon’s 65 watt TDP is attractive, but that comes at the cost of performance. The Intel part’s 165 watt TDP is high, but it delivers more than 8x the multi-core performance in exchange. There is no scenario in the recorded data where the Athlon wins.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-9980XE wins in every category where performance is measured. In multi-core workloads, such as Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, it scores between 2,699 and 26,780, while the Athlon scores between 310 and 3,081. The delta is consistently around 770%. In single-core workloads, the Intel part scores 1,587 and 3,780 in R20 and R23 respectively, versus 182 and 435 for the Athlon. The advantage holds at roughly 770% as well.

The Athlon X4 970 does have a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz versus 3.00 GHz for the Intel part, but that does not translate into any benchmark win. The Athlon also has a lower TDP of 65 watts, which could be an advantage in a power-constrained system, but the database does not include any power efficiency benchmarks. The Athlon is also still in production, while the Intel part is end-of-life, which could matter for long-term availability. However, from a pure performance standpoint, the Intel part wins all five recorded tests.

For memory bandwidth, the Intel part’s 85.3 GB/s versus the Athlon’s 38.4 GB/s is another area where the Intel part is clearly ahead, though this is not a benchmark score but a specification. The Intel part’s 44 PCIe lanes versus 8 also gives it a significant expansion advantage. The Athlon’s smaller die size and lower transistor count (3,100 million) might suggest lower manufacturing cost, but no pricing data is available for the Athlon. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $1979, which is the only price information in the database.

In summary, the Intel Core i9-9980XE is the winner in all benchmark comparisons, with no recorded test favoring the AMD Athlon X4 970. The use case for the Athlon would be limited to scenarios where low power consumption, active production status, or a lower base clock (which is actually higher, but not beneficial in tests) are the primary considerations. For raw performance, the Intel part is unmatched in this comparison.