AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents an unambiguous split: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins every single recorded comparison, taking 11 of 11 head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not claim a single victory in any measured workload. This is not a close contest by any metric, but the margin of victory varies dramatically depending on the workload type, which reveals the fundamental purpose of each processor.

The Ryzen 5 3501U is a mobile part designed for efficiency and everyday responsiveness. Its strongest relative showing comes in single-threaded performance, where it trails the Threadripper 9980X by 52.9% in the PassMark single-thread test. That gap, while large, is the closest the two processors come in any benchmark. The 3501U delivers a score of 2136 in single-threaded work, placing it in a competitive position for lightweight tasks such as web browsing, office applications, and general desktop responsiveness. Its average benchmark score of 14320 puts it in the 69th percentile of all CPUs in the database, a respectable standing for a low-power mobile chip.

The Threadripper 9980X, by contrast, is a desktop-class heavyweight that dominates every multi-threaded workload by enormous margins. Its multithread score of 141641 crushes the 3501U's 7071, a 95% advantage. The gap widens further in specialized computational tasks. In floating-point math, the Threadripper scores 559003 against the 3501U's 12707, a 97.7% lead. Integer math shows a similar story: 872071 versus 26321, a 97% advantage. The Threadripper also leads by 97.1% in data compression (2974534 versus 87380) and by 96.4% in data encryption (157137 versus 5580). These figures indicate that the Threadripper 9980X is built for heavy parallel workloads where core count and memory bandwidth determine performance.

The use-case split is therefore stark. The Ryzen 5 3501U serves users who need a capable mobile processor with integrated graphics and modest power consumption. The Threadripper 9980X serves professionals running rendering, scientific simulation, encryption, or data processing tasks that can utilize 64 cores and 128 threads. The 3501U never wins a benchmark, but its single-thread performance keeps it viable for everyday use; the Threadripper wins everything, but its strengths are overwhelmingly concentrated in parallel throughput.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different architectural lineages, and the recorded data reflects that separation. The Ryzen 5 3501U is based on the Picasso codename, using the Zen+ microarchitecture on a 12 nm process node fabricated by GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die. The Threadripper 9980X uses the Shimada Peak codename with the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm process from TSMC, containing 66,520 million transistors spread across eight 70.6 mm² dies. The process node difference alone, 12 nm versus 4 nm, explains much of the efficiency and clock speed disparity.

Core and thread counts diverge massively. The 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The Threadripper 9980X has 64 cores and 128 threads with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Threadripper's boost clock is 1.70 GHz higher, which directly contributes to its 52.9% single-thread advantage. The 3501U's power envelope is 15 W TDP, while the Threadripper runs at 350 W TDP, reflecting the enormous difference in thermal and power delivery requirements.

Cache hierarchies are built for different scales of operation. The 3501U provides 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Threadripper 9980X offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a massive 256 MB of L3 cache. That 256 MB L3 cache is 64 times larger than the 3501U's entire L3 allocation, a difference that matters for workloads with large working sets.

Memory support also separates the two. The 3501U uses DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Threadripper 9980X uses DDR5 on a quad-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth, over five times the memory throughput. The Threadripper also supports ECC memory, while the 3501U does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the 3501U offers Gen 3, while the Threadripper provides Gen 5 with 80 lanes from the CPU alone. The Threadripper has no integrated graphics, while the 3501U includes Radeon Vega 8, which makes the mobile chip fully self-contained for display output.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a consistent pattern with margins that scale with parallelism. In PassMark single-thread, the Threadripper 9980X scores 4537 against the 3501U's 2136, a 52.9% advantage. This is the smallest gap in the entire comparison, indicating that even in lightly threaded work, the newer Zen 5 architecture and higher boost clock provide a substantial lead. The singlethread result is identical, as expected, since it measures the same workload.

Moving to multithreaded work, the Threadripper's advantage expands to 95%. Its score of 141641 versus 7071 reflects the 16-fold increase in core count and the higher memory bandwidth. The physics test shows a 94% lead (8001 versus 483), a workload that scales well with core count. Data compression shows a 97.1% gap (2974534 versus 87380), and data encryption shows 96.4% (157137 versus 5580). These tasks benefit from both the core count and the larger cache hierarchy.

The largest margins appear in compute-heavy floating-point and integer math. Floating-point math shows a 97.7% lead (559003 versus 12707), and integer math shows 97% (872071 versus 26321). Extended instructions, which test SIMD and specialized instruction throughput, show a 98.6% gap (228959 versus 3274), the largest margin in the entire set. Prime number finding, a workload sensitive to both clock speed and core count, shows 97.3% (769 versus 21). Random string sorting shows 96.4% (292083 versus 10414).

Every benchmark in the head-to-head list goes to the Threadripper 9980X. The 3501U never comes within even 50% of the Threadripper's score in any test. The closest margins are in single-threaded work, where the architectural generational gap and clock speed difference matter more than core count. The widest margins are in parallel and vectorized workloads, where the Threadripper's 64 cores and 256 MB L3 cache create an insurmountable advantage.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear division of roles. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is a mobile processor for systems where power consumption, integrated graphics, and a compact socket matter. Its 15 W TDP, Radeon Vega 8 graphics, and FP5 socket make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops. Its 69th percentile ranking among all CPUs and average score of 14320 place it near peers like the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (14336, 0.1% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (14277, 0.3% behind), the Intel Core 7 160UL (14232, 0.6% behind), and the Intel Core i5-10400F (14185, 1% behind). These rivals are all within a narrow band, confirming that the 3501U performs at the expected level for its class.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a desktop workstation processor for users who need extreme parallel throughput. Its 99th percentile ranking and average score of 321753 place it among the fastest CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX (320749, 0.3% behind), the Intel Xeon 6781P (315524, 2% behind), the AMD EPYC 9575F (311774, 3.2% behind), and the AMD EPYC 9734 (310619, 3.6% behind). The Threadripper leads all of them, reinforcing its position at the top of the performance hierarchy.

Choosing between these two depends entirely on the workload and platform requirements. The 3501U is for portable, low-power systems where the integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU. The Threadripper 9980X is for desktop systems with a discrete GPU, a 350 W power budget, and a motherboard supporting Socket sTR5. The Threadripper's 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth, 256 MB L3 cache, and 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes serve workloads that saturate memory and I/O. The 3501U's 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and 4 MB L3 cache are adequate for everyday mobile tasks but cannot sustain heavy computational loads. The launch MSRP for the Threadripper 9980X is $4999, which reflects its position as a professional-grade part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How much faster is the Threadripper 9980X in single-threaded performance?

A: The Threadripper 9980X scores 4537 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 52.9% ahead of the 3501U's 2136.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The Threadripper 9980X provides 204.8 GB/s over a quad-channel DDR5 bus, while the 3501U provides 38.4 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR4 bus.

Q: Does the Threadripper 9980X have integrated graphics?

A: No, the Threadripper 9980X has no integrated graphics. The 3501U includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Threadripper 9980X supports ECC memory. The 3501U does not support ECC memory.

Q: How does the Threadripper 9980X compare to its nearest rival, the Threadripper PRO 9985WX?

A: The Threadripper 9980X has an average benchmark score of 321753, which is 0.3% higher than the Threadripper PRO 9985WX's 320749.