CPU Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 and Intel Core i9-9900X are both end-of-life desktop processors aimed at high-core-count workloads, but they approach the task from different architectural directions. The Threadripper 1920 offers 12 cores and 24 threads on AMD's Zen (Whitehaven) design, while the i9-9900X packs 10 cores and 20 threads on Intel's Skylake-X. Benchmark data shows the AMD part winning all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, yet the margins are consistently slim, ranging from 1.9% to 2.1%. Both CPUs sit at the 60th percentile against all CPUs, indicating they are firmly mid-pack in the broader performance landscape, with the Threadripper's average benchmark score of 5425 edging out the i9's 5301.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head results are decisive: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 wins every single benchmark comparison, with six wins and zero for the Intel Core i9-9900X. This is not a case of one chip dominating in one application type and the other in another, the AMD part takes both multi-core and single-core tests across all three Cinebench versions. In multi-core workloads, the Threadripper's extra two cores and four threads provide a consistent edge; the Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 1890 versus 1851, and the R20 multi-core score of 7877 versus 7713, both reflect that advantage. The single-core results are closer, but the AMD chip still wins with 266 versus 261 in R15 and 1111 versus 1088 in R20.

For users specifically running Cinebench-style rendering or heavily threaded tasks, the Threadripper 1920 is the clear pick from this data. The Intel part does not win any category in the head-to-head set, though its nearest rivals list includes the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X at a -0.1% deltaPct, showing it is competitive with the broader market. The i9-9900X does have a Geekbench multi-core score of 9109 and single-core score of 1429, but since the Threadripper 1920 lacks Geekbench results in the data, no direct comparison can be made there. The practical takeaway is that for any workload represented by these Cinebench tests, the AMD chip is the winner, even if the margins are narrow.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 uses the Zen architecture on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, built from two dies measuring 2x 213 mm², totaling 9,600 million transistors. It uses the AMD Socket SP3r2 platform. The Intel Core i9-9900X uses the Skylake architecture, specifically Skylake-X, also on a 14 nm process but from Intel's own foundry, and it fits into the Intel Socket 2066. Neither chip has integrated graphics, and both are unlocked for overclocking.

Cache configurations differ notably. The Threadripper 1920 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 cache. The i9-9900X has 64 KB of L1 per core, a larger 1 MB of L2 per core, but a smaller 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache. This means the AMD chip has almost 13 MB more L3 total, which can help in certain data-heavy workloads, while the Intel part compensates with double the L2 per core. Memory support is identical in structure: both use DDR4 with quad-channel memory buses and match at 85.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth, and neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe lane counts are a significant differentiator. The Threadripper 1920 provides 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the i9-9900X offers 44 lanes. For users building systems with multiple GPUs or NVMe storage, that 16-lane difference is substantial. Clock speeds favor the Intel chip, which has a 3.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost, compared to the AMD's 3.20 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The Intel part also carries a higher 165 W TDP versus the AMD's 140 W, meaning it consumes more power to hit those higher clocks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite paints a consistent picture. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Threadripper 1920 scores 1890 against the i9-9900X's 1851, a 2.1% deltaPct in favor of AMD. The single-core R15 test is nearly as tight, with 266 versus 261, a 1.9% margin for the AMD part. Moving to Cinebench R20, the same pattern holds: multi-core scores are 7877 versus 7713, and single-core is 1111 versus 1088, both at a 2.1% deltaPct for the Threadripper.

Cinebench R23 results mirror the earlier tests with remarkable consistency. The multi-core score of 18756 for the AMD chip beats the Intel's 18365, and the single-core score of 2647 beats 2592, again a 2.1% deltaPct. The consistency of that 2.1% margin across all multi-core and R20/R23 single-core tests suggests the performance gap is structural, likely the extra two cores and four threads providing a steady advantage in multi-threaded rendering, while the single-core wins are smaller but still present. The i9-9900X's higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz does not translate into a single-core victory, which indicates that the Zen architecture's IPC efficiency at 3.80 GHz is sufficient to overcome the frequency deficit. Overall, the data shows a narrow but unambiguous sweep for the AMD processor across every benchmark where both were tested.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 1890, 7877, and 18756 in R15, R20, and R23 multi-core respectively, versus the Intel Core i9-9900X's 1851, 7713, and 18365. The deltaPct is 2.1% in each case.

Q: Does the Intel i9-9900X have any benchmark win?

A: No. In the head-to-head benchmark data, the Intel Core i9-9900X records zero wins across six tests. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 wins all six, including both single-core and multi-core variants of Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i9-9900X has 10 cores and 20 threads. The AMD chip also has more L3 cache at 32 MB versus the Intel's 19.25 MB, though the Intel part has a larger L2 cache per core at 1 MB versus 512 KB.

Q: Are there platform differences in PCIe support?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 provides 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core i9-9900X provides 44 lanes. Both support DDR4 memory with quad-channel buses and identical 85.3 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900X has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 operates at a 3.20 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The Intel chip also has a higher TDP of 165 W versus the AMD's 140 W.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 has an average benchmark score of 5425, while the Intel Core i9-9900X averages 5301. Both sit at the 60th percentile against all CPUs.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous regarding performance: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 is the faster processor in every benchmark where both were tested. It wins all six Cinebench tests with margins of 1.9% to 2.1%, and its average benchmark score of 5425 is higher than the i9-9900X's 5301. The AMD chip offers two more cores and four more threads, more L3 cache, and 16 additional PCIe lanes, all while drawing 25 W less power at 140 W versus 165 W. For users prioritizing multi-threaded rendering, heavily threaded productivity, or systems with many expansion cards, the Threadripper 1920 is the stronger choice based on this data.

The Intel Core i9-9900X is not without merits, though they are not reflected in the win column. It has a significantly higher boost clock at 4.50 GHz versus 3.80 GHz, which could theoretically benefit lightly threaded tasks, but the single-core benchmark results show the AMD chip still wins those tests. The i9-9900X also has a larger L2 cache per core at 1 MB, which might help in specific cache-sensitive workloads, and it was released on 2018-10-18 with a launch MSRP of $989. However, given that it loses every head-to-head benchmark and has a lower average score, the practical recommendation from the data is to choose the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 for raw performance, unless the Intel platform's specific characteristics, such as the higher boost clock or larger L2, are critical to a niche use case.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 | Intel Core i9-9900X |

|----------------|----------------------------|----------------------|

| Cores | 12 | 10 |

| Threads | 24 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 165 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP3r2 | Intel Socket 2066 |

| Architecture | Zen | Skylake |

| Codename | Zen | Skylake-X |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 9,600 million | Not specified |

| Die Size | 2x 213 mm² | Not specified |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB | 19.25 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Quad-channel |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 60 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 44 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Part Number | YD1920A9UC9AE | SREZ7 |

| Release Date | Not specified | 2018-10-18 |