AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X vs Intel Core i9-10900X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data splits this matchup into two distinct stories depending on the benchmark suite. In Cinebench workloads, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X consistently takes the lead, while the Intel Core i9-10900X dominates Geekbench tests by wide margins. Neither chip sweeps the field, and the pattern of wins reveals a lot about their respective strengths.

Starting with Cinebench R15, the Threadripper 1920X posts 1979 points in multi-core versus 1910 for the i9-10900X, a 3.5% advantage for AMD. The single-core result follows the same direction: 279 versus 269, a 3.6% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Threadripper scores 8248 multi-core against 7961 for the Intel part, again a 3.5% difference. Single-core in R20 lands at 1164 versus 1123, another 3.5% margin. Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern exactly: 19640 multi-core versus 18957, and 2772 single-core versus 2676, both at 3.5% deltas. Across every Cinebench test in the database, the AMD chip wins by a narrow but consistent margin.

The picture flips dramatically in Geekbench. The i9-10900X scores 10104 in multi-core versus 7178 for the Threadripper, a massive 40.8% lead for Intel. Single-core Geekbench shows 1438 versus 1185, a 21.4% advantage. These are not small differences; the Intel part is ahead by more than a third in multi-threaded Geekbench work, and over a fifth in single-threaded. The overall win count favors AMD at six tests to two, but the magnitude of Intel's Geekbench wins is far larger than the narrow Cinebench margins AMD secures.

Average scores across the full benchmark suite tell a similar story. The i9-10900X has an average benchmark score of 5555, while the Threadripper 1920X sits at 5306. In percentile terms, the Intel chip lands at the 61st percentile of all CPUs, with the AMD part just one point behind at the 60th. The nearest rivals in the database for the Intel chip include the Intel Celeron G6900 at 5561 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i9-11900KB at 5587 (0.6% ahead), and the Intel Core i7-12700T at 5606 (0.9% ahead). For the AMD chip, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i9-9900X at 5301 (0.1% behind), the AMD EPYC 7281 at 5315 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core i9-10900KF at 5316 (0.2% behind).

What stands out is that the Threadripper wins consistently in Cinebench but loses the overall average because Geekbench carries heavier weight in the aggregate. The Intel chip's 40.8% multi-core Geekbench victory is the single largest delta in the entire comparison, and it more than compensates for the smaller Cinebench losses. Users running Cinebench-style rendering workloads will see the AMD chip slightly ahead, while those running Geekbench-heavy application mixes will favor Intel.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and different points in their respective company histories. The Intel Core i9-10900X uses the Cascade Lake architecture, specifically Cascade Lake-X, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It belongs to the Core i9 X-Series 10th Gen family and supports 10 cores with 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X uses the original Zen architecture, codenamed Whitehaven, also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by GlobalFoundries rather than Intel. It offers 12 cores and 24 threads, giving it two additional cores and four additional threads over the Intel part.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 cache. AMD's larger L3 pool is notable, but Intel's larger per-core L2 may benefit certain workloads. The AMD die is built from two 213 mm² dies with 9,600 million transistors total, a physical design detail that reflects its dual-die MCM approach. Intel's database entry does not list transistor count or die size.

Memory support is quad-channel DDR4 for both chips, and neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: Intel provides Gen 3 lanes without a specific lane count listed, while AMD provides Gen 3 with 60 lanes from the CPU. The AMD part has a listed memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while Intel's entry does not include a bandwidth figure. Both processors have unlocked multipliers, and both are marked active in production status. The Threadripper carries the part number YD192XA8UC9AE.

Clock speeds favor Intel on paper. The i9-10900X has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Threadripper 1920X has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. Despite the lower clocks, the AMD chip wins all Cinebench tests, which suggests that its additional two cores and larger L3 cache compensate for the clock deficit in those workloads. The TDP values also differ: Intel lists 165 W, while AMD lists 180 W. Both are high-power desktop parts, but the AMD chip draws more under its rated specifications.

The sockets are not interchangeable: Intel uses Socket 2066, while AMD uses Socket SP3r2. Release dates are far apart, with the Threadripper launching in August 2017 and the i9-10900X arriving in October 2019. The Threadripper's launch MSRP was $799, a figure that the database records but that should not be weighed against current pricing considerations.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data points to a clear division of labor. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X wins in every Cinebench test, from R15 through R23, in both single-core and multi-core variants. The margins are small, between 3.5% and 3.6%, but they are consistent across the board. This makes the Threadripper the better choice for rendering workloads that follow the Cinebench pattern, where its 12 cores and 32 MB of L3 cache edge out Intel's 10 cores and 19.25 MB of L3. The fact that AMD wins single-core Cinebench despite a lower boost clock is particularly telling: the Zen architecture's efficiency in this specific workload overcomes the 4.00 GHz versus 4.70 GHz boost differential.

The Intel Core i9-10900X wins decisively in Geekbench, both multi-core and single-core. The 40.8% multi-core lead and 21.4% single-core lead are the largest deltas in the entire comparison. This suggests that the Intel chip is better suited to applications that resemble Geekbench's workload mix, which tends to favor higher clock speeds and per-core performance. The i9-10900X's 4.70 GHz boost clock likely drives much of this advantage, along with its larger 1 MB per-core L2 cache.

For productivity users who rely on Geekbench-style application performance, the Intel chip is the stronger pick. For creators who run Cinebench-style rendering, the AMD chip holds a consistent, if modest, edge. The overall average benchmark score favors Intel at 5555 versus 5306, and the percentile ranking places Intel one point higher at 61 versus 60. The aggregate data therefore gives Intel a slight overall edge, but the nature of the workload will determine which chip feels faster in practice. A user running both types of workloads will see the Intel chip ahead on average, while a user running only rendering tasks will see AMD win every time.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X wins six of the eight head-to-head tests, taking every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 result. The Intel Core i9-10900X wins the two Geekbench tests.

Q: How large is Intel's Geekbench multi-core advantage?

A: The Intel Core i9-10900X scores 10104 versus 7178 for the Threadripper, a 40.8% lead. This is the largest single delta in the comparison.

Q: Does the Threadripper win single-core Cinebench despite lower clock speeds?

A: Yes. The Threadripper 1920X has a 4.00 GHz boost clock versus 4.70 GHz for the Intel chip, yet it wins single-core Cinebench by 3.6% in R15, 3.5% in R20, and 3.5% in R23.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i9-10900X has an average benchmark score of 5555, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X averages 5306. The Intel chip sits at the 61st percentile of all CPUs, with AMD one point behind at the 60th.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i9-10900X has 10 cores and 20 threads. AMD has two more cores and four more threads.

Q: What is the memory configuration for both processors?

A: Both support DDR4 with quad-channel memory buses. Neither supports ECC memory. The AMD chip has a listed memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while Intel's entry does not list a bandwidth figure.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-10900X | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X |

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

| Cores | 10 | 12 |

| Threads | 20 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 165 W | 180 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2066 | AMD Socket SP3r2 |

| Architecture | Cascade Lake | Zen |

| Codename | Cascade Lake-X | Zen (Whitehaven) |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not listed | 9,600 million |

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

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

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

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

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 85.3 GB/s |

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

| Release Date | 2019-10-18 | 2017-08-09 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $799 |

| Part Number | Not listed | YD192XA8UC9AE |

The two chips share several traits: both are desktop parts, both have unlocked multipliers, both use DDR4 memory, both lack integrated graphics and ECC support, and both use 14 nm process technology. The differences in cores, clocks, cache layout, and PCIe lane count define their distinct positions in the desktop high-performance segment.