AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X vs Intel Core i9-10920X Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i9-10920X has 12 cores and 24 threads. The AMD part leads in raw parallel thread count.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench multi-core tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X wins every Cinebench multi-core test in the database. Its lead is consistent at 12.7% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core, with scores of 2523, 10516, and 25040 respectively versus the Intel's 2203, 9181, and 21861.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench tests?

A: The Intel Core i9-10920X dominates Geekbench. It scores 11165 in multi-core versus 8469 for the AMD part, a 31.8% advantage. In single-core Geekbench, the Intel scores 1673 versus 1255, a 33.3% lead.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds?

A: Both processors share a base clock of 3.50 GHz. The Intel Core i9-10920X boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X boosts to 4.40 GHz. The Intel chip has a higher maximum frequency.

Q: What is the manufacturing process node for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i9-10920X is built on a 14 nm process by Intel, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The AMD chip uses a smaller process node.

Q: What memory bus configuration do they support?

A: Both processors support quad-channel DDR4 memory. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X has a recorded memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s, while the Intel part does not have a listed bandwidth figure in the database.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The Intel Core i9-10920X has a TDP of 165 watts, and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X has a TDP of 180 watts. The AMD chip has the higher thermal design power.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The Intel Core i9-10920X is part of the Core 10th Gen X-Series, built on the Cascade Lake architecture (Cascade Lake-X codename) on a 14 nm process. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is from the 2000 series, using the Zen+ architecture with the Colfax codename, fabricated on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries.

The core counts diverge significantly: the Intel chip offers 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD chip provides 16 cores and 32 threads. This gives the Threadripper a 33% advantage in core count and a 33% advantage in thread count. The cache hierarchies also differ. Intel allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 19.25 MB L3 cache. AMD assigns 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a larger 32 MB L3 cache. The AMD part also lists a transistor count of 9,600 million and a die size of 2x 213 mm², while the Intel part has no listed transistor or die size data.

Clock behavior differs as well. Both start at a 3.50 GHz base clock, but the Intel chip boosts to 4.80 GHz versus the AMD's 4.40 GHz, a 0.40 GHz advantage for Intel in maximum frequency. The Intel chip draws 165 watts TDP versus the AMD's 180 watts, so the AMD processor consumes more power while offering more cores.

Platform support separates them clearly. The Intel Core i9-10920X uses the Intel Socket 2066, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X uses the AMD Socket SP3r2. Both support DDR4 memory in quad-channel configuration, and the AMD part has a measured memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s. Both lack integrated graphics, both have unlocked multipliers, and both support PCIe Gen 3. The AMD chip lists 60 PCIe lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part does not specify a lane count in the database.

Release dates differ by about 14 months: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X launched on 2018-08-30, and the Intel Core i9-10920X launched on 2019-10-18. Both are marked as active production status and target the desktop market segment.

The Verdict

The recorded data draws a clear line between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X wins 6 of the 8 direct head-to-head benchmarks, all in Cinebench tests. Its consistent 12.7% lead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core and single-core tests reflects a broader advantage in rendering workloads that rely on thread scaling. With 16 cores and 32 threads, the AMD chip is the stronger choice for multi-threaded creative workloads where Cinebench-style performance matters.

The Intel Core i9-10920X wins the other 2 benchmarks, both Geekbench tests, with decisive margins: 31.8% in multi-core and 33.3% in single-core. This suggests the Intel chip has an advantage in workloads that favor higher clock speeds and different IPC characteristics, despite having fewer cores. Its 4.80 GHz boost clock versus the AMD's 4.40 GHz likely contributes to this result.

Users who prioritize Cinebench-class rendering and productivity tasks should lean toward the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X. Its higher core count and consistent multi-threaded wins make it the default pick for heavily parallel workloads. Users who need maximum performance in Geekbench-style general computing or lightly threaded applications should choose the Intel Core i9-10920X, which posts a 33.3% single-core Geekbench lead.

The average benchmark score in the database also favors the AMD chip: 6647 versus 6347 for Intel, a 4.7% overall margin. Both processors sit at the 62nd percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier. The AMD part's launch MSRP was $899. The choice comes down to workload profile: AMD for Cinebench-class multi-threading, Intel for Geekbench-style responsiveness.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-10920X | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X |

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

| Cores | 12 | 16 |

| Threads | 24 | 32 |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 165 W | 180 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2066 | AMD Socket SP3r2 |

| Architecture | Cascade Lake | Zen+ |

| Codename | Cascade Lake-X | Colfax |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 12 nm |

| 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 | 93.9 GB/s |

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

| Release Date | 2019-10-18 | 2018-08-30 |

| Part Number | Not listed | YD295XA8UGAAF |

Both processors share the same base clock of 3.50 GHz, DDR4 memory support, quad-channel memory bus, lack of ECC support, lack of integrated graphics, desktop market segment, active production status, and unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a split pattern: AMD dominates Cinebench, Intel dominates Geekbench.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X wins all six Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 2523 against Intel's 2203, a 12.7% advantage. The single-core R15 test also goes to AMD at 356 versus 311, a 12.6% lead. Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern: AMD scores 10516 in multi-core versus 9181 for Intel, another 12.7% margin, and AMD leads single-core 1484 to 1296, again 12.7%. Cinebench R23 shows the same consistency: AMD scores 25040 multi-core versus Intel's 21861, and 3535 single-core versus Intel's 3086, both at 12.7% deltas. The identical delta percentages across all Cinebench versions indicate a stable performance ratio in this workload family.

The Intel Core i9-10920X reverses the trend in Geekbench. In Geekbench multi-core, Intel scores 11165 against AMD's 8469, a 31.8% lead. The single-core Geekbench test shows Intel at 1673 versus AMD's 1255, a 33.3% margin. These are the two largest deltas in the entire head-to-head set, far exceeding the Cinebench margins. The Intel chip's wins are proportionally bigger than the AMD chip's wins, but they cover fewer tests.

The overall benchmark tally favors AMD: 6 wins versus 2 for Intel. However, the magnitude of Intel's Geekbench victories is notable. The 31.8% and 33.3% margins in Geekbench are more than double the 12.7% margins AMD achieves in Cinebench. This means the Intel chip offers a dramatic performance spike in specific workloads, while the AMD chip offers broad, consistent superiority in rendering tests.

The average benchmark scores in the database put AMD ahead: 6647 versus 6347, a 4.7% overall difference. AMD's nearest rival in the database is the Intel Core i9-9940X at 6657, which is only 0.1% faster. The Intel Core i9-10920X's nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 7551 at 6391, just 0.7% lower. These relative standings place both CPUs in a comparable performance neighborhood, despite the different benchmark distributions.