AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X vs Intel Core i9-10940X Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X and Intel Core i9-10940X are two older high-end desktop processors that still command attention in the used and enthusiast markets. Both are unlocked, desktop-class parts with active production status, but their benchmark profiles reveal a stark split: the AMD chip dominates in Cinebench workloads, while the Intel chip wins decisively in Geekbench. With both CPUs sitting at the 62nd percentile of all processors, the choice between them hinges entirely on which benchmark family aligns with a user's primary applications.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data presents a clear and consistent split between the two processors. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X wins six out of the eight head-to-head comparisons, taking every single Cinebench test. The Intel Core i9-10940X, however, wins both Geekbench tests by a wide margin.

Starting with Cinebench, the AMD chip's lead is uniform across all three versions of the test. In Cinebench R15, the Threadripper 2950X scores 2523 in multi-core against Intel's 2370, a 6.5% advantage. The single-core R15 result is similarly close, with AMD at 356 and Intel at 334, a 6.6% delta. This pattern holds in Cinebench R20: AMD scores 10516 multi-core and 1484 single-core, while Intel scores 9878 and 1394, respectively, again giving AMD a 6.5% lead in both. Cinebench R23 follows the exact same trajectory, with AMD at 25040 multi-core and 3535 single-core, versus Intel's 23520 and 3320 — a consistent 6.5% gap. Across the board, the Threadripper 2950X demonstrates a steady, repeatable performance advantage in Cinebench's rendering and ray-tracing workloads.

The Geekbench results tell an entirely different story. Here, the Intel Core i9-10940X takes a commanding lead. In Geekbench multi-core, Intel scores 10464 against AMD's 8469, a massive 19.1% advantage. The single-core test is equally lopsided, with Intel scoring 1556 versus AMD's 1255, a 19.3% delta. This is a substantial reversal of the Cinebench results, suggesting that the Intel architecture handles the specific workload mix in Geekbench significantly better than AMD's Zen+ design. The difference is not marginal — it is a near-20% swing in favor of Intel for these particular tests.

Looking at the broader picture, the average benchmark scores are almost identical. The Threadripper 2950X has an average benchmark score of 6647, while the i9-10940X sits at 6605. Both processors are within 0.6% of each other in their overall average, and their nearest rivals include processors like the Intel Core i9-9940X and Intel Core i5-13400E, confirming that they occupy a similar performance tier. The wins are split 6-2 in favor of AMD, but the magnitude of Intel's Geekbench wins is nearly three times larger than any single AMD lead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X has an average benchmark score of 6647, while the Intel Core i9-10940X scores 6605. The difference is only 0.6%, making them statistically equivalent in overall performance.

Q: How large is the AMD chip's lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core?

A: The Threadripper 2950X scores 10516 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, which is 6.5% higher than the i9-10940X's score of 9878. This same 6.5% delta repeats in Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core tests.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-10940X wins both Geekbench tests. It scores 10464 in Geekbench multi-core (19.1% ahead of AMD) and 1556 in Geekbench single-core (19.3% ahead of AMD).

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X and the Intel Core i9-10940X are at the 62nd percentile of all CPUs. Their average scores place them within 0.6% of each other.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i9-10940X has 14 cores and 28 threads. The AMD chip has two more cores and four more threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-10940X has a higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz, compared to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X's boost clock of 4.40 GHz. However, the AMD chip has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus Intel's 3.30 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is the clear winner in Cinebench-style workloads. All six Cinebench tests — R15, R20, and R23, in both multi-core and single-core — go to AMD with a consistent 6.5% to 6.6% margin. This makes the Threadripper 2950X the better choice for applications that rely on Cinebench's rendering engine, such as 3D rendering, animation, and visual effects work in tools like Cinema 4D. The chip's 16 cores and 32 threads likely contribute to its multi-core strength, but its single-core advantage in Cinebench is notable too, showing that the architecture handles these specific instructions well across the board.

The Intel Core i9-10940X wins decisively in Geekbench, with a 19.1% lead in multi-core and a 19.3% lead in single-core. Geekbench tests a broader range of everyday tasks, including cryptography, image processing, and machine learning. Users running software that relies on the specific instruction sets and workloads emphasized in Geekbench — such as certain encryption tools, compression utilities, or productivity applications — will see a substantial performance benefit from the Intel chip. The i9-10940X's higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz likely plays a role here, even though the AMD chip has a higher base clock.

The overall average scores are nearly identical, with AMD at 6647 and Intel at 6605. This means that in a mixed workload environment, users are unlikely to notice a major difference. However, the nature of the workload matters enormously. For sustained, heavily threaded rendering tasks, the Threadripper 2950X is the safer bet. For bursty, single-threaded or mixed workloads that align with Geekbench's test suite, the i9-10940X offers a significant edge.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i9-10940X has 14 cores and 28 threads. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.50 GHz, which is higher than Intel's 3.30 GHz, but the Intel chip has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, which is higher than AMD's 4.40 GHz. The TDPs are close, with AMD at 180 watts and Intel at 165 watts.

The sockets are entirely different: the AMD chip uses AMD Socket SP3r2, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 2066. Both support DDR4 memory and use quad-channel memory buses. The AMD chip has a specified memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s, while the Intel chip's memory bandwidth is not listed in the data. Neither processor supports ECC memory. The AMD chip offers PCIe Gen 3 with 60 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip also offers PCIe Gen 3 but without a specified lane count.

The AMD chip has a release date of 2018-08-30, while the Intel chip was released later on 2019-10-18. The AMD chip has a launch MSRP of $899, while the Intel chip's launch MSRP is not provided. Both processors have unlocked multipliers, and neither has integrated graphics. The AMD chip's part number is listed as YD295XA8UGAAF, while the Intel chip's part number is not provided.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is significant. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is based on the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Colfax, and is part of the Ryzen Threadripper 2000 series. It is manufactured on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries, with 9,600 million transistors and a die size of 2x 213 mm². The Intel Core i9-10940X, meanwhile, uses the Cascade Lake architecture, codenamed Cascade Lake-X, and is part of the Core i9 X-Series 10th Gen. It is manufactured on a 14 nm process by Intel, with no transistor or die size data provided in the pack.

Cache configurations differ markedly. The AMD chip has an L1 cache of 96 KB per core, an L2 cache of 512 KB per core, and a 32 MB L3 cache. The Intel chip has a smaller L1 cache of 64 KB per core but a much larger L2 cache of 1 MB per core, and its L3 cache is 19.25 MB (shared). The differences in cache hierarchy reflect the different design philosophies: AMD's larger L3 cache is shared across the chiplet design, while Intel's larger per-core L2 cache is designed for lower latency.

The AMD chip's 12 nm process and 9,600 million transistors represent a more modern manufacturing node than Intel's 14 nm process, though the Intel chip's lack of transistor and die size data makes a direct comparison impossible. Both are desktop-class parts, both are actively produced, and both have unlocked multipliers. The AMD chip's 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only) are a notable feature for multi-GPU setups, while the Intel chip's PCIe lane count is not specified.

The Verdict

The data presents a straightforward recommendation based on workload type. If a user's primary applications are Cinebench-based — such as 3D rendering, motion graphics, or visual effects — the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is the superior choice. It wins all six Cinebench tests with a consistent 6.5% margin, and its 16 cores and 32 threads provide a solid foundation for heavily threaded rendering tasks. The chip's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz also helps in sustained workloads where boost clocks cannot be maintained indefinitely.

If a user's primary applications align with Geekbench's test suite — including encryption, image processing, and machine learning tasks — the Intel Core i9-10940X is the clear winner. Its 19.1% multi-core and 19.3% single-core leads are substantial, and its higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz gives it an edge in bursty, latency-sensitive workloads. The Intel chip also has a lower TDP of 165 watts, which may be a consideration for cooling and power delivery.

For users with mixed workloads, the decision is less clear-cut. The average scores are nearly identical, with AMD at 6647 and Intel at 6605, and both chips sit at the 62nd percentile. The choice then comes down to platform preferences: AMD's Socket SP3r2 offers 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes for expansion, while Intel's Socket 2066 is a more established platform. The AMD chip's launch MSRP of $899 is the only price data available, but it should not be the deciding factor given the age of both parts. Ultimately, the Threadripper 2950X is the rendering champion, while the i9-10940X is the general-purpose and single-threaded winner. Choose based on the software that matters most.