AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X vs Intel Core i9-9940X Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9940X and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X are two high-end desktop processors from the same era, but they take fundamentally different approaches to delivering performance. The benchmark data shows a clear split: AMD’s 16-core Threadripper dominates in Cinebench render tests across the board, while Intel’s 14-core part fights back decisively in Geekbench workloads. With average benchmark scores of 6657 for the Intel and 6647 for the AMD, the overall performance gap is razor-thin at just 0.1%, but the distribution of those wins tells a more nuanced story about which chip suits specific tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is the undisputed king of Cinebench rendering. It wins all six Cinebench tests in the head-to-head comparison, covering R15, R20, and R23 in both multi-core and single-core variants. The margin is consistent—AMD leads by 4.9% in multi-core tests across R15, R20, and R23, and by 4.9% to 5.1% in single-core tests. This pattern suggests a fundamental advantage in the Threadripper’s core configuration and memory subsystem that translates directly to render performance. For anyone whose primary workload is CPU-based rendering in Cinema 4D or similar applications, the data is unambiguous: the 2950X is the faster processor.

The Intel Core i9-9940X wins in Geekbench, and it does so by a wide margin. The Intel part scores 10466 in Geekbench multi-core versus 8469 for the AMD, a 23.6% advantage. In single-core Geekbench, Intel leads 1468 to 1255, a 17% edge. These are not marginal victories; they represent a substantial performance gap in workloads that Geekbench measures, which include encryption, compression, image processing, and physics simulations. The Intel chip’s higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus 4.40 GHz for the AMD, combined with its 1 MB L2 cache per core, appears to give it a significant edge in these latency-sensitive tasks.

The overall picture is one of specialization. If the workload is rendering, choose AMD. If the workload is general-purpose computing, database operations, or tasks modeled by Geekbench, Intel has a commanding lead. The deltaPct between the two in their average scores is only 0.1%, but that average hides the fact that these chips are not interchangeable—they excel at different things.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different manufacturing processes and microarchitectures, which explains much of the performance divergence. The Intel Core i9-9940X uses Intel’s 14 nm process node and the Skylake-X architecture, with a die size of 484 mm². The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X uses a 12 nm node from GlobalFoundries, featuring the Zen+ architecture with a die size listed as 2x 213 mm². The AMD part packs 9,600 million transistors across its two dies, while Intel’s monolithic die is much larger but lacks a transistor count in the data.

Core counts differ, with the AMD offering 16 cores and 32 threads versus 14 cores and 28 threads for the Intel. This gives the Threadripper a raw thread-count advantage of 2 cores and 4 threads, which directly contributes to its Cinebench multi-core wins. However, the Intel chip has a higher boost clock at 4.50 GHz compared to 4.40 GHz for AMD, and a higher base clock at 3.30 GHz versus 3.50 GHz for AMD—wait, the data shows Intel’s base is 3.30 and AMD’s is 3.50, so AMD actually has the higher base clock. The Intel advantage is solely in boost clock.

Cache hierarchies are markedly different. Intel provides 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, with 19.25 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with a larger 32 MB L3. The larger per-core L1 on AMD and the bigger L3 pool help in render workloads, while Intel’s larger per-core L2 likely aids in the Geekbench tasks. Both support DDR4 memory in quad-channel configuration, but AMD has a higher memory bandwidth at 93.9 GB/s versus 85.3 GB/s for Intel.

PCIe connectivity also differs: Intel offers 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while AMD offers 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. Both have unlocked multipliers for overclocking. Intel’s socket is Socket 2066, while AMD uses SP3r2. The AMD part is listed as active production, while Intel’s is end-of-life, and the AMD was released earlier on 2018-08-30 versus Intel’s 2018-10-18. Neither has integrated graphics, and both lack ECC memory support.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are a clean sweep for AMD, and the consistency of the margins is striking. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Threadripper scores 2523 against Intel’s 2400, a 4.9% lead. The R15 single-core test shows AMD at 356 versus 338, a 5.1% advantage. Moving to R20, AMD leads 10516 to 10000 in multi-core (4.9%) and 1484 to 1411 in single-core (4.9%). The R23 results continue the pattern: AMD wins multi-core 25040 to 23810 (4.9%) and single-core 3535 to 3361 (4.9%). The consistent ~5% gap across all three generations of Cinebench suggests a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Geekbench flips the script entirely. Intel’s multi-core score of 10466 crushes AMD’s 8469, a 23.6% delta. That is a massive swing, especially given how close the Cinebench numbers are. In single-core Geekbench, Intel leads 1468 to 1255, a 17% gap. These are the largest margins in either direction across all eight head-to-head tests. The Intel chip wins 2 tests, AMD wins 6, but the magnitude of Intel’s Geekbench wins is so large that it nearly offsets AMD’s sweep in Cinebench.

The average benchmark scores tell the story of near-parity: Intel at 6657, AMD at 6647, a 0.1% difference. Yet that parity is a mirage. In render workloads, AMD is consistently 5% faster. In Geekbench-style workloads, Intel is 17% to 24% faster. For a user, the choice is not about which is “better” overall—it is about which benchmark suite matches your actual applications.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X wins with a score of 25040 versus 23810 for the Intel Core i9-9940X, a 4.9% advantage.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in any single benchmark?

A: The Intel Core i9-9940X leads by 23.6% in Geekbench multi-core, scoring 10466 versus 8469 for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X.

Q: Do both processors support quad-channel memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory in quad-channel configuration, but the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X has higher memory bandwidth at 93.9 GB/s versus 85.3 GB/s for the Intel part.

Q: Which chip has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X offers 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core i9-9940X provides 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i9-9940X has an average score of 6657, and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X has an average of 6647, a difference of just 0.1%.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-9940X boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X boosts to 4.40 GHz.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct profiles. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is the choice for render-heavy workloads. Its six consecutive Cinebench wins, all by roughly 5%, demonstrate a clear and repeatable advantage in Cinema 4D and similar rendering tasks. The 16-core, 32-thread configuration, larger 32 MB L3 cache, and higher memory bandwidth at 93.9 GB/s all contribute to this result. If the primary job is rendering frames, the Threadripper is the faster tool.

The Intel Core i9-9940X is the pick for general-purpose computing and Geekbench-style workloads. Its 17% single-core and 23.6% multi-core Geekbench wins are decisive, far larger than AMD’s Cinebench margins. The higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz and the 1 MB L2 per core appear to give Intel the edge in tasks that reward quick access to data and high clock speeds. For database work, scientific computing, or mixed productivity tasks, the Intel part is measurably superior.

For users who need both render performance and general-purpose speed, the decision depends on which workload is more critical. The AMD wins more individual tests (6 versus 2), but the Intel wins by larger margins in the tests it takes. The near-identical average scores, 6657 versus 6647, mean neither chip is a dud. However, the production status matters: the Intel is end-of-life, while the AMD remains active. The Threadripper also offers more PCIe lanes at 60 versus 44, which could matter for expansion-heavy systems. Ultimately, renderers should buy the AMD, and everything else points to the Intel.