AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X vs Intel Core i9-9960X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database records a complete sweep for the Intel Core i9-9960X across all eight head-to-head comparisons, but the margins tell a more nuanced story. In the Cinebench suite, the Intel part wins every round by razor-thin margins. The largest of these is a 0.4% advantage in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Intel chip scores 2532 against 2523 for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X. Single-core in R15 shows a 0.3% delta, with scores of 357 and 356 respectively. These are effectively statistical ties, but the database records the Intel part as the winner in each case.

Cinebench R20 follows the same pattern. The Intel Core i9-9960X posts 10550 in multi-core versus 10516 for the Threadripper, a 0.3% gap. Single-core R20 shows 1489 against 1484, again a 0.3% edge for Intel. Cinebench R23 multi-core sees the Intel chip at 25120 and the AMD part at 25040, another 0.3% margin. Single-core R23 is 3546 versus 3535, once more a 0.3% delta. The consistency of these margins across all six Cinebench tests suggests that the two processors are nearly identical in rendering workloads, with the Intel part holding a slight but repeatable lead.

The Geekbench results are where the contest becomes lopsided. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel Core i9-9960X scores 10512 against 8469 for the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X. That is a 24.1% advantage for Intel, a massive swing compared to the Cinebench results. Single-core Geekbench tells a similar story: 1396 for Intel versus 1255 for AMD, an 11.2% lead. These numbers indicate that the two processors diverge sharply depending on the benchmark suite, with Geekbench favoring the Intel architecture far more than Cinebench does.

The overall win count stands at 8 for the Intel Core i9-9960X and 0 for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X. However, the average benchmark scores put the Intel part at 6938 and the AMD part at 6647, a difference of roughly 4.4%. The percentile rankings are close as well: the Intel chip sits at the 63rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the AMD chip sits at the 62nd. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G with an average score of 6931 (0.1% behind), the Intel Pentium Gold G6400 at 6969 (0.4% ahead), and the Intel Core i5-3470 at 6906 (0.5% behind). The AMD part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-13400E at 6638 (0.1% behind), the Intel Core i9-9940X at 6657 (0.1% ahead), and the Intel Core i9-12900E at 6611 (0.5% behind). Neither processor is close to the top of the database; both sit in the lower-middle range of the percentile distribution.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear but narrow verdict. For Cinebench workloads, the Intel Core i9-9960X and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X are effectively interchangeable. The largest recorded margin in any Cinebench test is 0.4%, which falls well within run-to-run variance for most systems. A user choosing between these two strictly on Cinebench data would find no meaningful difference.

The Geekbench results change that picture. The Intel part leads by 24.1% in multi-core and 11.2% in single-core, which are substantial margins by any standard. Anyone whose workflow resembles the Geekbench workload pattern should favor the Intel Core i9-9960X. The database also shows the Intel chip with a higher average benchmark score (6938 versus 6647) and a slightly better percentile rank (63rd versus 62nd).

The AMD part does have one clear advantage in the recorded data: it is listed as active production status, while the Intel part is end-of-life. Availability may therefore favor the AMD platform, but the benchmark data itself gives the Intel chip the edge in every recorded test. The verdict is straightforward: if the workload is Geekbench-like, the Intel Core i9-9960X wins decisively. If the workload is Cinebench-like, the choice comes down to factors outside the benchmark scores, since the performance data is nearly identical.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing and design families. The Intel Core i9-9960X is built on a 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry, with a die size of 484 mm². The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries, with a die configuration of 2x 213 mm². The AMD part's transistor count is listed as 9,600 million, while the Intel part has no recorded transistor figure.

Core and thread counts are identical at 16 cores and 32 threads for both. Base clocks differ: the Intel chip runs at 3.10 GHz, the AMD chip at 3.50 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with Intel at 4.50 GHz and AMD at 4.40 GHz. The Intel part has the higher boost clock by 0.10 GHz, while the AMD part has the higher base clock by 0.40 GHz.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The Intel Core i9-9960X uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 22 MB of shared L3. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X uses 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3. The AMD chip has more L1 per core and more total L3, while the Intel chip has twice the L2 per core.

Memory support is similar on paper: both support DDR4 with quad-channel memory buses. The recorded memory bandwidth is 85.3 GB/s for Intel and 93.9 GB/s for AMD, giving the AMD part a higher theoretical bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity favors AMD: the Threadripper provides 60 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part provides 44 Gen 3 lanes.

The socket and platform are completely different. Intel uses Socket 2066, AMD uses Socket SP3r2. The TDP ratings differ as well: 165 W for Intel, 180 W for AMD. Both have unlocked multipliers. The Intel part is from the Core i9 X-Series 9th Gen family with the Skylake-X architecture, while the AMD part is from the Ryzen Threadripper 2000 series with the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Colfax.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i9-9960X wins with a score of 25120 against 25040 for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X, a margin of 0.3%.

Q: How large is the Geekbench multi-core gap between the two?

A: The Intel Core i9-9960X scores 10512 in Geekbench multi-core compared to 8469 for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X, a 24.1% advantage for Intel.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i9-9960X boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X boosts to 4.40 GHz.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X has 60 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core i9-9960X has 44 Gen 3 lanes.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is listed as active, while the Intel Core i9-9960X is listed as end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-9960X wins every recorded benchmark in the database, but the significance of those wins varies by workload type. In the Cinebench suite, the Intel chip's margins are all between 0.3% and 0.4%. These are wins in a technical sense, but they are too small to represent a practical advantage. For rendering and other Cinebench-like tasks, neither processor can be said to clearly outperform the other based on the recorded data.

The Geekbench results are a different matter. The 24.1% multi-core lead and 11.2% single-core lead for the Intel part are large enough to matter in real-world use. Applications that stress the system in ways similar to Geekbench will show a measurable performance advantage for the Intel Core i9-9960X. This is the clearest use-case split in the data.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X does not win any recorded benchmark, but it has structural advantages that may matter outside pure performance. It offers more PCIe lanes (60 versus 44), higher theoretical memory bandwidth (93.9 GB/s versus 85.3 GB/s), and a higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 3.10 GHz). Its 32 MB of L3 is larger than the Intel chip's 22 MB, and its 96 KB of L1 per core exceeds the Intel chip's 64 KB. The AMD part also has a lower launch MSRP of $899 compared to $1684 for the Intel part, though pricing is not a factor in the benchmark analysis.

For users prioritizing raw benchmark scores, the Intel Core i9-9960X is the pick, especially for Geekbench-like workloads. For users prioritizing platform features, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X offers more PCIe connectivity and higher memory bandwidth. In Cinebench-class workloads, the data shows no meaningful winner, so platform and feature preferences should dominate that decision. The production status also favors AMD, since the Threadripper remains active while the Intel part is end-of-life.