AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX vs Intel Core i9-10940X Comparison

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX and Intel Core i9-10940X represent two fundamentally different approaches to high-end desktop computing. The Threadripper 2970WX is built on AMD's Zen+ architecture, codenamed Colfax, and uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It packs 24 cores and 48 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The chip is physically large, consisting of four 213 mm² dies, and contains 19,200 million transistors. Its cache hierarchy includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a substantial 64 MB of L3 cache. The processor operates on the AMD Socket SP3r2 platform with a TDP of 250 W.

The Intel Core i9-10940X, by contrast, is a Cascade Lake-X part from the Core 10th Gen X-Series lineup. It uses Intel's 14 nm process and offers 14 cores with 28 threads. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz, and it boosts to 4.80 GHz. The L1 cache is 64 KB per core, L2 is 1 MB per core, and L3 is 19.25 MB shared. The chip fits into Intel Socket 2066 and has a TDP of 165 W. Both processors support DDR4 memory in quad-channel configuration, though the database lists memory bandwidth only for the AMD part at 93.9 GB/s. Both have unlocked multipliers for overclocking, and neither includes integrated graphics or ECC memory support.

The core count and cache allocation are the most striking differences. The AMD part offers 10 more cores and 20 more threads than the Intel part, along with a much larger L3 pool. However, the Intel chip runs at higher clock speeds, with a 600 MHz advantage in boost and a 300 MHz advantage in base. The AMD processor also provides 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part lists PCIe Gen 3 support without a lane count in the database. The process node gap (12 nm versus 14 nm) and the physical design (four dies versus a monolithic die) are central architectural distinctions that shape their benchmark behavior.

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a clear split based on workload type. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX wins six of the eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, taking every Cinebench test across R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core. The Intel Core i9-10940X wins both Geekbench tests, with a substantial margin in multi-core and a solid lead in single-core.

For users prioritizing sustained multi-threaded rendering, the Threadripper 2970WX is the stronger choice. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 26,305 versus 23,520 for the Intel part represents an 11.8% advantage. That pattern repeats across every Cinebench version, with deltas between 11.8% and 12%. If the primary workflow is video encoding, 3D rendering, or any application that scales with core count and large L3 cache, the AMD part delivers a consistent, measurable edge.

The Intel Core i9-10940X is the pick for Geekbench-style workloads. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 10,464 crushes the AMD's 7,195, a 31.2% gap. The single-core result is also decisive: 1,556 versus 1,236, or 20.6% ahead. Applications that rely on the Geekbench workload mix, which tends to favor higher clocks and lower latency, will perform noticeably better on the Intel platform. The Intel chip also carries a lower TDP of 165 W against 250 W, which may matter for system cooling requirements, but the database does not provide thermal or power measurements beyond those figures.

Both processors sit at the 62nd percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are close: 6,760 for AMD versus 6,605 for Intel. The AMD part edges out the Intel part by roughly 2.3% in average score. The choice ultimately hinges on whether the target applications resemble Cinebench (AMD wins) or Geekbench (Intel wins).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2,651 against the Intel's 2,370, a 11.9% win. The single-core R15 result is 374 versus 334, a 12% advantage. Cinebench R20 shows the same pattern: 11,048 versus 9,878 in multi-core (11.8%) and 1,559 versus 1,394 in single-core (11.8%). Cinebench R23 continues the trend with 26,305 versus 23,520 in multi-core (11.8%) and 3,713 versus 3,320 in single-core (11.8%).

The consistency of these deltas is notable. Across all six Cinebench tests, the AMD advantage hovers between 11.8% and 12%. This suggests a stable performance gap tied to the core count and cache configuration rather than a workload-specific anomaly. The Threadripper's 24 cores and 64 MB of L3 appear to provide a uniform benefit in Cinebench's rendering tasks, including the single-core tests, where the Intel's higher 4.80 GHz boost clock does not translate into a win.

The Geekbench results flip the script entirely. Intel's Core i9-10940X scores 10,464 in multi-core, which is 31.2% higher than the AMD's 7,195. In single-core, the Intel part posts 1,556 versus 1,236, a 20.6% advantage. These are large margins, far exceeding the Cinebench gaps. The Geekbench suite apparently exercises the Intel architecture more effectively, likely due to its higher clock speeds and per-core performance characteristics. The AMD part loses these tests despite its core-count advantage, indicating that Geekbench does not scale with the 24-core configuration as well as Cinebench does.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database, the AMD Threadripper 2970WX sits alongside the Intel Core i7-12700E, with a delta of -0.2%, and the Intel Xeon Gold 6154, at -0.6%. The Intel Core i9-10940X is matched by the Intel Pentium Gold G6405 at 0% delta and trails the Intel Core i9-12900E by 0.1%. Both processors occupy a similar performance tier, despite their architectural differences.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX has 24 cores and 48 threads. The Intel Core i9-10940X has 14 cores and 28 threads.

Q: How does the AMD part perform in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD scores 26,305, which is 11.8% higher than the Intel's 23,520.

Q: What is the Intel part's advantage in Geekbench multi-core?

A: The Intel scores 10,464, which is 31.2% higher than the AMD's 7,195.

Q: Do both processors support quad-channel memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 in quad-channel configuration. The AMD part has a listed memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-10940X boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the AMD boosts to 4.20 GHz.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor have?

A: The AMD wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks, and the Intel wins 2.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is the clear winner for Cinebench-based workloads. All three versions of Cinebench, R15, R20, and R23, show the AMD part ahead by roughly 12% in both single-core and multi-core tests. This makes it the stronger option for rendering tasks that use the Cinebench engine, such as 3D scene creation and animation rendering. The 24-core configuration and 64 MB of L3 cache provide a consistent edge that does not diminish even in single-threaded Cinebench runs.

The AMD part also holds a slight edge in average benchmark score: 6,760 versus 6,605. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i7-12700E and Intel Xeon Gold 6154, both within 0.6% of its average score. This places the Threadripper in a competitive tier for mixed workloads, though its specific strengths are clearly in Cinebench-style multi-threaded tasks.

The Intel Core i9-10940X wins decisively in Geekbench. Its multi-core score of 10,464 is 31.2% higher than the AMD's 7,195, and its single-core score of 1,556 is 20.6% higher. This makes it the better choice for applications that follow the Geekbench workload pattern, which includes a mix of integer and floating-point operations, encryption, compression, and memory access patterns that favor higher clocks and lower latency. The Intel's 4.80 GHz boost clock is likely the key factor here.

For users running a mix of workloads, the average benchmark scores provide a tiebreaker. The AMD leads by 155 points on average, but the difference is small. The Intel part also has a lower TDP of 165 W versus 250 W, which could simplify cooling requirements, though that is not a performance metric.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX offers 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Intel Core i9-10940X offers 14 cores and 28 threads. The AMD base clock is 3.00 GHz, and the Intel base clock is 3.30 GHz. The AMD boost clock is 4.20 GHz, and the Intel boost clock is 4.80 GHz.

The process nodes differ: AMD uses 12 nm from GlobalFoundries, while Intel uses 14 nm. The AMD part has four 213 mm² dies and 19,200 million transistors, while the database does not list die size or transistor count for the Intel part. The cache hierarchy is also different: AMD has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3. Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 19.25 MB shared L3.

The TDP values are 250 W for AMD and 165 W for Intel. The sockets are AMD Socket SP3r2 and Intel Socket 2066. The AMD part has 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU; the Intel part lists PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count. Memory bandwidth is listed at 93.9 GB/s for the AMD part, while no figure is given for the Intel part. Both support DDR4 quad-channel memory, have no integrated graphics, no ECC support, and have unlocked multipliers. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $1299, while the Intel part has no listed launch MSRP in the database.