AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX vs Intel Core i9-9960X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data splits sharply by benchmark suite. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX wins six of the eight comparisons, all of them in Cinebench. The Intel Core i9-9960X wins the two Geekbench tests.

Starting with Cinebench R15, the Threadripper 2970WX posts 2651 in the multicore test against 2532 for the Core i9-9960X, a 4.5% margin. The single-core R15 test follows the same pattern: 374 versus 357, again 4.5% in favor of AMD. These are consistent wins, not isolated outliers.

Cinebench R20 repeats the story. The Threadripper 2970WX scores 11048 multicore, the Core i9-9960X scores 10550, a 4.5% gap. In single-core R20, AMD leads 1559 to 1489, another 4.5% edge. Cinebench R23 shows the same relative result: 26305 multicore for the Threadripper 2970WX versus 25120 for Intel, and 3713 single-core versus 3546. Every Cinebench delta in the database is exactly 4.5%, which points to a consistent scaling advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Geekbench results flip the outcome. In Geekbench multicore, the Core i9-9960X scores 10512 versus 7195 for the Threadripper 2970WX, a commanding 46.1% lead. In Geekbench single-core, Intel wins 1396 to 1236, a 12.9% margin. The magnitude of the multicore Geekbench gap is striking, especially since the AMD part has more cores. This suggests the two suites stress very different aspects of the processors, and neither chip is uniformly superior.

To summarize the head-to-head tally: AMD takes 6 wins, Intel takes 2. But those two Intel wins include the largest single delta of the entire comparison, the 46.1% Geekbench multicore blowout. The average benchmark scores in the database reflect the split differently: the Core i9-9960X has an average benchmark score of 6938, while the Threadripper 2970WX sits at 6760. The Intel part also ranks at the 63rd percentile among all CPUs, one point ahead of the AMD part's 62nd percentile. So despite losing most Cinebench matchups, the Intel chip edges ahead in the overall aggregate score.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different foundries and nodes. Intel builds the Core i9-9960X on a 14 nm process at Intel, while AMD uses GlobalFoundries for the 12 nm Threadripper 2970WX. The Intel die measures 484 mm²; the AMD package uses four dies of 213 mm² each, totaling four times that area, and AMD lists 19,200 million transistors.

Core counts differ substantially. The Threadripper 2970WX has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Core i9-9960X has 16 cores and 32 threads. The AMD part also has more L3 cache: 64 MB versus 22 MB shared on the Intel side. Per-core cache details differ too. Intel provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core; AMD provides 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core.

Clock speeds favor Intel. The Core i9-9960X has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The Threadripper 2970WX runs at 3.00 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost. Despite lower clocks, the AMD part wins every Cinebench test, which indicates that its extra cores and larger L3 cache more than compensate in those workloads.

Memory bandwidth goes to AMD: 93.9 GB/s versus 85.3 GB/s for Intel, with both using quad-channel DDR4. PCIe lane counts also favor AMD, which provides 60 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while Intel provides 44 Gen 3 lanes. Both sockets are proprietary to their platforms: Intel Socket 2066 for the Core i9-9960X, AMD Socket SP3r2 for the Threadripper 2970WX. Neither chip has integrated graphics, and neither supports ECC memory. Both have unlocked multipliers.

The manufacturing status differs: the Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part is listed as active. Release dates are close, with AMD launching on 2018-10-01 and Intel on 2018-10-18.

The Verdict

The data does not declare a single winner; it declares two different winners depending on the workload class. For Cinebench rendering workloads, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is the stronger part, leading by 4.5% across every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 test, both single-core and multicore. The consistency of that margin across all six Cinebench results is notable.

For Geekbench workloads, the Intel Core i9-9960X is the clear choice. Its 46.1% multicore lead and 12.9% single-core lead are far larger than the AMD margins in Cinebench. The Intel chip also holds the higher average benchmark score, 6938 versus 6760, and the higher percentile rank, 63 versus 62.

A buyer running primarily Cinebench-style rendering should pick the Threadripper 2970WX. A buyer whose applications resemble Geekbench, especially in multicore scaling, should pick the Core i9-9960X. The Intel part also offers higher clock speeds, which may matter for lightly threaded tasks that do not rely on AMD's extra cores.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Cores: Intel 16, AMD 24
• Threads: Intel 32, AMD 48
• Base clock: Intel 3.10 GHz, AMD 3.00 GHz
• Boost clock: Intel 4.50 GHz, AMD 4.20 GHz
• TDP: Intel 165 W, AMD 250 W
• Socket: Intel Socket 2066, AMD Socket SP3r2
• Architecture: Intel Skylake, AMD Zen+
• Codename: Intel Skylake-X, AMD Colfax
• Generation: Intel Core i9 (X-Series 9th Gen), AMD Ryzen Threadripper (Zen+ (Colfax))
• Process node: Intel 14 nm, AMD 12 nm
• Foundry: Intel, GlobalFoundries
• Transistors: Intel not listed, AMD 19,200 million
• Die size: Intel 484 mm², AMD 4x 213 mm²
• L1 cache: Intel 64 KB per core, AMD 96 KB per core
• L2 cache: Intel 1 MB per core, AMD 512 KB per core
• L3 cache: Intel 22 MB shared, AMD 64 MB
• Memory bandwidth: Intel 85.3 GB/s, AMD 93.9 GB/s
• ECC memory: false for both (no difference)
• PCIe: Intel Gen 3, 44 lanes, AMD Gen 3, 60 lanes
• Production status: Intel end-of-life, AMD active
• Release date: Intel 2018-10-18, AMD 2018-10-01
• Launch MSRP: Intel $1684, AMD $1299
• Part number: Intel SREZ4, AMD YD297XAZUHCAF

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX scores 26305, while the Intel Core i9-9960X scores 25120, giving AMD a 4.5% lead.

Q: How large is the Intel lead in Geekbench multicore?

A: The Core i9-9960X scores 10512 versus 7195 for the Threadripper 2970WX, a 46.1% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both list ECC memory as false.

Q: What are the core counts?

A: The Intel Core i9-9960X has 16 cores and 32 threads. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX has 24 cores and 48 threads.

Q: Which processor has higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-9960X boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX boosts to 4.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX provides 60 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, compared to 44 Gen 3 lanes for the Intel Core i9-9960X.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX wins every Cinebench test in the database. That includes Cinebench R15 multicore (2651 versus 2532), R15 single-core (374 versus 357), R20 multicore (11048 versus 10550), R20 single-core (1559 versus 1489), R23 multicore (26305 versus 25120), and R23 single-core (3713 versus 3546). Each of those wins carries a 4.5% delta. The AMD part also offers more cores, more threads, more L3 cache, higher memory bandwidth, and more PCIe lanes, making it the stronger platform for heavily parallel rendering and compute tasks that scale with core count.

The Intel Core i9-9960X wins in Geekbench, with a 46.1% multicore lead and a 12.9% single-core lead. It also has the higher average benchmark score (6938 versus 6760) and the higher percentile rank (63 versus 62). Its advantages include higher base and boost clocks, a smaller die, and a lower TDP of 165 W versus 250 W. These traits suit workloads where per-core frequency and specific Geekbench-style scaling matter more than raw core counts.

For a user choosing between the two, the split is clear: Cinebench-oriented rendering favors AMD; Geekbench-oriented tasks favor Intel. The aggregate score slightly favors Intel, but the magnitude of the AMD wins in Cinebench is uniform and reliable across all versions of that benchmark.