AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs Intel Core i7-13700E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-13700E across all eight benchmark comparisons, though the margins vary sharply between multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. In the Cinebench suite, the Intel part wins every test by a consistent 2.1% margin. The R15 multicore result is 2816 versus 2758, the R20 multicore is 11735 versus 11495, and the R23 multicore is 27941 versus 27370. Single-core Cinebench scores follow the same pattern: R15 at 397 versus 389, R20 at 1656 versus 1622, and R23 at 3944 versus 3864. These are narrow but uniform victories, suggesting a small generational efficiency advantage rather than a fundamental architectural mismatch for rendering workloads.

The Geekbench results tell a different story. In multicore, the Intel i7-13700E scores 12728 against the Threadripper 2990WX’s 11821, a 7.7% lead. That is a more substantial gap than any Cinebench test, indicating that the Geekbench workload favors the Intel processor’s scheduling or memory hierarchy. The single-core Geekbench result is the outlier in the entire dataset: the Intel chip scores 2437 while the AMD part manages only 1303, an 87% delta. This is not a marginal difference; it is a dominant performance disparity that will define the use-case analysis for this comparison. The Threadripper’s 32-core, 64-thread configuration simply cannot match the i7-13700E’s per-core throughput in this particular test.

It is notably the Threadripper 2990WX does not win a single recorded benchmark. The database shows 8 wins for the Intel processor and 0 for the AMD part. However, the average benchmark scores for these two CPUs are closer than the head-to-head table suggests. The i7-13700E has an average score of 7957 across all tested workloads, while the 2990WX averages 7578. The Intel part’s nearest rivals in the overall database include the AMD EPYC 7551P at 7952 (0.1% delta), the Intel Core i9-10980XE at 7910 (0.6% delta), and the Intel Xeon Gold 6326 at 8071 (-1.4% delta). The Threadripper, by contrast, sits near parts like the Intel Core i5-6500 at 7569 (0.1% delta) and the AMD EPYC 7371 at 7568 (0.1% delta). The percentile rankings reflect this: the i7-13700E is in the 64th percentile of all CPUs, while the 2990WX is in the 63rd.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Core i7-13700E is a Raptor Lake-S part built on a 10 nm process at Intel’s foundry. It has 16 cores and 24 threads, which means it uses a hybrid configuration with performance and efficiency cores, though the database does not break down the exact core mix. The die size is 257 mm², and the cache hierarchy is built around an 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, includes ECC memory support, and has integrated UHD Graphics 770. The PCIe interface is Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Its base clock is 1900 MHz with a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, and the TDP is 65 watts. The socket is Intel Socket 1700, and the part number is SRMG3. It was released on January 3, 2023, and remains in active production.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is a Zen+ (Colfax) part built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It has 32 cores and 64 threads, which is double the core count and more than double the thread count of the Intel chip. The die configuration is listed as 4x 213 mm², and the transistor count is 19,200 million. The cache layout is different: 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. It supports only DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth rating of 93.9 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. There is no integrated graphics. The PCIe interface is Gen 3 with 60 CPU lanes. The base clock is 3.00 GHz with a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, and the TDP is 250 watts. The socket is AMD Socket SP3r2, and the part number is YD299XAZUIHAF. It was released on August 12, 2018, and is still listed as active in production. The launch MSRP was $1799.

These architectural differences explain the benchmark results. The Threadripper’s advantage in raw core count is offset by its older Zen+ microarchitecture, slower process node, and lower boost clock. The Intel part’s 5.10 GHz boost clock is substantially higher than the AMD part’s 4.20 GHz, which directly impacts single-threaded performance. The Geekbench single-core result of 2437 versus 1303 is consistent with a clock-speed and IPC advantage that the Threadripper cannot overcome despite having twice the cores. The memory controllers also differ: the Intel chip’s dual-channel DDR5 support provides a more modern memory path, while the Threadripper’s quad-channel DDR4 provides higher aggregate bandwidth on paper (93.9 GB/s) but on an older standard.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded data, the Intel Core i7-13700E wins every benchmark in this comparison, so the use-case split is defined by the magnitude of those wins rather than by any AMD victories. The strongest case for the Intel processor is in single-threaded workloads. The 87% Geekbench single-core lead is decisive for tasks that depend on per-core performance, such as legacy software, lightly threaded applications, or workloads that cannot scale across many cores. The Cinebench single-core tests also favor Intel by a consistent 2.1%, reinforcing that the Raptor Lake architecture has a per-core advantage over Zen+.

For multi-threaded workloads, the Intel chip still wins, but the margins shrink. The Cinebench multicore tests are all within 2.1%, which suggests that the Threadripper’s 32 cores and 64 threads nearly compensate for its architectural disadvantages in render-style workloads. The Geekbench multicore result is more favorable to Intel at 7.7%, but that is still a smaller gap than the single-core delta. For users running heavily parallel workloads like video encoding, 3D rendering, or scientific simulations, the Threadripper’s core count makes it a closer competitor, even though it does not take the lead in any recorded test.

The power and platform characteristics also matter. The Intel part has a 65-watt TDP, while the Threadripper is rated at 250 watts. The database does not include cooling or power consumption measurements, but the TDP figures alone suggest the Intel chip is far easier to integrate into a conventional desktop system. The Threadripper’s SP3r2 socket and quad-channel DDR4 memory require a different class of motherboard and memory configuration. The Intel part’s integrated UHD Graphics 770 means it can operate without a discrete GPU for basic display output, while the Threadripper has no integrated graphics at all.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Core i7-13700E has 16 cores and 24 threads.

Q: What is the single-core Geekbench score difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700E scores 2437, and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX scores 1303. The Intel processor is 87% ahead in this test.

Q: How close are the Cinebench R23 multicore scores?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700E scores 27941, and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX scores 27370. The Intel part leads by 2.1%.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-13700E supports ECC memory, but the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX does not.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-13700E has integrated graphics, specifically UHD Graphics 770. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the memory channel configurations?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700E uses dual-channel memory and supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses quad-channel memory and supports DDR4 only.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-13700E outperforms the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX in every recorded test. For single-threaded applications, the Intel processor is overwhelmingly faster, as shown by the 87% Geekbench single-core delta. For multi-threaded workloads, the Intel chip maintains a lead, though the margin narrows to 2.1% in the Cinebench suite. The Threadripper’s 32 cores and 64 threads do not translate into a win anywhere in this dataset.

The choice between these two CPUs depends on the user’s priorities. The Intel Core i7-13700E is the better performer in all recorded benchmarks, has a much lower TDP (65 watts versus 250 watts), supports newer memory standards, includes integrated graphics, and offers ECC support. It also has a higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus 4.20 GHz. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX offers more cores, more threads, a larger L3 cache (64 MB versus 30 MB), quad-channel memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s, and 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. These are platform-level advantages, but they do not appear in the benchmark scores.

Users who need maximum per-core performance, modern memory support, or a lower-power platform should pick the Intel Core i7-13700E. Users who require the Threadripper’s massive core count, high PCIe lane count, or quad-channel memory bandwidth for a specific workstation configuration might still consider the AMD part, but the data shows they would be sacrificing benchmark performance across every tested workload. The percentile rankings confirm this: the Intel chip sits in the 64th percentile of all CPUs, while the Threadripper sits in the 63rd. The i7-13700E is the superior processor by every recorded metric.