AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs Intel Core i9-10980XE Comparison

The Intel Core i9-10980XE and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX are both high-core-count desktop processors, but the benchmark data reveals a clear split in their strengths. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX wins six of eight head-to-head tests, taking every Cinebench round, while the Intel Core i9-10980XE dominates Geekbench with significant margins. The data indicates that the Intel part is the better choice for lightly-threaded, latency-sensitive workloads, whereas the AMD chip holds a consistent, albeit narrow, edge in sustained multi-core rendering tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results show a distinct workload-based separation. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the winner in all six Cinebench tests, covering R15, R20, and R23 versions in both single-core and multi-core configurations. Its largest Cinebench victory is a 1% lead in the R15 single-core test, though most of its wins are narrow, with deltas around 0.9%. This suggests the 32-core AMD processor has a slight but consistent advantage in the rendering and 3D modeling workloads that Cinebench represents.

The Intel Core i9-10980XE takes the other two tests, both from Geekbench, and it does so decisively. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel processor scores 14742 against AMD's 11821, a 24.7% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, the Intel chip leads with 1453 versus 1303, an 11.5% margin. These results indicate that the Intel architecture is significantly stronger in the general-purpose, mixed-integer, and memory-access patterns that Geekbench measures. Users prioritizing tasks like code compilation, office productivity, or other workloads that resemble Geekbench's synthetic load will see a clear benefit from the Intel part.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i9-10980XE is built on Intel's 14 nm process node and uses the Cascade Lake architecture, specifically the Cascade Lake-X variant for the X-Series 10th Gen. It is manufactured by Intel and features 18 cores and 36 threads. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Colfax, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This AMD chip packs 32 cores and 64 threads, a substantial increase in core count.

Cache configurations also differ markedly. The Intel processor has a per-core L1 cache of 64 KB and a per-core L2 cache of 1 MB, with a shared L3 cache of 24.75 MB. The AMD processor has a larger per-core L1 cache of 96 KB, but a smaller per-core L2 cache of 512 KB, and its L3 cache is 64 MB. The AMD chip's die is composed of four 213 mm² dies, totaling 19,200 million transistors, while the Intel processor's die size and transistor count are not specified in the data. Both support DDR4 memory in a quad-channel configuration, with identical theoretical memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s, and neither supports ECC memory.

The platform connectivity differs as well. The Intel Core i9-10980XE uses the Intel Socket 2066 and provides 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses the AMD Socket SP3r2 and offers 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. Both have unlocked multipliers for overclocking. The Intel chip has a higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.20 GHz on the AMD part, but both have the same 3.00 GHz base clock.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head comparison is the Geekbench multi-core test, where the Intel Core i9-10980XE wins by 24.7%. The Intel score of 14742 is substantially higher than the AMD score of 11821. This is a surprising outcome given that the AMD processor has 32 cores versus the Intel's 18, indicating that the Intel architecture is far more efficient in this particular benchmark's threading and memory model. The Geekbench single-core test also favors Intel, with a score of 1453 versus 1303, an 11.5% advantage that points to Intel's superior per-core performance in this workload.

The Cinebench results tell a different story. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX scores 27370, barely edging out the Intel's 27130, a 0.9% difference. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where AMD scores 11495 against Intel's 11394, again a 0.9% lead. The single-core Cinebench tests are similarly close, with AMD leading by 1% in R15 (389 versus 385) and by 0.9% in both R20 (1622 versus 1608) and R23 (3864 versus 3830). While the AMD processor wins all Cinebench tests, the margins are so small that they are within run-to-run variance for most practical purposes. The real story is that the AMD chip's additional 14 cores provide only a marginal benefit in these specific rendering benchmarks, while the Intel chip's higher boost clock and architecture efficiency nearly close the gap.

Specification Differences

The specification comparison highlights the core count and process technology gap. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX offers 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Core i9-10980XE provides 18 cores and 36 threads. This is a significant difference in parallel compute resources. However, the Intel chip has a higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz compared to 4.20 GHz on the AMD part. The base clocks are identical at 3.00 GHz.

The process node differs, with Intel using 14 nm and AMD using 12 nm from GlobalFoundries. The thermal design power (TDP) also diverges, with the Intel processor rated at 165 W and the AMD processor at 250 W. Cache hierarchies are structured differently, with Intel using a larger per-core L2 (1 MB) and AMD using a larger per-core L1 (96 KB), while AMD's total L3 is 64 MB versus Intel's 24.75 MB. The PCIe lane count favors AMD at 60 lanes versus Intel's 48, both Gen 3. The Intel processor was released later, on 2019-10-18, while the AMD part launched on 2018-08-12. The Intel chip is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD chip is listed as active production. The launch MSRP for the Intel part is $1076, and the AMD part had a launch MSRP of $1799.

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 i9-10980XE has 18 cores and 36 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i9-10980XE wins decisively, scoring 14742 versus the AMD's 11821, a 24.7% advantage.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX wins narrowly, scoring 27370 against the Intel's 27130, a 0.9% lead.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i9-10980XE has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX boosts to 4.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX provides 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, whereas the Intel Core i9-10980XE provides 48 lanes.

Q: What is the process node for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i9-10980XE is built on a 14 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses a 12 nm process.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear recommendation based on workload type. For users whose primary applications resemble Geekbench's testing methodology, the Intel Core i9-10980XE is the superior choice. Its 24.7% lead in multi-core and 11.5% lead in single-core Geekbench tests are substantial and likely to translate into real-world benefits for general computing, software development, and other mixed-use scenarios. The fact that Intel achieves this with 14 fewer cores highlights its architectural efficiency in these tasks.

For those focused on rendering and 3D animation, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the winner, but the margin is thin. Its 0.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is negligible in practice, meaning the two processors are effectively tied in this workload. The AMD chip's higher core count does not yield a proportional performance benefit in Cinebench, likely due to memory bandwidth limitations and scaling inefficiencies. The AMD processor also carries a higher TDP of 250 W versus 165 W for Intel, and its launch MSRP was higher at $1799 versus $1076 for Intel. Given the near-identical Cinebench scores and Intel's significant Geekbench wins, the data suggests that the Intel Core i9-10980XE offers the more balanced and efficient overall package for most users, despite the AMD chip's raw core-count advantage. The AMD processor only makes sense for workloads that specifically benefit from its 32-core configuration and are not represented in these benchmark results.