AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs Intel Core i9-9980XE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX and Intel Core i9-9980XE are both extreme desktop processors, but the benchmark data shows a clear split in their strengths. The Threadripper 2990WX wins the majority of the head-to-head comparisons, taking 7 out of 8 tests, while the Core i9-9980XE secures a single, yet significant, victory in Geekbench single-core performance. The data indicates that for multi-threaded workloads, the AMD part is consistently ahead, though by a narrow margin, while Intel retains an edge in lightly-threaded tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive win for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX comes in the Geekbench multicore test, where it scores 11821 against the Intel Core i9-9980XE's 11270. This represents a 4.9% advantage, the largest delta in either direction across all tests. This result is particularly telling, as it suggests the 32-core, 64-thread configuration scales more effectively in this particular workload than the 18-core, 36-thread Intel part.

Across the entire Cinebench suite, the Threadripper 2990WX maintains a consistent, albeit smaller, lead. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD processor scores 2758, which is 2.2% ahead of Intel's 2699. The same 2.2% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore (11495 vs 11247) and Cinebench R23 multicore (27370 vs 26780). This pattern suggests that while the AMD part is faster, the performance gap is not as large as the core count difference might imply, indicating that the Intel architecture is more efficient per core in these rendering tasks.

The single-core results in the Cinebench tests are surprisingly close. The Threadripper 2990WX edges out a win in Cinebench R15 single-core with a score of 389 versus 380, a 2.4% difference. It also wins in R20 single-core (1622 vs 1587) and R23 single-core (3864 vs 3780), both by 2.2%. These results are noteworthy because they show that despite its higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz, the Intel part does not dominate in these specific benchmarks.

The one area where the Intel Core i9-9980XE decisively wins is Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1437 compared to AMD's 1303. This is a 9.3% advantage, a significant margin that stands in stark contrast to the narrow Cinebench results. This suggests that the Intel architecture has a distinct advantage in certain types of single-threaded integer workloads, even though it loses in others.

Overall, the average benchmark score for the Threadripper 2990WX is 7578, placing it in the 63rd percentile of all CPUs. The Core i9-9980XE has an average score of 7398, also in the 63rd percentile. The AMD part's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-6500 with an average score of 7569, a 0.1% delta, while the Intel part's nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 7282 with a score of 7409, a -0.1% delta.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is based on the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Colfax, and is manufactured on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries. In contrast, the Intel Core i9-9980XE uses the older Skylake architecture, codenamed Skylake-X, and is built on Intel's 14 nm process.

The most significant difference lies in the core and thread counts. The AMD processor features 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel processor has 18 cores and 36 threads. This 14-core, 28-thread difference is substantial and is the primary driver of its multicore performance advantage. The AMD chip's die size is listed as 4x 213 mm², with 19,200 million transistors, while the Intel chip has a single 484 mm² die.

Cache hierarchies also differ considerably. The Threadripper 2990WX has a larger L3 cache at 64 MB, while the Core i9-9980XE has a smaller 24.75 MB of shared L3 cache. Per-core L2 cache is larger on the Intel part, at 1 MB per core, compared to 512 KB per core on the AMD part. L1 cache is also different, with AMD providing 96 KB per core and Intel providing 64 KB per core.

Both processors support DDR4 memory in a quad-channel configuration, but the theoretical memory bandwidth differs. The AMD part is rated for 93.9 GB/s, while the Intel part is rated for 85.3 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory. PCIe lane counts are another differentiator, with the AMD processor offering 60 CPU-only Gen 3 lanes, while the Intel processor offers 44. Both have unlocked multipliers, and neither features integrated graphics.

The production status also differs, with the AMD part listed as "Active" and the Intel part as "End-of-life." The AMD processor was released on 2018-08-12, while the Intel processor was released later on 2018-10-18. The launch MSRP is $1799 for the AMD and $1979 for the Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has significantly more cores and threads, with 32 cores and 64 threads, compared to the Intel Core i9-9980XE's 18 cores and 36 threads.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-9980XE wins the Geekbench single-core test, scoring 1437 against the AMD's 1303, a 9.3% advantage.

Q: Are the processors on the same manufacturing process?

A: No, they are not. The AMD processor is built on a 12 nm process, while the Intel processor is built on a 14 nm process.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has a 64 MB L3 cache, which is significantly larger than the 24.75 MB shared L3 cache on the Intel Core i9-9980XE.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-9980XE has a higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz, compared to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX's boost clock of 4.20 GHz.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is listed as "Active," while the Intel Core i9-9980XE is listed as "End-of-life."

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the superior choice for multi-threaded workloads. It wins 7 out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, including all Cinebench multicore tests and Geekbench multicore. The consistent 2.2% lead in Cinebench and the 4.9% lead in Geekbench multicore demonstrate a clear, if not overwhelming, performance advantage across rendering and general multi-core tasks.

The Intel Core i9-9980XE's sole victory in Geekbench single-core, with a 9.3% lead, makes it the better option for applications that are heavily dependent on single-thread performance. However, this is a narrow use case. The data suggests that for most professional workloads that can utilize multiple cores, the Threadripper 2990WX offers more performance. The Intel part's higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz does not translate into a broad single-core advantage, as it loses all three Cinebench single-core tests.

The launch MSRP for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is $1799, and the launch MSRP for the Intel Core i9-9980XE is $1979. While the data shows a performance advantage for the AMD part in most tests, the choice ultimately depends on whether the user's primary applications favor the multi-core strength of the AMD or the single-core strength of the Intel.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Cores: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 32, while Intel Core i9-9980XE has 18.
• Threads: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 64, while Intel Core i9-9980XE has 36.
• Boost Clock: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 4.20 GHz, while Intel Core i9-9980XE is 4.50 GHz.
• TDP: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 250, while Intel Core i9-9980XE is 165.
• Socket: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses AMD Socket SP3r2, while Intel Core i9-9980XE uses Intel Socket 2066.
• Architecture: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is Zen+, while Intel Core i9-9980XE is Skylake.
• Process Node: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 12 nm, while Intel Core i9-9980XE is 14 nm.
• Foundry: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is GlobalFoundries, while Intel Core i9-9980XE is Intel.
• Die Size: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 4x 213 mm², while Intel Core i9-9980XE is 484 mm².
• L1 Cache: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 96 KB (per core), while Intel Core i9-9980XE is 64 KB (per core).
• L2 Cache: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 512 KB (per core), while Intel Core i9-9980XE is 1 MB (per core).
• L3 Cache: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 64 MB, while Intel Core i9-9980XE is 24.75 MB (shared).
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 93.9 GB/s, while Intel Core i9-9980XE is 85.3 GB/s.
• PCIe Lanes: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 60, while Intel Core i9-9980XE has 44.
• Production Status: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is Active, while Intel Core i9-9980XE is End-of-life.
• Release Date: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 2018-08-12, while Intel Core i9-9980XE is 2018-10-18.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the clear winner for multi-threaded workloads. Its victory in all Cinebench multicore tests (R15, R20, R23) and Geekbench multicore makes it the preferred choice for tasks like 3D rendering, video encoding, and scientific simulations that can leverage its 32 cores and 64 threads. The 4.9% advantage in Geekbench multicore is its largest win, indicating strong scaling in general-purpose parallel applications.

The Intel Core i9-9980XE wins in the specific scenario of single-threaded performance, as measured by Geekbench. Its 9.3% lead in this test makes it the better option for legacy applications, certain types of simulation software, and other workloads that are not well-optimized for multi-core processing and rely heavily on a single core's speed. The data shows that this is a narrow but distinct advantage, as it loses the single-core Cinebench tests. For users whose primary software is single-threaded, the Intel part's higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz may provide a tangible benefit in this specific test.