AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs Intel Core i9-9990XE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a remarkably consistent picture: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX wins every single head-to-head test in this comparison, and it does so with a strikingly uniform margin. Across six Cinebench workloads, the AMD part takes all six victories, with the Intel Core i9-9990XE failing to secure a single win. The margins are tight but persistent, ranging from 6.7% to 6.9% depending on the specific test.

Starting with multi-core performance, the Threadripper 2990WX posts a Cinebench R15 score of 2758 against the i9-9990XE’s 2584, a 6.7% advantage. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where AMD scores 11495 versus Intel’s 10767, a 6.8% lead. The newest Cinebench R23 test shows the same story: 27370 for AMD against 25637 for Intel, again a 6.8% margin. These are not isolated results — the consistency across three generations of the Cinebench benchmark suggests a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Single-core results are just as one-sided. The Threadripper 2990WX leads in Cinebench R15 single-core with 389 points versus 364, a 6.9% edge. Cinebench R20 shows 1622 against 1519, a 6.8% lead. Cinebench R23 continues the trend with 3864 versus 3619, another 6.8% margin. This is notable because single-core performance is typically where Intel has historically held an advantage, yet the data here shows AMD winning that category too. The boost clock difference — 4.20 GHz for AMD versus 5.10 GHz for Intel — might suggest the Intel chip should win single-threaded tests, but the benchmark results indicate otherwise. The data shows the AMD architecture extracts more useful work per clock in these specific tests.

The Geekbench results further reinforce the AMD lead, though Intel is not listed in the head-to-head for this test. The Threadripper 2990WX scores 11821 multi-core and 1303 single-core, with an average benchmark score of 7578. The i9-9990XE, lacking Geekbench entries in the data, posts an average of 7415 across its available tests. This overall average difference of roughly 2.2% is smaller than the Cinebench deltas, but the direction is consistent.

It is worth questioning why the margins are so uniform. Every Cinebench test — whether R15, R20, or R23, single-core or multi-core — shows essentially the same 6.7-6.9% gap. This consistency hints at a fundamental throughput difference between the two designs rather than a workload-specific factor. The Threadripper 2990WX ships with 32 cores and 64 threads against Intel’s 14 cores and 28 threads, yet the AMD advantage is far smaller than the core count difference would suggest. The data implies the Intel cores are individually processing more work, but the sheer thread count of the AMD part carries it to victory in every test.

Where Each One Wins

The straightforward reading of the data is that the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX wins everywhere, taking all six head-to-head benchmarks. But a closer examination reveals nuance in how each chip achieves its performance profile. The Threadripper 2990WX wins by leveraging its massive core count — 32 cores and 64 threads — to outwork the Intel chip in every workload tested. The i9-9990XE, with 14 cores and 28 threads, cannot match the parallel throughput of the AMD part in these benchmarks.

Where the Intel chip shows its strength is in raw clock speed. The i9-9990XE boosts to 5.10 GHz, well above the Threadripper 2990WX’s 4.20 GHz. This higher frequency should translate to faster single-threaded execution, yet the benchmark data shows AMD winning single-core tests as well. The R15 single-core test shows AMD ahead by 6.9%, R20 by 6.8%, and R23 by 6.8%. This suggests the AMD Zen+ architecture at 3.00 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost is delivering more instructions per cycle than the Intel Skylake architecture at 4.00 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost in these specific workloads.

The data also shows the Intel chip holds its own in terms of overall CPU percentile ranking. Both processors sit at the 63rd percentile against all CPUs, indicating they are in the same performance tier despite the consistent head-to-head losses for Intel. The average benchmark score difference is modest: 7578 for AMD versus 7415 for Intel, a gap of about 2.2%. In practical terms, this means the Intel chip is not far behind on average, even though it loses every direct comparison in this dataset.

For users who prioritize multi-threaded rendering workloads, the Threadripper 2990WX is the clear choice based on Cinebench results. For users who value high clock speeds — the i9-9990XE’s 5.10 GHz boost is the highest figure in this comparison — the Intel chip offers that attribute, even if the benchmark data does not translate that clock advantage into wins. The production status also differs: AMD lists the Threadripper 2990WX as Active, while Intel lists the i9-9990XE as End-of-life. This suggests availability considerations beyond raw performance.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX wins every head-to-head test in this comparison, taking all six Cinebench benchmarks with margins between 6.7% and 6.9%. The Intel Core i9-9990XE records zero wins. For any workload represented by Cinebench — whether single-threaded or multi-threaded — the data says the AMD chip is faster.

The Threadripper 2990WX achieves this with 32 cores and 64 threads, a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries, and a 250 W TDP. The i9-9990XE counters with 14 cores and 28 threads, a 14 nm process from Intel, and a 255 W TDP. The core count disparity is enormous — AMD has more than double the cores — yet the performance advantage is only around 6.8%. This means each Intel core is doing significantly more work per core, but the AMD chip’s raw thread count still wins the day.

The production status is a differentiator. AMD lists the Threadripper 2990WX as Active, while Intel lists the i9-9990XE as End-of-life. For anyone choosing between these two processors today, the data suggests the AMD chip is not only faster in these benchmarks but also a currently produced product. The Intel chip, by contrast, is no longer in production.

The i9-9990XE does offer advantages in clock speed — 5.10 GHz boost versus 4.20 GHz — and it was released later, on 2018-10-18 versus AMD’s 2018-08-12. It also has a lower average benchmark score of 7415 versus AMD’s 7578. The percentile ranking is identical at 63, placing both in the same overall performance class. But the head-to-head results are decisive: the Threadripper 2990WX wins everywhere. The launch MSRP was $1799 for AMD and $2800 for Intel. The verdict from the data is clear: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the faster processor in every benchmark test in this comparison.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, while the Intel Core i9-9990XE wins zero. The AMD chip leads by 6.7% to 6.9% in each test.

Q: What is the largest performance margin in this comparison?

A: The largest margin is 6.9%, seen in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the Threadripper 2990WX scores 389 against the i9-9990XE’s 364. The R20 and R23 single-core tests also show 6.8% margins.

Q: How do the core counts differ between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Core i9-9990XE has 14 cores and 28 threads. AMD has more than double the core count.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i9-9990XE boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX boosts to 4.20 GHz. Despite the Intel chip’s higher boost clock, the AMD chip wins all single-core tests.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i9-9990XE is listed as End-of-life. This indicates the AMD chip is currently produced, while the Intel chip is not.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has an average benchmark score of 7578, while the Intel Core i9-9990XE averages 7415. Both processors rank at the 63rd percentile against all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses the Zen+ architecture with the codename Colfax, manufactured on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i9-9990XE uses the Skylake architecture with the codename Skylake-X, manufactured on a 14 nm process at Intel. The process node difference — 12 nm versus 14 nm — is modest, but the architectural approaches diverge significantly.

The AMD chip is built from four dies, each measuring 213 mm², for a total die size of 4x 213 mm². The transistor count is listed at 19,200 million. The Intel chip does not have transistor count or die size data in the fact pack. The cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Threadripper 2990WX has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The i9-9990XE has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache. This means AMD has more than three times the L3 cache, while Intel has double the L2 cache per core.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, with quad-channel memory buses on each. The memory bandwidth differs: AMD lists 93.9 GB/s, while Intel lists 85.3 GB/s. PCIe connectivity also differs, with AMD offering Gen 3 with 60 lanes (CPU only) and Intel offering Gen 3 with 44 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor has integrated graphics. Both processors have unlocked multipliers, allowing overclocking. The AMD chip uses Socket SP3r2, while the Intel chip uses Socket 2066.

The release dates are close: AMD launched on 2018-08-12, and Intel launched on 2018-10-18. The AMD chip is part of the 2000 series Ryzen Threadripper generation, while the Intel chip is part of the Core i9 Extreme X-Series 9th Gen. The Intel chip’s part number is SREZA, while the AMD chip’s part number is YD299XAZUIHAF. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The specification differences between the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX and Intel Core i9-9990XE are extensive. The core count differs dramatically: the AMD chip has 32 cores, while the Intel chip has 14 cores. Thread counts follow the same pattern: 64 threads for AMD versus 28 threads for Intel. Base clocks differ, with AMD at 3.00 GHz and Intel at 4.00 GHz. Boost clocks also differ, with AMD at 4.20 GHz and Intel at 5.10 GHz.

The TDPs are nearly identical: 250 W for AMD and 255 W for Intel. Sockets differ: AMD uses Socket SP3r2, while Intel uses Socket 2066. The process node differs: 12 nm for AMD versus 14 nm for Intel. The foundries also differ: GlobalFoundries for AMD and Intel for Intel. The L3 cache differs substantially: 64 MB for AMD versus 19.25 MB for Intel. Memory bandwidth differs, with AMD at 93.9 GB/s versus Intel at 85.3 GB/s. PCIe lanes differ, with AMD offering 60 lanes versus Intel’s 44 lanes.

The production status differs: AMD is Active, Intel is End-of-life. The launch dates differ: AMD on 2018-08-12 and Intel on 2018-10-18. The launch MSRP values are $1799 for AMD and $2800 for Intel. The market segment is Desktop for both. Neither supports ECC memory. Both have unlocked multipliers. The Intel chip has a higher boost clock by 0.90 GHz, yet the AMD chip wins all benchmark tests. The cache configurations differ in every level: L1 is 96 KB per core for AMD versus 64 KB per core for Intel, L2 is 512 KB per core for AMD versus 1 MB per core for Intel, and L3 is 64 MB for AMD versus 19.25 MB for Intel.