AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X vs Intel Core i7-1185G7 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X across every shared benchmark, with margins that range from narrow to overwhelming. The most striking outcome is in Cinebench multi-core workloads, where the Threadripper 3970X delivers scores that are more than six times higher than the Intel Core i7-1185G7. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD part scores 53630 against 8416 for the Intel chip, a delta of 537.2%. The same pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the AMD processor posts 22524 versus 3534, and in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it records 5405 versus 848. Both of those results show a 537.4% advantage.

Single-core Cinebench results are even more lopsided in percentage terms, although the absolute numbers are smaller. The Threadripper 3970X scores 762 in Cinebench R15 single-core against 119 for the Intel part, a 540.3% lead. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD chip records 3179 versus 498, a 538.4% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 7571 against 1188, a 537.3% margin. These single-threaded wins are unexpected given that the Intel Core i7-1185G7 has a higher boost clock, but the benchmark results are unambiguous.

Geekbench tells a slightly different story. In multi-core, the Threadripper 3970X scores 20112 against 4816, a 317.6% advantage. That is a massive lead, but it is proportionally smaller than the Cinebench multi-core margins, suggesting the two tests weight thread scaling differently. In Geekbench single-core, the gap nearly disappears: the AMD processor scores 1653 against 1591, a lead of only 3.9%. This is the closest contest in the entire comparison, and it indicates that in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive workloads, the two processors are far closer than their core counts would suggest.

The database records 8 wins for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and 0 wins for the Intel Core i7-1185G7 across all head-to-head tests. There are no benchmark categories in the shared test set where the Intel part comes out ahead. However, the Intel chip does have additional PassMark benchmarks in its own results that are not part of the head-to-head comparison, including data compression, data encryption, and integer math scores. These are not compared directly, so they do not factor into the win count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X wins all 8 shared benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-1185G7 wins none.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD processor scores 53630 versus 8416, a 537.2% advantage. Geekbench multi-core shows a 317.6% lead, with 20112 against 4816.

Q: Is the Intel part competitive in single-core tests?

A: In Geekbench single-core, the Intel Core i7-1185G7 scores 1591 against 1653, a narrow 3.9% deficit. However, in Cinebench single-core tests, the AMD processor leads by roughly 537% to 540%, which is a far larger gap.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has an average benchmark score of 10841, while the Intel Core i7-1185G7 has an average of 11697.

Q: How do the two compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The AMD processor sits 2.1% below the Intel Core i7-6700 and 2.5% below the AMD EPYC 9224, while running 2.7% above the Intel Core i7-4790 and 2.8% above the AMD EPYC 7D12. The Intel chip sits 0.4% below the Intel Core i7-4790K and 1.8% below both the AMD EPYC 7453 and the Intel Core i7-7700, while running 1.1% above the Intel Xeon Gold 6342.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185G7 ranks at the 67th percentile against all CPUs, slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X at the 66th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X uses the Zen 2 architecture under the codename Castle Peak, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 15,200 million transistors across a die size of 4x 74 mm². The Intel Core i7-1185G7 uses the Tiger Lake architecture with the Willow Cove-U core design, built on a 10 nm process at Intel with a die size of 144 mm².

Core and thread counts differ dramatically. The AMD part offers 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel part offers 4 cores and 8 threads. Cache configurations reflect this disparity. The Threadripper 3970X has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The AMD processor's L3 cache is more than ten times larger in total.

Memory architecture also diverges. The Threadripper 3970X supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus with a recorded bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The Intel part supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X over a dual-channel bus, with no memory bandwidth figure recorded. Neither processor supports ECC memory. Both support PCIe Gen 4, but the Intel chip's implementation is limited to 4 CPU lanes, while the AMD part has no lane count restriction listed.

A major functional difference is integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-1185G7 includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has no integrated graphics listed. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel chip does not.

Specification Differences

The base clocks differ: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X runs at 3.70 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-1185G7 runs at 3.00 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with the AMD part at 4.50 GHz and the Intel part at 4.80 GHz. Thermal design power is dramatically different: the AMD processor draws 280 watts, while the Intel processor draws 28 watts.

The sockets are incompatible. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket TRX4, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1449. The market segments also differ: the Threadripper 3970X is a desktop part, while the Core i7-1185G7 is a mobile part. Production status differs as well, with the AMD processor listed as active and the Intel processor listed as end-of-life.

Release dates are separated by roughly ten months. The AMD chip launched on 2019-11-24, while the Intel chip launched on 2020-09-01. The launch MSRP for the AMD processor is $1999, and for the Intel processor it is $426. The process node differs (7 nm for AMD, 10 nm for Intel), as does the foundry (TSMC for AMD, Intel for the rival). The AMD part has a part number of 100-000000011100-100000011WOF, while the Intel part uses SRK1F.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload and platform. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is the dominant choice for multi-threaded desktop workloads where maximum core count and cache size matter. Its 32 cores, 64 threads, and 128 MB of L3 cache drive multi-core benchmark leads of over 500% in Cinebench and over 300% in Geekbench. The Intel Core i7-1185G7, by contrast, is a 4-core, 8-thread mobile processor with integrated graphics and a 28-watt TDP, designed for a completely different usage scenario.

The average benchmark score favors the Intel part slightly, at 11697 versus 10841, and the Intel chip ranks at the 67th percentile versus the AMD chip's 66th. This is notable because the Intel part achieves that average with far fewer cores, which suggests its per-core efficiency and its additional PassMark tests, such as data compression at 104630 and integer math at 34211, contribute meaningfully to its overall standing. However, in every direct head-to-head comparison, the AMD processor wins.

The verdict is straightforward: for a desktop workstation requiring massive parallel throughput, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is the only choice between these two. For a mobile platform with integrated graphics and low power draw, the Intel Core i7-1185G7 is the only viable option, since the AMD part has no integrated graphics and is a desktop-only component.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X wins in every workload covered by the shared benchmark suite. Cinebench multi-core tests are its strongest territory, with leads of 537.2% to 537.4% across R15, R20, and R23. Geekbench multi-core shows a 317.6% lead. Even in single-core tests, the AMD processor wins, though the margin in Geekbench single-core is just 3.9%, making that the closest contest. The Threadripper 3970X is also the only one of the two with an unlocked multiplier, which matters for overclocking on the desktop.

The Intel Core i7-1185G7 wins in scenarios that are not covered by the shared head-to-head tests. Its own benchmark results include PassMark data compression at 104630, data encryption at 5598, extended instructions at 7396, floating point math at 20126, integer math at 34211, multithread at 10115, physics at 763, random string sorting at 12792, and single thread at 2778. These results are recorded in the database but are not compared directly against the AMD processor. The Intel part also has integrated graphics, which the AMD part lacks entirely, and it operates at a 28-watt TDP, making it suitable for mobile platforms where power draw is constrained.

The use-case split is therefore clean. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is for desktop users who need extreme multi-core performance, large cache, and high memory bandwidth. The Intel Core i7-1185G7 is for mobile users who need integrated graphics, low power consumption, and a compact BGA package. The data does not show any shared benchmark where the Intel chip outperforms the AMD chip, but the two parts are not competing for the same socket, the same power envelope, or the same market segment.