CPU Comparison

This comparison pits two processors that could hardly be further apart in design philosophy and target use case. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is a 64-core, 128-thread workstation monster built for extreme parallel workloads, while the Intel Core i3-10105F is a 4-core, 8-thread budget desktop chip aimed at everyday computing and light gaming. The benchmark data shows a complete sweep: the Threadripper wins all 8 head-to-head tests, but the story is more nuanced than simple dominance. The i3-10105F actually matches the Threadripper in single-threaded Geekbench performance, proving that core count alone doesn't dictate every metric. The verdict depends entirely on what workload you are throwing at the CPU.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is the only choice for anyone whose work scales with core count. The data shows it delivers a 803.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (68124 vs 7537) and a 325% lead in Geekbench multi-core (20912 vs 4920). If your rendering, simulation, or compilation tasks can use 64 cores, the Threadripper will finish jobs in a fraction of the time. Its 68th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 12786, places it near the Intel Core i3-1210U (12795, -0.1% delta) and Intel Core i5-8400 (12765, 0.2% delta) in overall averages, which is remarkable given its extreme multi-core focus.

The Intel Core i3-10105F is the sensible pick for a mainstream desktop where the workload is mostly single-threaded or lightly threaded. It matches the Threadripper in Geekbench single-core (1470 vs 1472, a 0.1% delta) and offers a much lower launch MSRP of $97 compared to the Threadripper's $3990. The i3's 67th percentile ranking, with an average score of 12644, sits just 0.5% behind the AMD EPYC 7502 (12709) and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i3-1215U (12604). For a typical user browsing the web, using office applications, or playing games that rely on a few fast cores, the i3-10105F provides more than adequate performance for a fraction of the platform cost.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent opposite ends of the silicon spectrum. The Threadripper 3990X uses TSMC's 7 nm process with 30,400 million transistors spread across an 8x 74 mm² die configuration, built on AMD's Zen 2 architecture with the codename Castle Peak. It features 64 cores and 128 threads with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The cache hierarchy is substantial: 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 256 MB of L3 cache. It uses the AMD Socket TRX4 and supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, along with PCIe Gen 4 and 64 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel i3-10105F uses Intel's older 14 nm process, built on the Comet Lake architecture with the codename Comet Lake-R. It has just 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its cache is much smaller: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and only 6 MB shared L3. It uses the Intel Socket 1200, supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Threadripper also has an unlocked multiplier while the i3 is locked. Neither processor includes integrated graphics, and both support DDR4 memory and lack ECC support.

Where Each One Wins

The Threadripper 3990X wins decisively in every multi-threaded benchmark. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 6866 versus 759 for the i3, a 804.6% advantage. The R20 multi-core result shows 28612 versus 3165, an 804% lead. The R23 multi-core test shows 68124 versus 7537, a 803.9% delta. Geekbench multi-core shows 20912 versus 4920, a 325% lead. These results indicate the Threadripper is built for rendering, video encoding, scientific computing, and any workload that can saturate 128 threads. Its 256 MB L3 cache and quad-channel memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s further support large data sets.

The i3-10105F wins in efficiency-oriented scenarios, though the data shows no benchmark victory. What it does offer is single-thread performance that nearly matches the Threadripper. In Geekbench single-core, the i3 scores 1470 versus 1472 for the Threadripper, a 0.1% delta. Its passmark single-thread score of 2647 is strong for a 4-core part. The i3's 65W TDP versus the Threadripper's 280W TDP means it generates far less heat and requires a much simpler cooling solution. For gaming, where most titles use 4 to 8 threads, the i3's higher base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost of 4.40 GHz provide snappy responsiveness. The i3 also supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus, which is sufficient for mainstream tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-threaded performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X edges out the Intel Core i3-10105F by a razor-thin 0.1% in Geekbench single-core, scoring 1472 versus 1470. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Threadripper leads 9617 versus 1064, an 803.9% difference, though this large delta likely reflects different boost behavior under the test.

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

A: The Threadripper 3990X leads by 803.9% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (68124 vs 7537) and by 325% in Geekbench multi-core (20912 vs 4920). The Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests show 804.6% and 804% leads, respectively.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Threadripper 3990X supports quad-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i3-10105F supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Threadripper's bandwidth is 2.4 times higher.

Q: Do both CPUs have integrated graphics?

A: No. Neither the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X nor the Intel Core i3-10105F includes integrated graphics. Both require a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What is the release date difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X was released on February 6, 2020, while the Intel Core i3-10105F was released on March 15, 2021. The Threadripper launched over a year earlier.

Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Threadripper 3990X provides 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU, while the i3-10105F provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. This makes the Threadripper far more suitable for multi-GPU or high-speed storage configurations.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic wins for the Threadripper 3990X come in the Cinebench multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Threadripper scores 6866 against 759 for the i3, an 804.6% delta. The R20 multi-core test shows 28612 versus 3165, an 804% lead. The R23 multi-core result is 68124 versus 7537, a 803.9% advantage. These results scale almost linearly with the 16x core count difference between 64 and 4 cores, indicating excellent scaling in these rendering workloads.

The single-core Cinebench results show a surprising pattern. The Threadripper leads by 805.6% in R15 single-core (969 vs 107) and R20 single-core (4039 vs 446), and by 803.9% in R23 single-core (9617 vs 1064). These deltas are nearly identical to the multi-core gaps, which is unusual. This suggests the benchmark harness may be measuring differently for the two CPUs, or the Threadripper's boost clock of 4.30 GHz operates more effectively in these tests than the i3's 4.40 GHz boost.

Geekbench tells a different story. In multi-core, the Threadripper leads 20912 versus 4920, a 325% advantage. This is a smaller lead than Cinebench, indicating Geekbench's workload does not scale as perfectly with core count. In single-core, the two are nearly identical: 1472 for the Threadripper versus 1470 for the i3, a 0.1% delta. This is the closest result in the entire head-to-head set and shows that for lightly threaded tasks, the i3-10105F can compete with the flagship Threadripper.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious differentiators. The Threadripper 3990X has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the i3-10105F has 4 cores and 8 threads, a 16x difference. The base clock differs too: 2.90 GHz for the Threadripper versus 3.70 GHz for the i3. Boost clocks are closer, with the Threadripper at 4.30 GHz and the i3 at 4.40 GHz. The Threadripper has a 280W TDP, while the i3 has a 65W TDP.

Cache configuration varies significantly. The Threadripper has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 256 MB L3 cache. The i3 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and only 6 MB shared L3. The Threadripper's L3 cache is over 42 times larger. Memory support also differs: the Threadripper uses quad-channel DDR4 with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3 uses dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe capabilities are another split: the Threadripper offers Gen 4 with 64 lanes, while the i3 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket TRX4 for the Threadripper versus Intel Socket 1200 for the i3. The process nodes differ as well, with the Threadripper on 7 nm from TSMC and the i3 on 14 nm from Intel. The Threadripper has an unlocked multiplier, while the i3 is locked. The launch MSRP is $3990 for the Threadripper and $97 for the i3. Both CPUs are marked as Active in production status and target the Desktop market segment.