AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X vs Intel Core i5-9500 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-9500 and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X represent two extremes of the desktop CPU market. The i5-9500 is a 6-core, 6-thread part built on Intel's 14 nm Coffee Lake process, while the Threadripper 3990X is a 64-core, 128-thread processor on AMD's 7 nm Zen 2 architecture. Both sit at the 68th percentile among all CPUs in the database, yet their average benchmark scores differ: 13452 for the i5-9500 and 12786 for the Threadripper. The head-to-head results, however, tell a one-sided story.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head set contains eight tests, and the Threadripper 3990X wins all eight. The largest margins appear in multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-9500 scores 776 against 6866, a deficit of 88.7%. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multi-core (3236 vs 28612, -88.7%) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (7705 vs 68124, -88.7%). Geekbench multi-core shows a slightly smaller gap: 5402 vs 20912, a 74.2% deficit for the i5.

Single-core results are more nuanced. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i5 scores 109 against 969, an 88.8% deficit. Cinebench R20 single-core: 456 vs 4039, -88.7%. Cinebench R23 single-core: 1087 vs 9617, -88.7%. However, Geekbench single-core tells a different story: the i5 scores 1448 and the Threadripper 1472, a mere 1.6% difference. This suggests that the two architectures are nearly identical in lightly threaded integer and floating-point workloads as measured by Geekbench, while Cinebench's single-core test shows a much larger gap. The data does not explain the divergence, but it is consistent across all three Cinebench versions.

The Threadripper's dominance in multi-threaded tests is expected given its 64 cores and 128 threads versus 6 cores and 6 threads. The delta of -88.7% in most Cinebench tests indicates that the i5-9500 delivers roughly one-eighth of the Threadripper's multi-core throughput. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5 retains a slightly better relative position, but still trails by 74.2%.

The average benchmark scores provide additional context. The i5-9500's average of 13452 places it within 1% of its nearest rivals, including the Intel Core 3 N355 (13492, -0.3%), Intel Core i3-12100F (13494, -0.3%), Intel Core i7-1250U (13351, +0.8%), and Intel Core 5 120UL (13594, -1%). The Threadripper's average of 12786 is similarly close to its nearest rivals: Intel Core i3-1210U (12795, -0.1%), Intel Core i5-8400 (12765, +0.2%), Intel Xeon Gold 6348 (12746, +0.3%), and AMD EPYC 7502 (12709, +0.6%). Despite the Threadripper's overwhelming head-to-head wins, its average score is lower than the i5's, indicating that the average metric includes a broader set of workloads where the i5's higher single-thread performance and lower power draw may compensate.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the Intel Core i5-9500 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How do they compare in single-core performance?

A: In Geekbench single-core, the Threadripper scores 1472 versus 1448 for the i5-9500, a 1.6% difference. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Threadripper scores 9617 versus 1087, an 88.7% deficit for the i5.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications?

A: The i5-9500 supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Threadripper 3990X supports quad-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Does the i5-9500 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i5-9500 includes Intel UHD 630 graphics. The Threadripper 3990X has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The i5-9500 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Threadripper 3990X has a TDP of 280 watts.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: The Threadripper 3990X has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-9500 does not.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The i5-9500 is built on Intel's 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry, using the Coffee Lake architecture. The Threadripper 3990X uses AMD's Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm process from TSMC, with a die composed of 8x 74 mm² chiplets and 30,400 million transistors. The i5-9500 has no listed transistor count or die size.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, but the i5 has 256 KB of L2 per core while the Threadripper has 512 KB per core. L3 cache is 9 MB shared on the i5 versus 256 MB on the Threadripper. This 256 MB L3 is a major advantage for the Threadripper in workloads that fit within that cache.

Memory support: both use DDR4, but the i5 is dual-channel with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Threadripper is quad-channel with 102.4 GB/s. PCIe connectivity also differs: the i5 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Threadripper provides Gen 4 with 64 lanes. The Threadripper also has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the i5 is locked.

The i5-9500 includes integrated UHD 630 graphics, which the Threadripper lacks. The Threadripper is built for socket TRX4, while the i5 uses Intel Socket 1151. The Threadripper is part of the 3000 series and codenamed Castle Peak, while the i5 is Coffee Lake Refresh.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Cores: 6 (i5) vs 64 (Threadripper)
• Threads: 6 vs 128
• Base clock: 3.00 GHz vs 2.90 GHz
• TDP: 65 W vs 280 W
• Socket: Intel Socket 1151 vs AMD Socket TRX4
• Architecture: Coffee Lake vs Zen 2
• Process node: 14 nm vs 7 nm
• Foundry: Intel vs TSMC
• Transistors: not listed vs 30,400 million
• Die size: not listed vs 8x 74 mm²
• L2 cache per core: 256 KB vs 512 KB
• L3 cache: 9 MB shared vs 256 MB
• Memory bus: Dual-channel vs Quad-channel
• Memory bandwidth: 42.7 GB/s vs 102.4 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 lanes vs Gen 4, 64 lanes
• Integrated graphics: UHD 630 vs none
• Release date: 2018-10-18 vs 2020-02-06
• Production status: End-of-life vs Active
• Multiplier unlocked: No vs Yes
• Launch MSRP: The Threadripper 3990X has a launch MSRP of $3990. The i5-9500 has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the eight head-to-head benchmarks, the Threadripper 3990X wins every test. It is the clear choice for any workload that scales with core count, such as 3D rendering, video encoding, scientific simulation, and software compilation. The multi-core Cinebench scores show an 88.7% advantage across R15, R20, and R23, meaning the i5-9500 delivers only a fraction of the Threadripper's throughput. Geekbench multi-core also favors the Threadripper by 74.2%.

The i5-9500 does not win any head-to-head test, but it has attributes that matter in specific contexts. Its 65 W TDP is far lower than the Threadripper's 280 W, making it suitable for compact or power-constrained systems. It includes integrated UHD 630 graphics, so a discrete GPU is not required for basic display output. Its single-core Geekbench score is within 1.6% of the Threadripper, so in lightly threaded applications that rely on that specific workload, the difference is negligible. However, in Cinebench single-core tests, the Threadripper is far ahead, so the i5's single-core advantage is not consistent across all benchmarks.

The Threadripper's 256 MB L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth give it a massive advantage in data-intensive workloads. Its 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes support high-bandwidth peripherals. The i5-9500, being end-of-life, is no longer in active production, while the Threadripper remains active.

In summary, the Threadripper 3990X is the dominant processor in every measured benchmark. The i5-9500's only practical advantages are its lower power draw, integrated graphics, and smaller platform footprint. For users who need maximum multi-threaded performance, the Threadripper is the obvious choice. For those who require a simple, low-power desktop CPU with built-in graphics, the i5-9500 remains a viable option, but it cannot compete on raw performance.