AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X vs Intel Arc G3 EXTREME Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the average benchmark scores of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X and Intel Arc G3 EXTREME compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X records an average benchmark score of 321,753, while the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME records 36,699. The database shows the AMD part at the 99th percentile of all CPUs, whereas the Intel part sits at the 85th percentile.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor according to the database?

A: The Threadripper 9980X is closest to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX (0.3% higher), Intel Xeon 6781P (2% higher), AMD EPYC 9575F (3.2% higher), and AMD EPYC 9734 (3.6% higher). The Arc G3 EXTREME is closest to the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (0.6% lower), AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (0.7% lower), AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (0.9% lower), and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (1.1% lower).

Q: Which processor wins in the head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Threadripper 9980X wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME records zero wins in the database.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark integer math, where the Threadripper 9980X leads by 1,125.4%. The second-largest gap is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the AMD part leads by 889.6%.

Q: What is the smallest performance gap between the two?

A: The smallest recorded gap is in PassMark single-thread tests, where the Threadripper 9980X leads by only 5.7% (4537 versus 4293). This is also the only benchmark where the Intel part approaches parity.

Q: Do the two processors share the same socket and memory type?

A: No. The Threadripper 9980X uses AMD Socket sTR5 with DDR5 memory in a quad-channel configuration, while the Arc G3 EXTREME uses Intel BGA 2540 with LPDDR5X memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Shimada Peak, built on TSMC's 4 nm process. It packs 66,520 million transistors across a die configuration of 8x 70.6 mm². The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME, codenamed Panther Lake, uses Intel's own 3 nm process and belongs to the Arc G3 generation. The database lists no transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Core counts diverge sharply. The Threadripper 9980X provides 64 cores and 128 threads, while the Arc G3 EXTREME provides 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning the Intel part has no simultaneous multithreading. The cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD part allocates 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a massive 256 MB of shared L3. The Intel part allocates 192 KB of L1 per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, with only 18 MB of shared L3. This 256 MB versus 18 MB L3 difference is among the largest structural gaps in the database.

Clock behavior shows a different tradeoff. The Threadripper 9980X has a 3.20 GHz base clock and 5.40 GHz boost clock, while the Arc G3 EXTREME runs at 1.90 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. The AMD part's higher boost clock contributes to its single-thread advantage, though the gap in that metric is far smaller than in multi-threaded tests. The Intel part operates at 25 W TDP, a tiny fraction of the AMD part's 350 W TDP, reflecting its mobile market segment versus the AMD part's desktop segment.

Memory support differs completely. The Threadripper 9980X uses quad-channel DDR5 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and supports ECC memory. The Arc G3 EXTREME uses dual-channel LPDDR5X with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support. PCIe connectivity also diverges: the AMD part provides Gen 5 with 80 lanes, while the Intel part provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes. The Intel part includes integrated Arc B390 graphics, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, the Intel multiplier is locked. Production status for both is active, with release dates of July 2025 for the AMD part and May 2026 for the Intel part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records a complete sweep: 17 wins for the Threadripper 9980X, zero for the Arc G3 EXTREME. The margins, however, vary enormously by workload type.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Threadripper 9980X scores 130,529 against 14,655 for the Intel part, a delta of 790.7%. This is the second-largest multi-threaded gap in the head-to-head set. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 500.2% delta (13,157 versus 2,192), and Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 400.9% (54,822 versus 10,945). These results confirm the expected scaling from 64 cores with 128 threads versus 14 cores with 14 threads.

Single-core results tell a more nuanced story. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD part leads by 889.6% (18,427 versus 1,862), which is surprisingly large for a single-threaded test. The R15 single-core delta is 595.5% (1,857 versus 267), and R20 single-core shows 400.9% (7,739 versus 1,545). These gaps suggest the Intel part's low base clock of 1.90 GHz substantially hampers its single-core performance, despite its 4.70 GHz boost capability.

PassMark integer math produces the largest margin in the entire dataset: 1,125.4% (872,071 versus 71,164). Floating point math shows 543.1% (559,003 versus 86,929). Extended instructions show 853.3% (228,959 versus 24,017). Data compression shows 868.6% (2,974,534 versus 307,094). These computational workloads heavily favor the AMD part's core count and cache capacity.

The smallest delta appears in PassMark single-thread, where the AMD part scores 4,537 and the Intel part scores 4,293, a difference of only 5.7%. This is the only benchmark where the two processors are within the same performance class. The data suggests that for genuinely single-threaded, non-cache-sensitive code, the Intel architecture narrows the gap considerably. PassMark physics shows 218.1% (8,001 versus 2,515), and find prime numbers shows 210.1% (769 versus 248). Random string sorting shows 682.4% (292,083 versus 37,331). Data encryption shows 558% (157,137 versus 23,881), and multithread shows 362% (141,641 versus 30,659).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across every major specification field in the database.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X | Intel Arc G3 EXTREME |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 64 | 14 |

| Threads | 128 | 14 |

| Base clock | 3.20 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 350 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket sTR5 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | None listed |

| Codename | Shimada Peak | Panther Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 66,520 million | None listed |

| Die size | 8x 70.6 mm² | None listed |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 192 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 2.5 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 256 MB | 18 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 204.8 GB/s | 136.5 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 80 lanes | Gen 5, 4 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | N/A | Arc B390 |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $4999 | None listed |

Where Each One Wins

The Threadripper 9980X wins across all 17 recorded benchmarks, so the "where each one wins" analysis must be framed by the magnitude of its victories rather than any outright Intel advantage. The AMD part dominates in every multi-threaded workload, with deltas ranging from 210.1% in find prime numbers to 1,125.4% in integer math. Its 64 cores, 128 threads, and 256 MB L3 cache deliver overwhelming advantages in Cinebench multi-core tests, PassMark compression, encryption, and extended instruction workloads.

The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME, despite zero wins, shows relative strength in one specific area: PassMark single-thread performance. Its 4,293 score trails the AMD part by only 5.7%, the narrowest margin in the entire head-to-head set. This indicates that for lightly threaded, latency-sensitive workloads, the Intel part's 3 nm process and per-core cache configuration (192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2 per core) keep it competitive. The Intel part also has a massive TDP advantage at 25 W versus 350 W, making it suitable for mobile deployments where power draw is constrained.

The data also shows the Intel part's integrated Arc B390 graphics, which the AMD part lacks entirely. For systems requiring a GPU without a discrete card, the Intel part has a functional advantage not captured in the CPU benchmark scores. The AMD part compensates with 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus 4, allowing far greater expansion for add-in cards.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear split by use case. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the choice for any workload that scales with core count, cache, or memory bandwidth. Its 128 threads and 256 MB L3 cache deliver 790.7% to 1,125.4% advantages in rendering, compression, and integer math. Its 99th percentile ranking among all CPUs places it at the top of the database's performance distribution, within 3.6% of its nearest rivals (the AMD EPYC 9734 and others). For desktop workstation use, the data shows no scenario in the benchmark set where the Intel part comes close.

The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME, despite its 85th percentile ranking, is a different class of product. Its 14 cores and 14 threads put it in the same performance neighborhood as the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, all within 1.1% of each other in average score. Its 25 W TDP and mobile segment designation indicate it targets battery-powered systems, not rendering farms. The 5.7% single-thread gap suggests that for everyday single-threaded tasks, the Intel part is not far behind the Threadripper, making it a reasonable option for portable machines where the AMD part cannot physically fit or operate.

The choice between these two is not a performance question but a form-factor and power question. The Threadripper 9980X, with its 350 W TDP and desktop socket, delivers unmatched multi-threaded capability at a launch MSRP of $4999. The Arc G3 EXTREME, with its 25 W TDP and BGA 2540 socket, offers a fraction of that performance but in a mobile package with integrated graphics. The database's 17-0 head-to-head sweep confirms that no benchmark in the set favors the Intel part, yet its 85th percentile ranking shows it is still a capable processor relative to the broader CPU population. Buyers needing maximum compute should select the Threadripper; buyers needing a low-power mobile processor with integrated graphics should select the Arc G3 EXTREME.