AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X vs Intel Core 7 251TE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data shows a complete sweep. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with no wins recorded for the Intel Core 7 251TE. The margins range from a modest 27.2% in single-threaded PassMark tests to a dominant 1248.9% in extended instruction workloads. The Intel part is not competitive in any measured category.

The Threadripper 9980X is the clear choice for every workload type represented in the database. Its largest advantages appear in data compression (789.5% ahead), data encryption (608.6% ahead), integer math (593.6% ahead), and floating-point math (553% ahead). These are the workloads that scale with core count and memory bandwidth, and the AMD processor simply has more of both.

The Intel Core 7 251TE does hold a relative strength in single-threaded performance compared to its own multi-threaded results. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3568 trails the AMD part by only 27.2%, which is the narrowest gap in the entire comparison. That said, even the closest contest is still a decisive loss, so the Intel chip cannot claim a single category win.

For users running heavily threaded rendering, simulation, encryption, or data processing, the Threadripper 9980X delivers results that are multiples of what the Intel Core 7 251TE can produce. For users running lightly threaded applications, the AMD part still leads, just by a smaller margin.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X uses the Zen 5 architecture with the codename Shimada Peak, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 64 cores and 128 threads. The Intel Core 7 251TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel, with 24 cores and 32 threads.

Cache structures differ substantially. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 256 MB of L3 cache. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Threadripper's L3 cache is more than seven times larger in total, which explains part of its advantage in data-heavy workloads.

Memory support also separates the two. The AMD processor uses DDR5 with a quad-channel memory bus and 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. The AMD part provides 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

The Intel Core 7 251TE includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has no integrated graphics. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel processor is locked. The AMD chip uses Socket sTR5; the Intel chip uses Socket 1700.

Transistor count is listed only for the AMD part at 66,520 million, spread across 8 chiplets of 70.6 mm² each. The Intel die size is 215 mm². The AMD processor has a 350 W TDP, while the Intel part has a 45 W TDP. The base clock for the AMD chip is 3.20 GHz, while the Intel chip starts at 1.40 GHz. Both boost to 5.40 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD processor scores 13157 against 2572 for Intel, a 411.5% advantage. The single-core R15 result is 1857 versus 362, a 413% advantage. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 54822 versus 10717, again 411.5% ahead. The R20 single-core result is 7739 versus 1512, a 411.8% lead.

Cinebench R23 multicore delivers 130529 for the AMD part versus 25518 for the Intel part, a 411.5% margin. The R23 single-core score is 18427 versus 3602, a 411.6% difference. These Cinebench numbers cluster tightly around the 411% to 413% range, indicating that the performance ratio is nearly identical across the different Cinebench versions, regardless of single-core or multi-core workload.

PassMark workloads show more variance. The extended instructions test produces the largest gap: 228959 versus 16974, a 1248.9% difference. Data compression shows 2974534 versus 334399, a 789.5% gap. Data encryption is 157137 versus 22176, a 608.6% lead. Random string sorting is 292083 versus 39643, a 636.8% margin.

Integer math favors the AMD part 872071 to 125739, a 593.6% advantage. Floating-point math is 559003 versus 85607, a 553% lead. Find prime numbers shows 769 versus 140, a 449.3% gap. PassMark multithread is 141641 versus 30022, a 371.8% margin. PassMark physics is 8001 versus 1938, a 312.8% lead.

The narrowest result is PassMark single-thread at 4537 versus 3568, a 27.2% advantage for the AMD chip. This shows that while the Threadripper dominates every test, its single-thread lead is far smaller than its multi-thread lead. The Intel part is closer in per-core performance, but the massive core count difference makes the overall comparison lopsided.

The average benchmark score in the database is 321753 for the AMD part, placing it in the 99th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel part has an average of 41650, placing it in the 88th percentile.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X outperforms the Intel Core 7 251TE in every single recorded test. Anyone selecting between these two processors for maximum throughput should choose the AMD part without hesitation.

The AMD processor sits in the 99th percentile of all CPUs with an average score of 321753. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX at 0.3% behind, the Intel Xeon 6781P at 2% behind, the AMD EPYC 9575F at 3.2% behind, and the AMD EPYC 9734 at 3.6% behind. These are the comparisons that matter for the Threadripper: it trades blows with other high-core-count server and workstation parts.

The Intel Core 7 251TE sits in the 88th percentile with an average score of 41650. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H at 0.1% ahead, the Intel Core i7-14650HX at 0.2% ahead, the Intel Core i7-12850HX at 0.3% behind, and the Intel Core i7-14700T at 0.6% behind. The Core 7 251TE is positioned among mainstream mobile and low-power desktop processors, a completely different competitive tier.

The data indicates that the Threadripper 9980X belongs to a class of processors designed for maximum parallel throughput, while the Core 7 251TE belongs to a class designed for moderate power consumption and mainstream workloads. The 45 W TDP of the Intel part versus the 350 W TDP of the AMD part reflects this divide. The Intel chip also includes integrated graphics, which the AMD chip lacks, so systems built around the Core 7 251TE can operate without a discrete GPU.

The choice depends entirely on the workload requirements. The Threadripper 9980X is the only option for users who need the highest possible multi-threaded performance as recorded in the database. The Core 7 251TE is the only option among these two for users who need a low-power processor with integrated graphics, a locked multiplier, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has 64 cores and 128 threads. The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads.

Q: How much faster is the AMD processor in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X scores 130529 in Cinebench R23 multicore, compared to 25518 for the Intel Core 7 251TE, a 411.5% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X and the Intel Core 7 251TE support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE includes UHD Graphics 770. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has a 350 W TDP. The Intel Core 7 251TE has a 45 W TDP.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread score?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X scores 4537 in PassMark single-thread, while the Intel Core 7 251TE scores 3568, a 27.2% advantage for the AMD part.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X | Intel Core 7 251TE |

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

| Cores | 64 | 24 |

| Threads | 128 | 32 |

| Base clock | 3.20 GHz | 1.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 350 W | 45 W |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Codename | Shimada Peak | Bartlett Lake |

| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 256 MB | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

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

| Memory bandwidth | 204.8 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 80 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | N/A | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Socket | AMD Socket sTR5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $4999 | $384 |