AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X vs Intel Core i9-14901E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X and the Intel Core i9-14901E is decisively one-sided. Across all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the AMD processor wins every single matchup, with margins ranging from a narrow 4.2% to a staggering 1227.4%. The average benchmark score for the Threadripper 9980X sits at 321753, placing it in the 99th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core i9-14901E averages 37911, landing in the 86th percentile.

The largest single victory for the AMD part comes in the extended instructions test, where it scores 228959 against the Intel chip's 17249, a delta of 1227.4%. This indicates a massive advantage in workloads that leverage specialized instruction sets, likely driven by the sheer difference in core count and thread resources. Data compression shows the next biggest gap at 930%, with the Threadripper scoring 2974534 versus 288777. The AMD processor also dominates encryption workloads, posting 157137 against 18571, a 746.1% advantage.

In multi-core rendering tests, the pattern holds with remarkable consistency. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the Threadripper at 130529 and the Core i9 at 25753, a 406.8% delta. Cinebench R20 multi-core follows with 54822 versus 10816 (406.9%), and Cinebench R15 multi-core records 13157 against 2595 (407%). The consistency of these deltas, all hovering near the 407% mark, suggests a uniform scaling advantage across the Cinebench suite.

Integer math performance shows the Threadripper ahead by 673.6%, scoring 872071 against 112736. Floating point math follows with a 589.4% advantage, 559003 versus 81089. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 646.3%, with scores of 292083 and 39138 respectively. The PassMark multithread test shows a 367.5% lead for the AMD chip, scoring 141641 against 30298.

The narrowest margin appears in the single-thread tests, where the Threadripper 9980X still wins but by a comparatively small 4.2%. PassMark single-thread scores show 4537 for AMD and 4354 for Intel. This is the only category where the two processors approach parity, indicating that per-core performance is relatively similar, but the AMD part still holds a measurable edge. Cinebench single-core tests tell a different story, with the AMD processor winning by roughly 407% across R15, R20, and R23, which is inconsistent with the PassMark single-thread result and suggests different workload characteristics within those tests.

Physics performance shows a 163.1% advantage for the Threadripper, scoring 8001 against 3041. Prime number finding shows a 306.9% delta, with 769 versus 189. The smallest multi-core gap outside of single-thread tests is in physics, but it remains a decisive win for AMD.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. With 17 wins and zero losses in the head-to-head comparison, there is no category in the recorded data where the Intel Core i9-14901E takes the lead. The Threadripper's average benchmark score of 321753 is roughly 8.5 times higher than the Core i9's 37911, and its 99th percentile ranking versus the Intel chip's 86th percentile reflects a substantial performance gap.

The Core i9-14901E competes in a different performance tier. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with an average score of 37904 and a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X at 37943 with a -0.1% delta, and the Intel Core 5 211E at 37829 with a 0.2% delta. These are the processors that bracket the i9-14901E's performance level, not the Threadripper 9980X, whose nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX at 320749 (0.3% delta), the Intel Xeon 6781P at 315524 (2% delta), and the AMD EPYC 9575F at 311774 (3.2% delta).

For workloads that demand maximum throughput, the Threadripper 9980X is the choice supported by the data. For workloads where the 65W power envelope of the Core i9-14901E is a primary constraint, that Intel part has a structural advantage in the specification sheet, though the benchmark records do not capture power efficiency directly.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins in every benchmark category recorded. Its strongest relative performance comes in extended instructions, data compression, and encryption, where deltas exceed 700%. These results point to workloads that scale with core count and thread count, such as scientific computing, data processing pipelines, and compression-heavy tasks. The 64-core, 128-thread configuration with 256 MB of L3 cache provides the resources needed for these parallel workloads.

The Threadripper's multi-core rendering performance in Cinebench, consistently around 407% ahead of the Core i9, positions it for 3D rendering and video encoding tasks that utilize all available cores. The PassMark multithread score of 141641 against 30298 reinforces this pattern.

The Intel Core i9-14901E has no benchmark wins in the recorded data. Its closest performance to the AMD part comes in PassMark single-thread testing, where it trails by only 4.2%. This suggests that in lightly threaded applications, the Intel processor is nearly competitive on a per-core basis. The Core i9 also carries integrated graphics with UHD Graphics 770, a feature the Threadripper lacks entirely, which could matter for systems that need display output without a discrete GPU. The Intel chip's 65W TDP and dual-channel memory support also indicate a lower-power, simpler platform footprint, though these are specification differences rather than measured benchmark wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has an average benchmark score of 321753, while the Intel Core i9-14901E averages 37911.

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

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Threadripper 9980X scores 130529 against the Core i9-14901E's 25753, a 406.8% advantage for AMD. Similar margins appear in R15 and R20 multi-core tests.

Q: Is the Intel Core i9-14901E competitive in single-thread performance?

A: In PassMark single-thread testing, the Core i9-14901E scores 4354 against the Threadripper's 4537, a 4.2% gap. This is the closest result in the entire head-to-head comparison, though AMD still wins.

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

A: The Threadripper 9980X's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX at 320749 with a 0.3% delta. The Core i9-14901E's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 at 37904 with a 0% delta.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor have in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core i9-14901E wins none.

Q: Which processor has better memory bandwidth support?

A: The Threadripper 9980X supports quad-channel DDR5 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The Core i9-14901E uses dual-channel memory, and no bandwidth figure is recorded in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X uses the Zen 5 architecture under the codename Shimada Peak, manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The chip contains 66,520 million transistors across 8 dies, each measuring 70.6 mm². The Intel Core i9-14901E uses the Raptor Lake architecture under the codename Raptor Lake-R, manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel with a die size of 257 mm².

The Threadripper 9980X features 64 cores and 128 threads, while the Core i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads. Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD part offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 256 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Threadripper's 256 MB L3 is more than seven times the Intel chip's 36 MB.

Memory support diverges as well. The Threadripper uses quad-channel DDR5 with a recorded bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The Core i9 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus, and no bandwidth figure is recorded. Both processors support ECC memory.

The Threadripper 9980X provides PCIe Gen 5 with 80 lanes from the CPU. The Core i9-14901E provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Intel part includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 770, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics. The Threadripper has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core i9 does not.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X and Intel Core i9-14901E differ across several key specification fields. The Threadripper has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Core i9 has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The Intel part has the higher boost clock, but the AMD part has the higher base clock.

Power consumption differs dramatically. The Threadripper 9980X has a TDP of 350W, while the Core i9-14901E has a TDP of 65W. The AMD processor requires the AMD Socket sTR5 platform, while the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1700.

The Threadripper belongs to the 9000 series and the Ryzen Threadripper generation built on Zen 5 (Shimada Peak). The Core i9 belongs to the Core 14th Gen and the Core i9 generation built on Raptor Lake Refresh. The Threadripper was released on 2025-07-29 and has a launch MSRP of $4999. The Core i9 was released on 2024-06-30 and has no recorded launch MSRP.

The Threadripper 9980X supports only DDR5 memory with a quad-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The Core i9-14901E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus. The Threadripper provides 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while the Core i9 provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The Threadripper has no integrated graphics, while the Core i9 includes UHD Graphics 770. The Threadripper's multiplier is unlocked; the Core i9's is locked. Both are desktop processors with active production status.