AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database records 17 head-to-head comparisons between the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X and the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus. The Threadripper wins 15 of those tests, while the Intel part takes two. The margin of victory is not subtle. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 13,157 against 4,224, a 211.5% delta. The same pattern holds in R20 multicore (54,822 vs. 17,603, 211.4%) and R23 multicore (130,529 vs. 41,913, 211.4%). These are not close contests; the Threadripper roughly triples the mobile Intel chip in every multicore rendering test.

Single-core Cinebench results also favor AMD, though the story is more nuanced. The Threadripper posts 1,857 in R15 single-core versus 596 for the Intel, a 211.6% lead. In R20 single-core, the gap is 7,739 to 2,485 (211.4%), and in R23 single-core it is 18,427 to 5,917 (211.4%). The AMD part leads by a consistent factor across all three Cinebench versions, which indicates the Zen 5 architecture delivers higher per-thread performance in this workload than Arrow Lake-HX.

The PassMark suite tells a different kind of story. The Threadripper dominates heavily in data compression (2,974,534 vs. 493,179, a 503.1% delta), data encryption (157,137 vs. 37,813, 315.6%), extended instructions (228,959 vs. 39,283, 482.8%), floating point math (559,003 vs. 163,567, 241.8%), integer math (872,071 vs. 122,449, 612.2%), multithread (141,641 vs. 48,270, 193.4%), physics (8,001 vs. 3,843, 108.2%), and random string sorting (292,083 vs. 60,020, 386.6%). The largest single delta is integer math at 612.2%, which reflects the massive core-count and cache advantage of the 64-core part.

The smallest AMD win in the PassMark suite is find prime numbers, where the Threadripper scores 769 against 482, a 59.5% lead. Even here, the margin is substantial, but it is the narrowest of all the AMD victories and shows that this particular workload does not scale as dramatically with core count or memory bandwidth.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus wins both PassMark single-thread tests. It scores 4,764 in passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread (the database records the same result under two test names), while the Threadripper scores 4,537. The delta is 4.8% in favor of Intel. This is the only benchmark category where the mobile chip leads, and the margin is modest. It indicates that in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive workloads, the Intel part can edge ahead, but the advantage is small relative to the massive multicore gaps.

Average benchmark scores put the overall picture in perspective. The Threadripper has an average benchmark score of 321,753 across all recorded tests, while the Intel part averages 61,834. The AMD processor sits at the 99th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel chip sits at the 93rd percentile. The Threadripper's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX (average score 320,749, 0.3% behind), the Intel Xeon 6781P (315,524, 2% behind), the AMD EPYC 9575F (311,774, 3.2% behind), and the AMD EPYC 9734 (310,619, 3.6% behind). The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus sits alongside the Intel Core i9-13900KF (61,841, 0% delta), the Intel Core i9-13900K (61,766, 0.1%), the Intel Core i9-13900T (61,723, 0.2%), and the Intel Xeon 636 (61,360, 0.8%).

The Verdict

The data draws a clear line between two entirely different product categories. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a 64-core, 128-thread desktop processor built for sustained heavy multithreaded work. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is a 20-core, 20-thread mobile processor designed for laptops. Their average benchmark scores differ by a factor of roughly 5.2, and the Threadripper wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests.

Anyone whose work is dominated by rendering, compilation, data compression, encryption, or any workload that scales with cores and cache should look at the Threadripper. The benchmark results show triple-digit percentage leads in nearly every multithreaded test. The Intel part cannot compete in these areas, and no configuration of the mobile chip closes the gap.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has one clear strength in the recorded data: single-thread PassMark performance. A 4.8% lead over the Threadripper in passmark_single_thread is a real, if narrow, win. For workloads that are strictly single-threaded and latency-bound, the Intel chip is technically faster. However, the Threadripper still leads in Cinebench single-core tests by over 211%, which complicates any simple narrative about single-thread superiority.

The Threadripper also carries a launch MSRP of $4999. The Intel part has no recorded launch MSRP. The AMD processor is a 350 W desktop part on AMD Socket sTR5, while the Intel chip is a 55 W mobile part on Intel BGA 2114. These are not interchangeable products. The Threadripper targets workstations and task-parallel compute; the Intel chip targets high-end laptops where power and thermals are constrained.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins in every multithreaded benchmark category. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore scores all show a lead of roughly 211%. PassMark multithread shows a 193.4% lead, and PassMark physics shows a 108.2% lead. Data compression (503.1%), integer math (612.2%), and extended instructions (482.8%) are the largest PassMark wins. These results point to workloads like video encoding, 3D rendering, scientific computation, and large-scale data processing.

The Threadripper also wins all three Cinebench single-core tests by 211% or more. This is notable because single-core performance is often considered a strong suit for lower-core-count parts. The Zen 5 architecture in the Threadripper, with a 5.40 GHz boost clock, appears to deliver higher per-thread Cinebench performance than the Arrow Lake-HX design in the Intel chip.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus wins only the PassMark single-thread tests. Its score of 4,764 beats the Threadripper's 4,537 by 4.8%. This makes the Intel part the better choice for short, lightly threaded bursts of work where the task cannot use more than one core and where the workload resembles the PassMark single-thread metric. The Intel chip also has integrated graphics (Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU), while the Threadripper has none, so systems using the Intel part do not require a discrete GPU for basic display output.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X scores 130,529 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus scores 41,913. The AMD part leads by 211.4%.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus win any benchmark?

A: Yes. The Intel chip wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 4,764 versus 4,537 for the Threadripper, a 4.8% advantage. It also wins the passmark_singlethread test with the same scores.

Q: What is the average benchmark score of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has an average benchmark score of 321,753. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has an average benchmark score of 61,834.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has 64 cores and 128 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 20 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any single benchmark?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the Threadripper scores 872,071 against 122,449 for the Intel chip, a 612.2% lead.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X uses the Zen 5 architecture with the codename Shimada Peak, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It contains 66,520 million transistors across eight chiplets, each with a die size of 70.6 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus uses the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename from the Core Ultra Series 2, fabricated on a 3 nm process also at TSMC. It contains 17,800 million transistors on a single 243 mm² die.

Cache configurations differ sharply. The Threadripper has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 256 MB of L3 cache. The Intel chip has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The Threadripper's 256 MB of L3 is more than eight times the Intel part's shared 30 MB, which helps explain the large wins in data compression and integer math.

Memory support also diverges. Both support DDR5, but the Threadripper uses a quad-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and supports ECC memory. The Intel chip uses a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth and does not support ECC. The Threadripper provides 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only). The Threadripper is a desktop part with a 350 W TDP; the Intel chip is a mobile part with a 55 W TDP.

The Threadripper is unlocked for overclocking, as is the Intel part. The Threadripper is built on AMD Socket sTR5, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 2114, meaning the Intel processor is soldered to the board and not socketed for user replacement.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Threadripper has 64 cores and 128 threads; the Intel chip has 20 cores and 20 threads. The Threadripper's base clock is 3.20 GHz and boost clock is 5.40 GHz. The Intel chip's base clock is 2.40 GHz and boost clock is 5.30 GHz.

The Threadripper has a 350 W TDP and uses AMD Socket sTR5. The Intel chip has a 55 W TDP and uses Intel BGA 2114. The Threadripper is a desktop-market part; the Intel chip is a mobile-market part. The Threadripper's process node is 4 nm; the Intel chip's is 3 nm. Both are fabricated at TSMC.

The Threadripper supports ECC memory; the Intel chip does not. The Threadripper has a quad-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth; the Intel chip has a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Threadripper provides 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes; the Intel chip provides 20.

The Threadripper has no integrated graphics; the Intel chip has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Threadripper was released on 2025-07-29 with a launch MSRP of $4999. The Intel chip has a release date of 2026-03-16 and no recorded launch MSRP. The Threadripper has 66,520 million transistors across eight 70.6 mm² dies; the Intel chip has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Threadripper's cache is 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 256 MB L3. The Intel chip's cache is 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3. Both have unlocked multipliers.