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

The Verdict

The benchmark database presents a stark performance separation between the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X and the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus. The Threadripper 9980X wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus takes only 2. The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 321,753, placing it in the 99th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part scores 93,785, landing in the 96th percentile. The delta between their average scores is substantial, with the AMD processor outperforming the Intel part by roughly 243% on average.

The data indicates the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus holds a narrow but real advantage in single-threaded PassMark tests, scoring 5,068 versus 4,537, a 10.5% lead. This is the only meaningful category where the Intel chip leads. For every other workload, from Cinebench multi-core to PassMark integer math, the Threadripper 9980X delivers dramatically higher scores. Users who prioritize raw multi-threaded throughput, data compression, encryption, or floating-point math should select the AMD processor. The Intel part makes sense only for workloads where a single-thread PassMark score matters more than every other measurement, or where the lower core count and smaller platform footprint are acceptable trade-offs. The 9980X carries a launch MSRP of $4999, while the 270K Plus has a launch MSRP of $299.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Cinebench score?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X leads in every Cinebench test, including single-core. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 9980X scores 18,427 compared to the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus at 2,439, a 655.5% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes. The Intel chip wins the PassMark single-thread test with 5,068 versus 4,537 for the AMD part, a 10.5% lead. This appears twice in the database, under both "passmark_single_thread" and "passmark_singlethread", confirming the result.

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X supports quad-channel DDR5 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus uses dual-channel DDR5 with a recorded bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has 64 cores and 128 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has 256 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 36 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X and the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus are listed with ECC memory support set to true.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X belongs to the 9000 series and uses the Zen 5 architecture under the codename "Shimada Peak". It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with a transistor count of 66,520 million spread across 8 dies, each measuring 70.6 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is part of the Core Ultra Series 2, uses the "Arrow Lake Refresh" codename, and is built on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a single 243 mm² die.

The core organization differs fundamentally. The AMD processor provides 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, alongside a massive 256 MB L3 cache. The Intel processor offers 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2 per core, with only 36 MB of shared L3. The Intel part also includes integrated graphics in the form of Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics, listed as "N/A". Both processors have unlocked multipliers, but the platform capabilities diverge. The AMD chip runs on AMD Socket sTR5 with PCIe Gen 5 and 80 lanes from the CPU. The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1851 with PCIe Gen 5 and only 20 lanes from the CPU.

The memory controller configuration also differs. The AMD processor supports quad-channel DDR5, while the Intel processor supports dual-channel DDR5. The production status is "Active" for both, but the release dates are separated, with the AMD part dated 2025-07-29 and the Intel part dated 2026-03-10.

Specification Differences

A direct comparison of recorded specifications shows the following differences. The core count is 64 for the AMD processor versus 24 for the Intel processor. Threads are 128 versus 24. Base clock is 3.20 GHz for the AMD part versus 3.70 GHz for the Intel part. Boost clock is 5.40 GHz versus 5.50 GHz. TDP is 350 watts for the AMD part versus 125 watts for the Intel part. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket sTR5, while the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1851.

The architecture field is recorded as Zen 5 for the AMD part, while the Intel part has a null architecture entry. The codenames are "Shimada Peak" and "Arrow Lake Refresh". The process nodes are 4 nm and 3 nm respectively. Transistor counts are 66,520 million versus 17,800 million, and die sizes are 8x 70.6 mm² versus 243 mm². The cache hierarchy shows L1 of 64 KB per core versus 192 KB per core, L2 of 1 MB per core versus 3 MB per core, and L3 of 256 MB versus 36 MB shared.

Memory bus width is quad-channel for the AMD part and dual-channel for the Intel part. Memory bandwidth is 204.8 GB/s versus 115.2 GB/s. PCIe lanes are 80 versus 20, both Gen 5, CPU only. The AMD processor has no integrated graphics, while the Intel processor includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The part numbers are 100-000001593 for AMD and SA4V6 for Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 18,427 against 2,439 for the Intel part, a delta of 655.5%. This is an enormous gap, far exceeding the multi-core differences. Cinebench R20 single-core shows a 124.1% advantage for the AMD part with 7,739 versus 3,453. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 424.6% advantage with 1,857 versus 354.

In multi-core tests, the AMD processor leads by similarly wide margins. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 130,529 versus 44,253, a 195% delta. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 54,822 versus 24,461, a 124.1% delta. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 13,157 versus 6,656, a 97.7% delta.

PassMark results follow the same pattern. Data compression scores 2,974,534 for the AMD part versus 804,322 for the Intel part, a 269.8% delta. Data encryption scores 157,137 versus 59,097, a 165.9% delta. Extended instructions score 228,959 versus 63,506, a 260.5% delta. Find prime numbers scores 769 versus 615, a 25% delta, which is the narrowest AMD win. Floating point math scores 559,003 versus 229,491, a 143.6% delta. Integer math scores 872,071 versus 175,986, a 395.5% delta. Multithread scores 141,641 versus 68,574, a 106.6% delta. Physics scores 8,001 versus 4,064, a 96.9% delta. Random string sorting scores 292,083 versus 96,945, a 201.3% delta.

The only two wins for the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus are the identical PassMark single-thread tests, both recorded as 5,068 versus 4,537, a 10.5% lead for Intel. These two results constitute the entirety of the Intel advantage in the recorded data.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins across every Cinebench variant, both single-core and multi-core. It also wins every PassMark workload except the single-thread test. The breadth of the AMD advantage suggests that the 64-core, 128-thread configuration, combined with the 256 MB L3 cache and quad-channel memory interface, delivers superior results in rendering, compression, encryption, and math-heavy tasks. The data shows particularly strong performance in integer math, where the AMD part leads by 395.5%, and in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the lead is 655.5% despite the Intel part having a higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz versus 5.40 GHz.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins only the PassMark single-thread test, scoring 5,068 against 4,537. This indicates a niche strength in lightly threaded workloads that rely on the PassMark single-thread metric. The Intel part also carries a lower TDP of 125 watts versus 350 watts and a smaller platform footprint with 20 PCIe lanes versus 80, but the benchmark data does not record any performance advantage from these specifications. The Intel chip's integrated graphics are present in the specification list, but no graphics benchmark results are recorded in the database, so no performance claim can be made from the data.

For workloads that involve data compression, encryption, extended instruction sets, floating-point math, integer math, physics calculations, or random string sorting, the AMD processor is the clear choice based on the recorded scores. For workloads that depend exclusively on the PassMark single-thread score, the Intel processor holds a 10.5% edge. The average benchmark score of 321,753 for the AMD part versus 93,785 for the Intel part summarizes the overall performance relationship, placing the AMD part in the 99th percentile and the Intel part in the 96th percentile of all CPUs.