AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X vs Intel Xeon 6780E Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X and Intel Xeon 6780E are both 99th-percentile CPUs, but they are built for entirely different corners of the compute market. The Threadripper 9980X is a 64-core, 128-thread desktop powerhouse with a 5.40 GHz boost clock, while the Xeon 6780E is a 144-core, 144-thread server chip with a modest 3.00 GHz boost. Benchmark data shows the AMD part winning 13 of 16 head-to-head tests, including every Cinebench run, while the Intel part takes 3 wins in specific workload types. This split reflects a fundamental design philosophy difference: raw single-thread speed and per-core efficiency versus massive core counts for throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins in nearly every general compute category. It dominates all Cinebench versions—R15, R20, and R23—with multicore scores of 13157, 54822, and 130529 respectively, versus the Xeon’s 7431, 30963, and 73723. The single-core gap is even more dramatic, with the AMD part scoring 1857 in R15, 7739 in R20, and 18427 in R23, compared to the Intel’s 1049, 4371, and 1049. The AMD chip also wins in PassMark integer math (872071 vs 641817), floating-point math (559003 vs 433862), extended instructions (228959 vs 114008), and multithread (141641 vs 86734). Data compression also favors AMD, at 2974534 vs 2557582.

The Intel Xeon 6780E wins in three specific areas. Its PassMark data encryption score of 193004 beats AMD’s 157137, a 18.6% advantage. It also wins in physics simulation, scoring 10951 against AMD’s 8001, a 26.9% margin. Random string sorting goes Intel’s way too, at 326954 versus 292083, a 10.7% edge. These wins suggest Intel’s architecture handles certain memory-access patterns and cryptographic workloads more efficiently, despite its lower clock speeds. The Xeon also has a significant core-count advantage—144 vs 64—which may help in workloads that scale linearly with cores, though the benchmark data does not show that here.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Xeon 6780E tops out at 3.00 GHz.

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

A: The AMD has 64 cores and 128 threads. The Intel has 144 cores and 144 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded performance?

A: The AMD wins decisively. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4537 versus Intel’s 1923, a 135.9% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon win any benchmark?

A: Yes. It wins PassMark data encryption (193004 vs 157137), physics (10951 vs 8001), and random string sorting (326954 vs 292083).

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel supports eight-channel DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD supports quad-channel DDR5 with 204.8 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel offers Gen 5, 88 lanes from the CPU. The AMD offers Gen 5, 80 lanes from the CPU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result is in PassMark single-thread, where AMD scores 4537 against Intel’s 1923—a 135.9% delta. This is a direct reflection of the clock speed disparity: 5.40 GHz versus 3.00 GHz. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where AMD’s 18427 beats Intel’s 73723 by 77.1%. Every Cinebench multicore test also shows AMD ahead by exactly 77.1%, suggesting a consistent per-core efficiency advantage that scales across all thread counts tested.

The extended instructions test is the second-largest win for AMD, at 228959 versus 114008, a 100.8% margin. This indicates the Zen 5 architecture handles SIMD and special instruction sets more effectively. Integer math shows AMD ahead by 35.9% (872071 vs 641817), and floating-point math by 28.8% (559003 vs 433862). Multithread performance favors AMD by 63.3% (141641 vs 86734). Data compression is closer, with AMD winning by 16.3% (2974534 vs 2557582).

Intel’s wins are narrower but real. Data encryption shows Intel ahead by 18.6% (193004 vs 157137). Physics simulation gives Intel a 26.9% edge (10951 vs 8001). Random string sorting is Intel’s most modest win, at 10.7% (326954 vs 292083). Find prime numbers is nearly a tie, with AMD at 769 and Intel at 708, an 8.6% delta.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is core count: AMD has 64 cores and 128 threads, while Intel has 144 cores and 144 threads. Clock speeds also diverge sharply—AMD bases at 3.20 GHz and boosts to 5.40 GHz, while Intel bases at 2.20 GHz and boosts to 3.00 GHz. Thermal design power is 350W for AMD and 330W for Intel, a modest difference given the core count gap.

Memory configuration favors Intel: it supports eight-channel DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, versus AMD’s quad-channel with 204.8 GB/s. PCIe lanes also go Intel’s way, with 88 Gen 5 lanes versus AMD’s 80. The socket differs: AMD uses Socket sTR5, Intel uses Socket 4710. AMD’s multiplier is unlocked, while Intel’s is locked. The AMD part is a desktop product; the Intel is a server/workstation part. Release dates also differ, with AMD launching on 2025-07-29 and Intel on 2024-06-02.

Architecture Differences

AMD uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, while Intel uses a 5 nm process from its own foundry. The AMD die is composed of 8 chiplets, each 70.6 mm², totaling 66,520 million transistors. Intel uses a single 578 mm² die. Cache layouts are notably different: AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 256 MB of shared L3. Intel provides 96 KB L1 per core, 4 MB L2 per module, and 108 MB of shared L3. AMD’s architecture is Zen 5, codenamed Shimada Peak; Intel’s is Sierra Forest, part of the Xeon 6 generation. Both support DDR5 and ECC memory. AMD’s L3 cache is more than double Intel’s, which may explain its lead in many compute-heavy benchmarks.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split. If your work involves single-threaded performance, general compute, compilation, or any workload that benefits from high clock speeds and efficient per-core execution, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the choice. It wins 13 of 16 benchmarks, including every Cinebench test and most PassMark integer and floating-point workloads. Its 135.9% single-thread lead over the Intel part is decisive. The 256 MB L3 cache and 64 cores with 128 threads make it a versatile workstation CPU.

The Intel Xeon 6780E is the pick for specific server workloads. It wins in data encryption, physics simulation, and random string sorting. Its 144 cores and 144 threads, combined with eight-channel memory and 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, make it better suited for memory-bandwidth-hungry or highly parallel server tasks. The locked multiplier and server socket position it as a data-center part, not a desktop enthusiast chip. The AMD part is also the newer release, with a later launch date. For most users, the AMD’s benchmark dominance makes it the practical recommendation, but the Intel’s three targeted wins show it has a niche where it genuinely outperforms.