AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is a 64-core, 128-thread desktop processor from the 3000 series, built on Zen 2 architecture with the Castle Peak codename. It is manufactured on TSMC's 7 nm process and contains 30,400 million transistors arranged as 8x 74 mm² dies. Its average benchmark score is 12,298, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. That aggregate figure, however, hides a wide split between the processor's very high multi-thread scores and its more modest single-thread and low-thread results.

Benchmark Performance

The 3990X's benchmark profile is defined by thread scaling. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 68,124 and the single-core score is 9,617. In Cinebench R20, multi-core is 28,612 and single-core is 4,039. In Cinebench R15, multi-core is 6,866 and single-core is 969. Geekbench reports a multi-core score of 13,931 and a single-core score of 1,615. The 3DMark results step from 695 single-thread, to 1,383 at 2 threads, 2,721 at 4 threads, 5,182 at 8 threads, 9,975 at 16 threads, and 18,441 at max threads.

These numbers show a clear pattern: the more threads a test can use, the higher the 3990X ranks in its own benchmark set. The max-thread 3DMark score of 18,441 is far above the 16-thread score of 9,975, and the Cinebench multi-core scores are far above their corresponding single-core scores. The average benchmark score of 12,298, however, sits near the low end of the processor's own score spread because the average includes low-thread tests as well.

Against its nearest rivals, the aggregate picture is close. The 3990X averages 12,298. The Intel Core i5-1145G7 averages 12,305, a delta of -0.1%. The Intel Core i7-6700K averages 12,235, a delta of +0.5%. The AMD EPYC 9174F averages 12,536, a delta of -1.9%. The Intel Core i7-6700 averages 12,057, a delta of +2%. So the 3990X is within 2% of all four rivals in average benchmark score, despite its 128-thread configuration.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread performance is the most important behavioral signal. The best single-thread results are 695 in 3DMark, 969 in Cinebench R15, 4,039 in Cinebench R20, 9,617 in Cinebench R23, and 1,615 in Geekbench. The best multi-thread results are 18,441 in 3DMark max-thread, 6,866 in R15, 28,612 in R20, 68,124 in R23, and 13,931 in Geekbench.

The low-thread scores are workable, but they are dwarfed by the multi-thread scores. From 2 threads at 1,383 to max threads at 18,441, the 3DMark score expands dramatically. For applications that can use all 128 threads, the multi-thread Cinebench and 3DMark figures represent the processor's real capability. For applications limited to one or two threads, the single-thread and 2-thread scores are more relevant. This is why the average of 12,298 should not be read as a single verdict: it blends both ends of the thread-scaling curve.

Power and Thermals

The 3990X is rated at a 280 W TDP, which defines the thermal envelope that any cooling solution must address. The base clock is 2.90 GHz and the boost clock is 4.30 GHz. The multiplier is unlocked, so system-level frequency adjustment is possible. The physical implementation uses a 7 nm TSMC process, 30,400 million transistors, and 8x 74 mm² dies. Cache per core is 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2, with 256 MB of L3. The memory interface is quad-channel DDR4 with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth, and ECC memory is not supported. The 280 W TDP is a high desktop-class figure, and the benchmark data does not specify a cooler size; the thermal design is left to the platform.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X use?

A: AMD Socket TRX4.

Q: What memory configuration is supported?

A: DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Does the processor have integrated graphics?

A: No integrated graphics are listed for the 3990X.

Q: How many PCIe lanes are available?

A: The CPU provides 64 lanes of PCIe Gen 4.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: Yes, the multiplier is unlocked.

Q: What is the launch MSRP?

A: The launch MSRP is $3990.

How It Compares

The AMD EPYC 9174F is the nearest rival with the highest average score at 12,536. The 3990X trails it by 1.9%, making this the largest delta among the four rivals.

The Intel Core i5-1145G7 averages 12,305. The 3990X is 0.1% behind, making the aggregate comparison effectively a tie.

The Intel Core i7-6700K averages 12,235. The 3990X is 0.5% ahead.

The Intel Core i7-6700 averages 12,057. The 3990X is 2% ahead.

These aggregate deltas are small, and they do not capture the large multi-thread advantage visible in the 3990X's individual Cinebench and 3DMark scores.

Platform and Compatibility

The 3990X is a desktop-market processor on AMD Socket TRX4, part of the 3000 series. It uses Zen 2 architecture under the Castle Peak codename. The memory controller supports DDR4 in quad-channel mode at 102.4 GB/s, with no ECC support. The CPU provides 64 lanes of PCIe Gen 4. Because no integrated graphics are listed, a separate graphics component is required. The multiplier is unlocked. The release date is 2020-02-06, and the production status is Active. The part number is 100-000000163100-100000163WOF. The platform is defined by the TRX4 socket, quad-channel DDR4, and 64 CPU PCIe Gen 4 lanes.

Who Should Consider It

The clearest use case is high-thread-count creation work. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 68,124, the R20 multi-core score of 28,612, the R15 multi-core score of 6,866, the Geekbench multi-core score of 13,931, and the 3DMark max-thread score of 18,441 all point to a processor built for heavily parallel workloads. The 256 MB L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth give those threads a large data path.

Users running office or light productivity workloads should weight the single-thread and low-thread scores more heavily: 3DMark single-thread is 695, 3DMark 2-thread is 1,383, and Geekbench single-core is 1,615. Those numbers are far lower than the processor's own multi-thread results. Gaming scenarios that rely on single-thread performance would similarly not be the strongest fit, because the 3990X's advantage is concentrated in thread-heavy tests.

The right audience is a builder who needs 64 cores, 128 threads, 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and quad-channel DDR4 on a desktop platform. The 280 W TDP and unlocked multiplier should both be part of the platform decision, and the absence of integrated graphics means a discrete GPU is necessary. The 72nd percentile aggregate ranking shows a processor that sits above most CPUs in average terms, but the multi-thread scores are what truly separate it from the field.