CPU Showdown

Core i5-14600KvsRyzen Threadripper 7980X

The Core i5-14600K is a sensible, mid-range processor for gamers and everyday builders, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is a workstation-class monster built for professionals who need extreme multi-core power.

Intel Core i5-14600K
14C / 20T · 125W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
64C / 128T · 350W
Intel

Core i5-14600K

Raptor Lake-R · Intel 7 nm · 2023

23score
4.1/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
14 / 20
TDP
125W
Boost Clock
5.3 GHz
L3 Cache
24 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

Storm Peak · 5 nm · 2023

82score
3.7/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
64 / 128
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.1 GHz
L3 Cache
256 MB

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Aggregate Performance

Overall Performance Score

A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.

Core i5-14600K
23
Ryzen Threadripper 7980XWinner
82
Ryzen Threadripper 7980X leads by 256.5% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#64Core Ultra 5 24523
#65Core i5-14600K23
#66Ryzen 9 3950X23
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

Every detail compared. Highlighted cells indicate the leading value for that metric.

SpecsCore i5-14600KRyzen Threadripper 7980X
Cores
Total Cores1464
Threads20128
Base Clock3.5 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock5.3 GHz5.1 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache28 MB64 MB
L3 Cache24 MB256 MB
Platform
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 5.0 and 4.0PCIe 5.0
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 770
Power
Base TDP125W350W
General
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X wins for extreme multi-threading work, but the Core i5-14600K is the smarter choice for most gamers and mainstream users.

Best value

The Core i5-14600K offers far better value for everyday tasks and gaming, leaving the Threadripper 7980X for specialized professional workloads.

When the other wins

The Core i5-14600K is the right pick when you need strong single-threaded performance for gaming without the massive cost of a workstation platform.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i5-14600K better than the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (82 vs 23 out of 100), so it leads the Core i5-14600K in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X than the Core i5-14600K?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is roughly 257% faster than the Core i5-14600K overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i5-14600K or the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. If the Core i5-14600K is meaningfully cheaper where you shop, it can be the better value for similar real-world results — check current prices and the full spec comparison above before deciding.