CPU Showdown

Core i5-14600KFvsRyzen Threadripper 9980X

The Core i5-14600KF is a solid mid-range gaming and productivity chip for mainstream builders, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a workstation monster for heavy multi-threaded tasks like 3D rendering and video encoding.

Intel Core i5-14600KF
14C / 20T · 125W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
64C / 128T · 350W
Intel

Core i5-14600KF

Raptor Lake-R · Intel 7 nm · 2023

23score
4.2/ 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 9980X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

86score
3.9/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
64 / 128
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.4 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 i5-14600KF
23
Ryzen Threadripper 9980XWinner
86
Ryzen Threadripper 9980X leads by 273.9% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#1EPYC 9755100
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#67Core Ultra 5 235A23
#68Core i5-14600KF23
#69Core i7-13700F23
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i5-14600KFRyzen Threadripper 9980X
Cores
Total Cores1464
Threads20128
Base Clock3.5 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock5.3 GHz5.4 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache28 MB64 MB
L3 Cache24 MB256 MB
Platform
PCIePCIe 5.0 and 4.0PCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP125W350W
General
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X dominates the Core i5-14600KF for heavy multitasking and professional workloads, winning overall for creators and power users.

Best value

For budget-minded buyers, the Core i5-14600KF is the smarter pick, offering strong single-threaded speed at a far lower cost and power draw.

When the other wins

The Core i5-14600KF is the right choice for a gaming-focused build where high multi-core count isn't needed.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i5-14600KF better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (86 vs 23 out of 100), so it leads the Core i5-14600KF in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X than the Core i5-14600KF?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is roughly 274% faster than the Core i5-14600KF overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i5-14600KF or the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. If the Core i5-14600KF 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.