Core i5-8500vsRyzen Threadripper 7980X
The Core i5-8500 is a sensible, everyday six-core chip for mainstream PC builds, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is a 64-core workstation monster for professionals rendering massive projects.
Core i5-8500
Coffee Lake-S · 14 nm · 2018
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Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
Storm Peak · 5 nm · 2023
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Overall Performance Score
A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.
Side-by-Side Specs
Every detail compared. Highlighted cells indicate the leading value for that metric.
Which should you buy?
The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X wins overall for its vastly higher core count and processing power, leaving the Core i5-8500 far behind.
For budget/value buyers, the Core i5-8500 is the smarter pick for basic tasks, while the Threadripper 7980X is overkill and expensive.
The Core i5-8500 is the right choice for a simple office PC where extreme multi-core power is unnecessary.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i5-8500 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 6 out of 100), so it leads the Core i5-8500 in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X than the Core i5-8500?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is roughly 1267% faster than the Core i5-8500 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core i5-8500 or the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. If the Core i5-8500 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.