Core i5-9500vsRyzen Threadripper 9980X
The Core i5-9500 is a sensible, everyday CPU for office work and light gaming, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a monster workstation chip for creators and professionals who need extreme multi-tasking.
Core i5-9500
Coffee Lake · 14 nm · 2019
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Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025
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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 9980X wins overall for anyone needing extreme multi-core performance, leaving the Core i5-9500 far behind.
For budget buyers, the Core i5-9500 is the smarter pick, offering enough speed for everyday tasks at a lower cost.
Choose the Core i5-9500 for a basic office PC where you don't need the Threadripper's massive core count.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i5-9500 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 6 out of 100), so it leads the Core i5-9500 in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X than the Core i5-9500?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is roughly 1333% faster than the Core i5-9500 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core i5-9500 or the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. If the Core i5-9500 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.