CPU Showdown

Core i7-6800KvsRyzen Threadripper 7980X

The Core i7-6800K is a solid six-core processor for budget-conscious builders who want decent workstation performance, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is a massive 64-core beast for professionals who need extreme multi-threaded power.

Intel Core i7-6800K
6C / 12T · 140W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
64C / 128T · 350W
Intel

Core i7-6800K

Broadwell-E · 14 nm · 2016

6score
3.8/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
TDP
140W
Boost Clock
3.8 GHz
L3 Cache
15 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 i7-6800K
6
Ryzen Threadripper 7980XWinner
82
Ryzen Threadripper 7980X leads by 1266.7% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#359Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G7
#360Core i7-6800K6
#361Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE6
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i7-6800KRyzen Threadripper 7980X
Cores
Total Cores664
Threads12128
Base Clock3.4 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock3.8 GHz5.1 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache1.5 MB64 MB
L3 Cache15 MB256 MB
Platform
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 3.0PCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP140W350W
General
Process14 nm5 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X wins overall for its vastly greater number of cores and threads, making it far faster for heavy workloads.

Best value

For budget buyers, the Core i7-6800K is the smarter pick as it costs much less and still handles everyday tasks.

When the other wins

The Core i7-6800K is the right choice for someone building a low-cost PC for basic office work or light gaming.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i7-6800K 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 i7-6800K in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X than the Core i7-6800K?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is roughly 1267% faster than the Core i7-6800K overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i7-6800K or the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. If the Core i7-6800K 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.