CPU Showdown

Core i7-8700vsRyzen Threadripper 9970X

The Core i7-8700 is a sensible, everyday CPU for mainstream builders and gamers, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is a workstation monster aimed at creators and professionals who need massive multi-core power.

Intel Core i7-8700
6C / 12T · 65W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
32C / 64T · 350W
Intel

Core i7-8700

Coffee Lake-S · 14 nm · 2017

8score
4/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
TDP
65W
Boost Clock
4.6 GHz
L3 Cache
12288 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

64score
4.4/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
32 / 64
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz
L3 Cache
128 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 i7-8700
8
Ryzen Threadripper 9970XWinner
64
Ryzen Threadripper 9970X leads by 700.0% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#333Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE8
#334Core i7-87008
#335Core i3-13100T8
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i7-8700Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
Cores
Total Cores632
Threads1264
Base Clock3.2 GHz4.0 GHz
Boost Clock4.6 GHz5.4 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache1.5 MB32 MB
L3 Cache12288 MB128 MB
Platform
MemoryDDR3DDR5
PCIePCIe 3.0PCIe 5.0
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 630
Power
Base TDP65W350W
General
Process14 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9970X wins overall for anyone needing extreme multi-threaded performance, leaving the Core i7-8700 far behind.

Best value

For budget buyers, the Core i7-8700 is the smarter pick because it costs much less and still handles everyday tasks.

When the other wins

The Core i7-8700 is the right choice for a basic office PC where low power use and lower cost matter more than raw speed.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i7-8700 better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (64 vs 8 out of 100), so it leads the Core i7-8700 in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X than the Core i7-8700?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is roughly 700% faster than the Core i7-8700 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i7-8700 or the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X. If the Core i7-8700 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.