CPU Showdown

Core i7-9700KvsRyzen Threadripper 7980X

The Core i7-9700K is a solid, no-nonsense gaming and everyday CPU for builders on a budget, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is a workstation monster for pros who need to chew through massive rendering or video projects.

Intel Core i7-9700K
8C / 8T · 95W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
64C / 128T · 350W
Intel

Core i7-9700K

Coffee Lake-R · 14 nm · 2018

9score
3.7/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
8 / 8
TDP
95W
Boost Clock
4.9 GHz
L3 Cache
12 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 i7-9700K
9
Ryzen Threadripper 7980XWinner
82
Ryzen Threadripper 7980X leads by 811.1% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#294Core i5-11600T9
#295Core i7-9700K9
#296Core i3-123009
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i7-9700KRyzen Threadripper 7980X
Cores
Total Cores864
Threads8128
Base Clock3.6 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.9 GHz5.1 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache2 MB64 MB
L3 Cache12 MB256 MB
Platform
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 3.0PCIe 5.0
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 630
Power
Base TDP95W350W
General
Process14 nm5 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X wins overall for anyone needing extreme multi-core power, far surpassing the Core i7-9700K in heavy workloads.

Best value

For budget/value buyers, the Core i7-9700K is the smarter pick for basic gaming and everyday tasks at a much lower cost.

When the other wins

The Core i7-9700K is the right choice for a simple gaming PC where the Threadripper's massive core count and high price offer no benefit.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i7-9700K 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 9 out of 100), so it leads the Core i7-9700K in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X than the Core i7-9700K?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is roughly 811% faster than the Core i7-9700K overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i7-9700K or the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. If the Core i7-9700K 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.