CPU Showdown

Core i7-9700KFvsRyzen Threadripper 9980X

The Core i7-9700KF is an older mid-range gaming CPU for builders on a budget, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a workstation monster for creators who need massive multi-core power.

Intel Core i7-9700KF
8C / 8T · 95W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
64C / 128T · 350W
Intel

Core i7-9700KF

Coffee Lake · 14 nm · 2019

9score
3.9/ 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 9980X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

86score
3.9/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
64 / 128
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.4 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 i7-9700KF
9
Ryzen Threadripper 9980XWinner
86
Ryzen Threadripper 9980X leads by 855.6% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#1EPYC 9755100
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#296Core i3-123009
#297Core i7-9700KF9
#298Core i5-10600K9
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i7-9700KFRyzen Threadripper 9980X
Cores
Total Cores864
Threads8128
Base Clock3.6 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.9 GHz5.4 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache2 MB64 MB
L3 Cache12 MB256 MB
Platform
PCIePCIe 3.0PCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP95W350W
General
Process14 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins overall with far more cores and threads for heavy multitasking, while the Core i7-9700KF is better for basic gaming on a budget.

Best value

For budget buyers, the Core i7-9700KF offers a simpler, lower-power option for everyday tasks, but the Threadripper 9980X gives you extreme multi-core performance per dollar.

When the other wins

If you need a quiet, low-power PC for web browsing and light office work, the Core i7-9700KF is the right choice over the power-hungry Threadripper.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X than the Core i7-9700KF?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is roughly 856% faster than the Core i7-9700KF overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i7-9700KF or the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. If the Core i7-9700KF 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.