CPU Showdown

Core i9-10900vsRyzen Threadripper 9980X

The Intel Core i9-10900 is a cool-running, power-efficient desktop chip for mainstream builders, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a massive workstation processor for creators who need extreme multi-core muscle.

Intel Core i9-10900
10C / 20T · 65W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
64C / 128T · 350W
Intel

Core i9-10900

Comet Lake · 14 nm · 2020

11score
3.5/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
10 / 20
TDP
65W
Boost Clock
5.1 GHz
L3 Cache
20 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 i9-10900
11
Ryzen Threadripper 9980XWinner
86
Ryzen Threadripper 9980X leads by 681.8% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#1EPYC 9755100
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#234Ryzen 5 PRO 5655G12
#235Core i9-1090011
#236Ryzen 5 5500GT11
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i9-10900Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
Cores
Total Cores1064
Threads20128
Base Clock2.8 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock5.1 GHz5.4 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache2.5 MB64 MB
L3 Cache20 MB256 MB
Platform
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 9980X is the clear winner for anyone needing extreme multi-threaded performance, while the Core i9-10900 is a more modest option for lighter workloads.

Best value

For budget-conscious buyers, the Core i9-10900 is the smarter pick due to far lower power draw and adequate speed for everyday tasks.

When the other wins

The Core i9-10900 is the right choice for a quiet home office PC where low heat output and minimal cooling are priorities.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i9-10900 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 11 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-10900 in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X than the Core i9-10900?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is roughly 682% faster than the Core i9-10900 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i9-10900 or the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. If the Core i9-10900 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.