CPU Showdown

Core i9-10900KvsRyzen Threadripper 9970X

The Core i9-10900K is a high-end desktop chip for gamers and mainstream creators, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is a workstation-class processor built for heavy multi-threaded workloads.

Intel Core i9-10900K
10C / 20T · 125W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
32C / 64T · 350W
Intel

Core i9-10900K

Comet Lake · 14 nm · 2020

13score
3.5/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
10 / 20
TDP
125W
Boost Clock
5.2 GHz
L3 Cache
20 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 i9-10900K
13
Ryzen Threadripper 9970XWinner
64
Ryzen Threadripper 9970X leads by 392.3% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#188Core i9-10900X13
#189Core i9-10900K13
#190Ryzen 5 5600XT13
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i9-10900KRyzen Threadripper 9970X
Cores
Total Cores1032
Threads2064
Base Clock3.7 GHz4.0 GHz
Boost Clock5.2 GHz5.4 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache2.5 MB32 MB
L3 Cache20 MB128 MB
Platform
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 3.0PCIe 5.0
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 630
Power
Base TDP125W350W
General
Process14 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is the clear winner for demanding workloads, leaving the Core i9-10900K far behind in multi-threaded tasks.

Best value

For budget buyers, the Core i9-10900K offers decent single-thread speed at a lower cost than the expensive Threadripper.

When the other wins

The Core i9-10900K is the right choice if you need a CPU for older motherboards and lighter gaming without paying for extreme multi-core power.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i9-10900K 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 13 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-10900K in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X than the Core i9-10900K?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is roughly 392% faster than the Core i9-10900K overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i9-10900K or the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X. If the Core i9-10900K 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.