CPU Showdown

Core i9-14900KSvsRyzen Threadripper 9960X

The Core i9-14900KS is a high-end desktop chip for gamers and content creators who want the fastest single-core speed possible, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is a workstation processor built for professionals running heavily multi-threaded tasks.

Intel Core i9-14900KS
24C / 32T · 150W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
24C / 48T · 350W
Intel

Core i9-14900KS

Raptor Lake-R · Intel 7 nm · 2024

36score
3.6/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
24 / 32
TDP
150W
Boost Clock
5.9 GHz
L3 Cache
36 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

56score
4.9/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
24 / 48
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.3 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 i9-14900KS
36
Ryzen Threadripper 9960XWinner
56
Ryzen Threadripper 9960X leads by 55.6% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#6Ryzen Threadripper 9960X56
#7Ryzen Threadripper 7960X50
#17Core i9-13900KS36
#18Core i9-14900KS36
#19Core Ultra 7 265K35
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i9-14900KSRyzen Threadripper 9960X
Cores
Total Cores2424
Threads3248
Base Clock3.2 GHz4.2 GHz
Boost Clock5.9 GHz5.3 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache48 MB24 MB
L3 Cache36 MB128 MB
Platform
PCIePCIe 5.0 and 4.0PCIe 5.0
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 770
Power
Base TDP150W350W
General
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9960X wins overall for heavy workstation tasks, crushing the Core i9-14900KS with far more memory and thread capacity.

Best value

For budget/value buyers, the Core i9-14900KS is the smarter pick, costing less to build around while still offering fast single-core speed.

When the other wins

The Core i9-14900KS is the right choice for a high-end gaming rig where the Threadripper's extra threads and memory go unused.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i9-14900KS better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (56 vs 36 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-14900KS in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X than the Core i9-14900KS?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is roughly 56% faster than the Core i9-14900KS overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i9-14900KS or the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X. If the Core i9-14900KS 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.