CPU Showdown

Core i9-7940XvsRyzen Threadripper 9960X

The Core i9-7940X is an older 14-core workstation chip for prosumers who need solid multi-threaded performance on a budget, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is a modern 24-core heavy lifter aimed at creators and renderers who want maximum throughput.

Intel Core i9-7940X
14C / 28T · 165W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
24C / 48T · 350W
Intel

Core i9-7940X

Skylake (server) · 14 nm · 2017

15score
4.2/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
14 / 28
TDP
165W
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz
L3 Cache
19.25 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 i9-7940X
15
Ryzen Threadripper 9960XWinner
56
Ryzen Threadripper 9960X leads by 273.3% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#6Ryzen Threadripper 9960X56
#7Ryzen Threadripper 7960X50
#157Ryzen 5 8600G15
#158Core i9-7940X15
#159Ryzen 5 7500X3D15
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i9-7940XRyzen Threadripper 9960X
Cores
Total Cores1424
Threads2848
Base Clock3.1 GHz4.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.4 GHz5.3 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache14 MB24 MB
L3 Cache19.25 MB128 MB
Platform
PCIePCIe 3.0PCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP165W350W
General
Process14 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9960X wins decisively with far more cores, faster clock speeds, and much higher performance for demanding workloads.

Best value

For budget-focused buyers, the Core i9-7940X is the smarter pick if you find it cheaply, offering decent multi-threading at lower power.

When the other wins

The Core i9-7940X is right when you need a capable workstation CPU on an older platform with used parts available.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i9-7940X 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 15 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-7940X in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X than the Core i9-7940X?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is roughly 273% faster than the Core i9-7940X overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i9-7940X or the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X. If the Core i9-7940X 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.