Core i9-7980XEvsRyzen Threadripper 7970X
The Core i9-7980XE is an older 18-core HEDT chip for enthusiasts who needed a workstation CPU before AMD’s modern onslaught, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is a current 32-core monster built for creators and professionals who want maximum multi-core grunt.
Core i9-7980XE
Skylake (server) · 14 nm · 2017
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Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
Storm Peak · 5 nm · 2023
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Overall Performance Score
A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.
Side-by-Side Specs
Every detail compared. Highlighted cells indicate the leading value for that metric.
Which should you buy?
The Ryzen Threadripper 7970X wins overall with far more cores and faster clock speeds for demanding workloads.
For budget buyers, the older Core i9-7980XE is the smarter pick if you find it cheaply used.
The Core i9-7980XE is the right choice if you need a capable workstation CPU on a very tight budget.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i9-7980XE better than the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?
Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (60 vs 18 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-7980XE in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X than the Core i9-7980XE?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is roughly 233% faster than the Core i9-7980XE overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core i9-7980XE or the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X. If the Core i9-7980XE 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.