Core i9-9900KvsRyzen Threadripper 9980X
The Core i9-9900K is a high-clocked gaming CPU for enthusiasts, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a multi-core workstation monster for creators and heavy multitaskers.
Core i9-9900K
Coffee Lake-R · 14 nm · 2018
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Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025
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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 9980X wins for heavy multitasking and creation, but the Core i9-9900K is better for pure gaming speed.
For budget buyers, the Core i9-9900K offers enough power for daily tasks and gaming at a lower platform cost.
Choose the Core i9-9900K if you only game and use basic applications, where its single-core speed avoids Threadripper's overkill cost and heat.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i9-9900K 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 i9-9900K in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X than the Core i9-9900K?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is roughly 682% faster than the Core i9-9900K overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core i9-9900K or the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. If the Core i9-9900K 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.