CPU Showdown

Core i9-9900KFvsRyzen Threadripper 7980X

The Core i9-9900KF is a classic high-clock gaming CPU for builders on an older platform, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is a massive workstation monster for creators running heavy multi-threaded tasks.

Intel Core i9-9900KF
8C / 16T · 95W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
64C / 128T · 350W
Intel

Core i9-9900KF

Coffee Lake-R · 14 nm · 2019

11score
3.8/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
8 / 16
TDP
95W
Boost Clock
5.0 GHz
L3 Cache
16 MB

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

Storm Peak · 5 nm · 2023

82score
3.7/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
64 / 128
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.1 GHz
L3 Cache
256 MB

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

Aggregate Performance

Overall Performance Score

A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.

Core i9-9900KF
11
Ryzen Threadripper 7980XWinner
82
Ryzen Threadripper 7980X leads by 645.5% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#249Core i9-9900K11
#250Core i9-9900KF11
#251Core i5-1160011
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i9-9900KFRyzen Threadripper 7980X
Cores
Total Cores864
Threads16128
Base Clock3.6 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock5.0 GHz5.1 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache2 MB64 MB
L3 Cache16 MB256 MB
Platform
PCIePCIe 3.0PCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP95W350W
General
Process14 nm5 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X wins overall for its vastly superior multi-core performance and massive memory capacity, leaving the Core i9-9900KF far behind for demanding workloads.

Best value

For budget/value buyers, the Core i9-9900KF is the smarter pick if you only need solid single-core speed on an older platform.

When the other wins

The Core i9-9900KF is the right choice when you are building a low-cost, older-gen system for light gaming or basic productivity and do not need extreme multi-threading.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i9-9900KF better than the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (82 vs 11 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-9900KF in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X than the Core i9-9900KF?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is roughly 646% faster than the Core i9-9900KF overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i9-9900KF or the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. If the Core i9-9900KF 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.