CPU Showdown

Core i9-9900XvsRyzen Threadripper 9960X

The Core i9-9900X is a 10-core workstation CPU aimed at professionals who need reliable single-threaded performance on a mature platform, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is a 24-core monster for creators and heavy multitaskers who want maximum parallel processing power.

Intel Core i9-9900X
10C / 20T · 165W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
24C / 48T · 350W
Intel

Core i9-9900X

Skylake (server) · 14 nm · 2018

13score
3.2/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
10 / 20
TDP
165W
Boost Clock
4.5 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 i9-9900X
13
Ryzen Threadripper 9960XWinner
56
Ryzen Threadripper 9960X leads by 330.8% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#6Ryzen Threadripper 9960X56
#7Ryzen Threadripper 7960X50
#197Ryzen 5 5600X13
#198Core i9-9900X13
#199Ryzen 5 560013
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i9-9900XRyzen Threadripper 9960X
Cores
Total Cores1024
Threads2048
Base Clock3.5 GHz4.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.5 GHz5.3 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache10 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 overall with far more cores and faster boost speeds, crushing the Core i9-9900X in multi-threaded work.

Best value

For budget/value buyers, the older Core i9-9900X is smarter if you find it cheaply, offering decent performance for less money than the Threadripper.

When the other wins

The Core i9-9900X is the right choice for light gaming or office tasks where you don't need the Threadripper's extreme multi-core power.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i9-9900X 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 13 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-9900X in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X than the Core i9-9900X?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is roughly 331% faster than the Core i9-9900X overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i9-9900X or the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X. If the Core i9-9900X 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.