CPU Showdown

Core i9-9900XvsRyzen Threadripper 9980X

The Intel Core i9-9900X is a 10-core workstation CPU for professionals who need solid single-threaded performance, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a 64-core monster aimed at heavy multitaskers and content creators who need extreme parallel processing power.

Intel Core i9-9900X
10C / 20T · 165W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
64C / 128T · 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 9980X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

86score
3.9/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
64 / 128
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz
L3 Cache
256 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 9980XWinner
86
Ryzen Threadripper 9980X leads by 561.5% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#1EPYC 9755100
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#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 9980X
Cores
Total Cores1064
Threads20128
Base Clock3.5 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.5 GHz5.4 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache10 MB64 MB
L3 Cache19.25 MB256 MB
Platform
PCIePCIe 3.0PCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP165W350W
General
Process14 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins overall for anyone needing extreme multi-threaded performance, far outpacing the Core i9-9900X in heavy workloads.

Best value

The Core i9-9900X is the smarter budget pick for buyers who don't need the Threadripper's immense core count and can live with slower multi-threaded work.

When the other wins

The Core i9-9900X is the right choice for a single-socket workstation that runs older software optimized for fewer, faster cores.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X than the Core i9-9900X?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is roughly 562% 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 9980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. 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.