CPU Showdown

Core i9-9940XvsRyzen Threadripper 7980X

The Intel Core i9-9940X is a legacy high-end desktop CPU from the Skylake-X family for enthusiasts who need solid multi-threading, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is a current-gen workstation monster built for creators and professionals who demand extreme core counts.

Intel Core i9-9940X
14C / 28T · 165W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
64C / 128T · 350W
Intel

Core i9-9940X

Skylake (server) · 14 nm · 2018

17score
3.8/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
14 / 28
TDP
165W
Boost Clock
4.5 GHz
L3 Cache
19.25 MB

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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

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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 i9-9940X
17
Ryzen Threadripper 7980XWinner
82
Ryzen Threadripper 7980X leads by 382.4% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#125Ryzen 7 5800XT17
#126Core i9-9940X17
#127Core i5-13600T17
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i9-9940XRyzen Threadripper 7980X
Cores
Total Cores1464
Threads28128
Base Clock3.3 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.5 GHz5.1 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache14 MB64 MB
L3 Cache19.25 MB256 MB
Platform
PCIePCIe 3.0PCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP165W350W
General
Process14 nm5 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the clear winner overall, offering far more cores and faster performance for demanding tasks.

Best value

For budget or value buyers, the Core i9-9940X is the smarter pick if you find it cheap, though it's much slower.

When the other wins

The Core i9-9940X is the right choice when you need a compatible CPU for an older LGA2066 motherboard without upgrading the platform.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i9-9940X 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 17 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-9940X in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X than the Core i9-9940X?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is roughly 382% faster than the Core i9-9940X overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i9-9940X or the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. If the Core i9-9940X 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.