Core i9-9940XvsRyzen Threadripper 9970X
The Intel Core i9-9940X is a 14-core workstation chip for professionals who need solid single-threaded speed, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is a 32-core behemoth built for heavy multi-threaded workloads.
Core i9-9940X
Skylake (server) · 14 nm · 2018
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Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
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 9970X wins overall with vastly more cores, faster boost speeds, and larger cache for heavy workloads.
For budget-focused buyers, the older Core i9-9940X is the smarter pick if you need a capable chip at a lower price.
Choose the Core i9-9940X when you already have a compatible X299 motherboard and want to avoid a full platform upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i9-9940X better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X?
Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (64 vs 17 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-9940X in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X than the Core i9-9940X?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is roughly 277% 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 9970X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X. 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.