Core i9-9980XEvsRyzen Threadripper 9960X
The Core i9-9980XE is an older 18-core workstation CPU for professionals who already own an X299 motherboard, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is a modern 24-core processor built for content creators who want top-tier multi-threaded speed.
Core i9-9980XE
Skylake (server) · 14 nm · 2018
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Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
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 9960X wins overall for its much faster performance and higher core count, outpacing the older Core i9-9980XE in every task.
For budget-conscious buyers, the Core i9-9980XE is the smarter pick if you find it cheap used, offering decent multi-core power without spending on new platform costs.
The Core i9-9980XE is the right choice when you need a reliable, lower-power CPU for legacy software that doesn't benefit from the Threadripper's extra cores.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i9-9980XE 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 19 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-9980XE in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X than the Core i9-9980XE?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is roughly 195% faster than the Core i9-9980XE overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core i9-9980XE or the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X. If the Core i9-9980XE 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.