Core i9-9990XEvsRyzen Threadripper 7970X
The Core i9-9990XE is a rare 14-core server chip for enthusiasts who want a unique piece of Intel history, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is a modern 32-core workstation monster for today's heavy multitaskers.
Core i9-9990XE
Skylake (server) · 14 nm · 2019
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Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
Storm Peak · 5 nm · 2023
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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 7970X wins overall with vastly more cores and faster speeds for heavy workloads.
For budget buyers, the Core i9-9990XE is the smarter pick if you find it cheap, offering decent multi-threading at a lower price.
The Core i9-9990XE is the right choice when you need a compatible upgrade for an older X299 platform without swapping motherboards.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i9-9990XE better than the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?
Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (60 vs 18 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-9990XE in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X than the Core i9-9990XE?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is roughly 233% faster than the Core i9-9990XE overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core i9-9990XE or the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X. If the Core i9-9990XE 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.