CPU Showdown

Ryzen 3 2300XvsRyzen Threadripper 9960X

The Ryzen 3 2300X is a simple, low-cost quad-core chip for everyday computing and light gaming, while the Threadripper 9960X is a monster workstation CPU with 24 cores for heavy creative and professional workloads.

AMD Ryzen 3 2300X
4C / 4T · 65W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
24C / 48T · 350W
AMD

Ryzen 3 2300X

Zen+ · 12 nm · 2018

5score
4.1/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
4 / 4
TDP
65W
Boost Clock
4.0 GHz
L3 Cache
8 MB

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

56score
4.9/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
24 / 48
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.3 GHz
L3 Cache
128 MB

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

Aggregate Performance

Overall Performance Score

A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.

Ryzen 3 2300X
5
Ryzen Threadripper 9960XWinner
56
Ryzen Threadripper 9960X leads by 1020.0% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#6Ryzen Threadripper 9960X56
#7Ryzen Threadripper 7960X50
#415Core i3-9350K5
#416Ryzen 3 2300X5
#417Core i7-7700T5
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsRyzen 3 2300XRyzen Threadripper 9960X
Cores
Total Cores424
Threads448
Base Clock3.5 GHz4.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.0 GHz5.3 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache2 MB24 MB
L3 Cache8 MB128 MB
Platform
SocketAM4sTR5
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 3.0PCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP65W350W
General
ArchitectureZen+Shimada Peak
Process12 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9960X wins overall with far more cores and threads for heavy multitasking and creative work.

Best value

For budget buyers, the Ryzen 3 2300X is the smarter pick, offering basic computing at a much lower cost.

When the other wins

The Ryzen 3 2300X is the right choice for a simple home office PC where high core counts aren't needed.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ryzen 3 2300X 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 5 out of 100), so it leads the Ryzen 3 2300X in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X than the Ryzen 3 2300X?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is roughly 1020% faster than the Ryzen 3 2300X overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Ryzen 3 2300X or the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X. If the Ryzen 3 2300X 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.