Ryzen 5 4500vsRyzen Threadripper 9970X
The Ryzen 5 4500 is a budget-friendly, everyday CPU for basic computing and light gaming, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is a high-core workstation monster for professionals handling heavy rendering or virtual machines.
Ryzen 5 4500
Renoir · 7 nm · 2022
As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025
As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
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 processing power for demanding tasks.
For budget buyers, the Ryzen 5 4500 is the smarter pick for everyday computing and light gaming.
The Ryzen 5 4500 is the right choice if you need a simple, low-power desktop for office work or web browsing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ryzen 5 4500 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 10 out of 100), so it leads the Ryzen 5 4500 in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X than the Ryzen 5 4500?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is roughly 540% faster than the Ryzen 5 4500 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Ryzen 5 4500 or the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X. If the Ryzen 5 4500 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.