CPU Showdown

Ryzen Threadripper 2920XvsRyzen Threadripper 9970X

The Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is a 12-core Zen+ chip for creators on a tighter budget, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is a 32-core Shimada Peak monster built for heavy workstation loads.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
12C / 24T · 180W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
32C / 64T · 350W
AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

ZEN+ · 12 nm · 2018

15score
4.5/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
12 / 24
TDP
180W
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz
L3 Cache
32 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

64score
4.4/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
32 / 64
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz
L3 Cache
128 MB

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Aggregate Performance

Overall Performance Score

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

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
15
Ryzen Threadripper 9970XWinner
64
Ryzen Threadripper 9970X leads by 326.7% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#155Ryzen 5 7400F15
#156Ryzen Threadripper 2920X15
#157Ryzen 5 8600G15
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsRyzen Threadripper 2920XRyzen Threadripper 9970X
Cores
Total Cores1232
Threads2464
Base Clock3.5 GHz4.0 GHz
Boost Clock4.3 GHz5.4 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache6 MB32 MB
L3 Cache32 MB128 MB
Platform
SocketSP3r2sTR5
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP180W350W
General
ArchitectureZEN+Shimada Peak
Process12 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9970X wins overall with far more cores and faster performance for demanding workloads.

Best value

For budget buyers, the older Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is the smarter pick if you find it cheap and don't need the latest speed.

When the other wins

The Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is the right choice for a basic workstation on a tight budget where single-threaded tasks are fine.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X 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 15 out of 100), so it leads the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X than the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is roughly 327% faster than the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X or the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X. If the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X 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.