CPU Showdown

Ryzen Threadripper 2950XvsRyzen Threadripper 9980X

The Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is a 16-core Zen+ workhorse for prosumers who need solid multi-threaded performance without extreme power demands, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a 64-core Shimada Peak beast for professionals who want maximum compute density.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
16C / 32T · 180W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
64C / 128T · 350W
AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

ZEN+ · 12 nm · 2018

18score
4.4/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
16 / 32
TDP
180W
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz
L3 Cache
32 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

86score
3.9/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
64 / 128
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz
L3 Cache
256 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 2950X
18
Ryzen Threadripper 9980XWinner
86
Ryzen Threadripper 9980X leads by 377.8% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#1EPYC 9755100
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#116Core i9-7980XE18
#117Ryzen Threadripper 2950X18
#118Core i9-12900T17
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsRyzen Threadripper 2950XRyzen Threadripper 9980X
Cores
Total Cores1664
Threads32128
Base Clock3.5 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.4 GHz5.4 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache8 MB64 MB
L3 Cache32 MB256 MB
Platform
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP180W350W
General
ArchitectureZEN+Shimada Peak
Process12 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins overall with far more cores and faster performance for heavy workloads.

Best value

The Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is the smarter budget pick if you need fewer threads and lower power consumption.

When the other wins

The weaker Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is right for older Socket TR4 motherboards or limited cooling setups.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (86 vs 18 out of 100), so it leads the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X than the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is roughly 378% faster than the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X or the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. If the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X 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.