CPU Showdown

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WXvsRyzen Threadripper 7980X

The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is a 32-core Zen+ workstation CPU for budget-conscious creators building on the older TR4 platform, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is a 64-core Storm Peak monster aimed at professionals who need maximum multi-threaded muscle on the latest sTR5 socket.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
32C / 64T · 250W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
64C / 128T · 350W
AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

Zen+ · 12 nm · 2018

19score
4.1/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
32 / 64
TDP
250W
Boost Clock
4.2 GHz
L3 Cache
64 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

Storm Peak · 5 nm · 2023

82score
3.7/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
64 / 128
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.1 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 2990WX
19
Ryzen Threadripper 7980XWinner
82
Ryzen Threadripper 7980X leads by 331.6% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#90Ryzen 9 3900XT20
#91Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX19
#92Core i9-10980XE19
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsRyzen Threadripper 2990WXRyzen Threadripper 7980X
Cores
Total Cores3264
Threads64128
Base Clock3.0 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.2 GHz5.1 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache16 MB64 MB
L3 Cache64 MB256 MB
Platform
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP250W350W
General
ArchitectureZen+Storm Peak
Process12 nm5 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X wins overall with far faster performance and double the cores for demanding workstation tasks.

Best value

For budget buyers, the older Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX offers decent multi-core performance at a lower cost if found used.

When the other wins

The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the right choice for light threaded workloads or legacy software that doesn't benefit from newer architecture.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX better than the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (82 vs 19 out of 100), so it leads the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X than the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is roughly 332% faster than the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX or the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. If the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX 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.