Ryzen Threadripper 2990WXvsRyzen Threadripper 9960X
The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is a 32-core workstation CPU for heavy parallel workloads on a budget, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is a newer 24-core chip for tasks that value higher single-thread speed and modern features.
Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Zen+ · 12 nm · 2018
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Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025
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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 9960X wins overall, offering much faster single-core and multi-core performance with a modern architecture and double the cache.
For budget/value buyers, the older Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the smarter pick, costing less while still providing high core count for heavy workloads.
The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the right choice for a legacy workstation upgrade on a tight budget where socket TR4 compatibility is already in place.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX 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 19 out of 100), so it leads the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X than the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is roughly 195% 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 9960X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X. 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.