CPU Showdown

Ryzen Threadripper 3960XvsRyzen Threadripper 7980X

The Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is a 24-core workhorse built for prosumers who need solid multithreading without breaking the bank, while the 7980X is a 64-core monster aimed at professionals who demand the absolute highest throughput for rendering or simulation.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
24C / 48T · 280W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
64C / 128T · 350W
AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Matisse · 7 nm · 2019

33score
4.1/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
24 / 48
TDP
280W
Boost Clock
4.5 GHz
L3 Cache
128 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 3960X
33
Ryzen Threadripper 7980XWinner
82
Ryzen Threadripper 7980X leads by 148.5% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#26Ryzen 9 9900X3D34
#27Ryzen Threadripper 3960X33
#28Ryzen 9 9900X33
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsRyzen Threadripper 3960XRyzen Threadripper 7980X
Cores
Total Cores2464
Threads48128
Base Clock3.8 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.5 GHz5.1 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache12 MB64 MB
L3 Cache128 MB256 MB
Platform
SocketTR4sTR5
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP280W350W
General
ArchitectureMatisseStorm Peak
Process7 nm5 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X wins overall for demanding workloads with far more cores and faster clock speeds.

Best value

For budget-focused buyers, the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X offers strong multi-core performance at a lower price point.

When the other wins

Choose the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X when building a workstation for moderate parallel tasks where extreme core counts aren't needed.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 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 33 out of 100), so it leads the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X than the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is roughly 149% faster than the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X or the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. If the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 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.