CPU Showdown

Ryzen Threadripper 3990XvsRyzen Threadripper 7970X

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is a 64-core workstation monster for extreme multi-threaded workloads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is a newer, faster 32-core chip built for pro users who need strong single-threaded performance.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
64C / 128T · 280W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
32C / 64T · 350W
AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Matisse · 7 nm · 2019

48score
3.1/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
64 / 128
TDP
280W
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz
L3 Cache
256 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Storm Peak · 5 nm · 2023

60score
4/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
32 / 64
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.3 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 3990X
48
Ryzen Threadripper 7970XWinner
60
Ryzen Threadripper 7970X leads by 25.0% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#6Ryzen Threadripper 9960X56
#7Ryzen Threadripper 7960X50
#8Ryzen Threadripper 3990X48
#9Ryzen 9 9950X3D42
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsRyzen Threadripper 3990XRyzen Threadripper 7970X
Cores
Total Cores6432
Threads12864
Base Clock2.9 GHz4.0 GHz
Boost Clock4.3 GHz5.3 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache32 MB32 MB
L3 Cache256 MB128 MB
Platform
SocketTR4sTR5
PCIePCIe 4.0PCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP280W350W
General
ArchitectureMatisseStorm Peak
Process7 nm5 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7970X wins overall with its much faster single-core and multi-core performance for most modern workloads.

Best value

For budget/value buyers, the older 3990X offers more cores at a lower price, making it the smarter pick for heavily parallel tasks.

When the other wins

The weaker 3990X is the right choice for a rendering farm where raw core count matters more than per-core speed.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X better than the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (60 vs 48 out of 100), so it leads the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X than the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is roughly 25% faster than the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X or the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X. If the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X 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.