CPU Showdown

Ryzen Threadripper 7970XvsCore i5-14500

The Core i5-14500 is a sensible, everyday CPU for mainstream builders who need solid performance without breaking the bank, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is a multi-core monster built for professionals running heavily threaded workloads.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
32C / 64T · 350W
VS
Intel Core i5-14500
14C / 20T · 65W
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

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

Intel

Core i5-14500

Raptor Lake-R · Intel 7 nm · 2024

19score
4.3/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
14 / 20
TDP
65W
Boost Clock
5.0 GHz
L3 Cache
24 MB

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

Aggregate Performance

Overall Performance Score

A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.

Ryzen Threadripper 7970XWinner
60
Core i5-14500
19
Ryzen Threadripper 7970X leads by 215.8% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#6Ryzen Threadripper 9960X56
#100Ryzen 7 8700F19
#101Core i5-1450019
#102Core i7-14700T19
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsRyzen Threadripper 7970XCore i5-14500
Cores
Total Cores3214
Threads6420
Base Clock4.0 GHz2.6 GHz
Boost Clock5.3 GHz5.0 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache32 MB17.5 MB
L3 Cache128 MB24 MB
Platform
MemoryDDR5DDR4
PCIePCIe 5.0PCIe 5.0 and 4.0
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 770
Power
Base TDP350W65W
General
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7970X wins overall for heavy workstation loads, but the Core i5-14500 is the better choice for everyday tasks and budget builds.

Best value

For budget/value buyers, the Core i5-14500 offers strong everyday performance at a much lower price and power draw than the Threadripper.

When the other wins

The Core i5-14500 is the right choice for a home office PC where you need quick responsiveness and low electricity bills, not extreme multi-core power.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X better than the Core i5-14500?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (60 vs 19 out of 100), so it leads the Core i5-14500 in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X than the Core i5-14500?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is roughly 216% faster than the Core i5-14500 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X or the Core i5-14500?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X. If the Core i5-14500 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.