CPU Showdown

Ryzen Threadripper 7980XvsCore Ultra 9 285K

The Core Ultra 9 285K is a high-end desktop chip for gamers and mainstream creators who want fast single-threaded performance, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is a workstation monster built for professionals tackling massive multi-threaded workloads.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
64C / 128T · 350W
VS
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
24C / 24T · 125W
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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Intel

Core Ultra 9 285K

Arrow Lake-S · 3 nm · 2024

40score
3.9/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
24 / 24
TDP
125W
Boost Clock
5.6 GHz
L3 Cache
36 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 7980XWinner
82
Core Ultra 9 285K
40
Ryzen Threadripper 7980X leads by 105.0% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#10Core Ultra 7 270K Plus41
#11Core Ultra 9 285K40
#12Ryzen 9 9950X40
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsRyzen Threadripper 7980XCore Ultra 9 285K
Cores
Total Cores6424
Threads12824
Base Clock3.2 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost Clock5.1 GHz5.6 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache64 MB72 MB
L3 Cache256 MB36 MB
Platform
PCIePCIe 5.0PCIe 5.0 and 4.0
iGPUIntelВ® Graphics
Power
Base TDP350W125W
General
Process5 nm3 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X wins overall for its massive multi-threaded performance and far larger cache, making it the clear choice for heavy workstation loads.

Best value

For budget/value buyers, the Core Ultra 9 285K is the smarter pick with lower power draw and sufficient speed for most desktop tasks.

When the other wins

The Core Ultra 9 285K is the right choice for a gaming or content creation PC where extreme multi-core power isn't needed.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X better than the Core Ultra 9 285K?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (82 vs 40 out of 100), so it leads the Core Ultra 9 285K in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X than the Core Ultra 9 285K?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is roughly 105% faster than the Core Ultra 9 285K overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X or the Core Ultra 9 285K?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. If the Core Ultra 9 285K 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.