CPU Showdown

Ryzen Threadripper 7980XvsRyzen Threadripper 9960X

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is a 64-core monster for professionals who need maximum parallel processing, while the 9960X is a 24-core chip built for those who prioritize single-thread speed over core count.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
64C / 128T · 350W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
24C / 48T · 350W
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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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

56score
4.9/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
24 / 48
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 7980XWinner
82
Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
56
Ryzen Threadripper 7980X leads by 46.4% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#6Ryzen Threadripper 9960X56
#7Ryzen Threadripper 7960X50
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsRyzen Threadripper 7980XRyzen Threadripper 9960X
Cores
Total Cores6424
Threads12848
Base Clock3.2 GHz4.2 GHz
Boost Clock5.1 GHz5.3 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache64 MB24 MB
L3 Cache256 MB128 MB
Platform
SocketsTR5sTR5
MemoryDDR5DDR5
PCIePCIe 5.0PCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP350W350W
General
Process5 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X wins overall for heavy multi-threaded work with its far greater core count and larger cache.

Best value

For budget-minded buyers who need raw multi-core throughput, the 7980X offers more cores and cache for the same power use.

When the other wins

The 9960X is the right choice when single-threaded speed matters more, such as for lightly threaded professional applications.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (82 vs 56 out of 100), so it leads the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X than the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is roughly 46% faster than the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X or the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. If the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X 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.