Ryzen 9 3900X vs Core i9-7960X

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Aggregated performance score

Core i9-7960X
2017
16 cores / 32 threads
18.60
Ryzen 9 3900X
2019
12 cores / 24 threads
21.12
+13.5%

Ryzen 9 3900X outperforms Core i9-7960X by 14% based on our aggregated benchmark results.

General info

Comparing Core i9-7960X and Ryzen 9 3900X processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking281227
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Value for money5.2438.13
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i9AMD Ryzen 9
Architecture codenameSkylake (server) (2017−2019)Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
Release date1 September 2017 (6 years ago)7 July 2019 (4 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,699$499
Current price$1559 (0.9x MSRP)$388 (0.8x MSRP)

Value for money

Performance per price, higher is better.

Ryzen 9 3900X has 628% better value for money than i9-7960X.

Technical specs

Core i9-7960X and Ryzen 9 3900X basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores16 (Hexadeca-Core)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads3224
Base clock speed2.8 GHz3.8 GHz
Boost clock speed4.4 GHz4.6 GHz
Bus support4 × 8 GT/sno data
L1 cache64 KB (per core)96K (per core)
L2 cache1 MB (per core)512K (per core)
L3 cache22 MB (shared)64 MB
Chip lithography14 nm7 nm
Die size484 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature98 °C95 °C
Number of transistorsno data19,200 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility++
Unlocked multiplierYesYes

Compatibility

Information on Core i9-7960X and Ryzen 9 3900X compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCLGA2066AM4
Power consumption (TDP)165 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i9-7960X and Ryzen 9 3900X. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512no data
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology+no data
TSX+no data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0+no data
StatusDiscontinuedno data

Security technologies

Core i9-7960X and Ryzen 9 3900X technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

EDB+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i9-7960X and Ryzen 9 3900X are enumerated here.

AMD-Vno data+
VT-d+no data
VT-x+no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i9-7960X and Ryzen 9 3900X. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4-2666DDR4 Dual-channel
Maximum memory size128 GB128 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth85 GB/s51.196 GB/s
ECC memory support--

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardN/A-

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i9-7960X and Ryzen 9 3900X.

PCIe version3.0no data
PCI Express lanes44no data

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i9-7960X 18.60
Ryzen 9 3900X 21.12
+13.5%

Ryzen 9 3900X outperforms Core i9-7960X by 14% based on our aggregated benchmark results.


Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Benchmark coverage: 68%

i9-7960X 28754
Ryzen 9 3900X 32659
+13.6%

Ryzen 9 3900X outperforms Core i9-7960X by 14% in Passmark.

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i9-7960X 1376
Ryzen 9 3900X 1693
+23%

Ryzen 9 3900X outperforms Core i9-7960X by 23% in GeekBench 5 Single-Core.

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i9-7960X 10516
+6%
Ryzen 9 3900X 9923

Core i9-7960X outperforms Ryzen 9 3900X by 6% in GeekBench 5 Multi-Core.

Gaming performance

Advantages and disadvantages


Performance score 18.60 21.12
Recency 1 September 2017 7 July 2019
Physical cores 16 12
Threads 32 24
Cost $1699 $499
Chip lithography 14 nm 7 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 165 Watt 125 Watt

The Ryzen 9 3900X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i9-7960X in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i9-7960X and Ryzen 9 3900X, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote

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Intel Core i9-7960X
Core i9-7960X
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Ryzen 9 3900X

Similar processor comparisons

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User Ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


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Questions and comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i9-7960X or Ryzen 9 3900X, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.