AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs Intel Core i7-4960X

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Ryzen 9 3900X compared with Core i7-4960X

	AMDRyzen 9 3900X	IntelCore i7-4960X
Overview
Released
Released	July 2019	September 2013
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	12 (better)	6
Threads
Threads	24 (better)	12
Base clock
Base clock	3.8 GHz	3.6 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	4.6 GHz (better)	4 GHz
L3 cache
L3 cache	64 MB (better)	15 MB
Cores
Cores	Zen 2; Matisse; twelve cores with simultaneous multithreading. Two CPU chiplets with six active cores each and a separate I/O die (PCGamesN).	Ivy Bridge-E; 6 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by the exact-model reviews.
Clocks
Clocks	Unlocked for overclocking; Precision Boost Overdrive with Automatic Overclocking supported, as described in AMD's launch notice.	Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 4.00 GHz. September availability follows contemporary Ivy Bridge-E store availability coverage and Expert Reviews’ 10 September exact-model review with a retail supplier and price. Intel gives Q3 2013; an exact maker first-sale day was not established.
Cache
Cache	768 KB L1; 6 MB L2; 64 MB L3.	–
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	No	No
Graphics
Graphics	No integrated graphics; a separate graphics card is required.	No processor graphics, confirmed by Intel’s exact-model comparison-chart row; a separate graphics solution is required.
Platform
Socket
Socket	AM4	LGA2011
Base power
Base power	105 W	130 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	Yes	No
Memory support
Memory support	DDR4; two channels; up to 3200 MT/s.	Up to 64 GB; four channels of DDR3-1333/1600/1866; maximum bandwidth 59.7 GB/s; no ECC.
PCIe
PCIe	PCIe 4.0 x16; AMD introduced PCIe 4.0 support with the X570 platform at launch.	40 CPU lanes; PCIe 3.0
Chipsets
Chipsets	X570 at launch; check the motherboard's CPU support list and BIOS for other AM4 boards.	X79 and LGA2011, confirmed by the exact-model reviews.
Process
Process	TSMC 7nm FinFET CPU cores; 14nm I/O die (PCGamesN).	22 nm; Ivy Bridge-E. Package size 52.5 × 45.0 mm.
Cooler
Cooler	Retail boxed processor includes an RGB cooler (PCGamesN; inclusion also confirmed by TechRadar); AMD's current support specification does not name a cooler. Maximum operating temperature 95°C.	Intel explicitly excludes a fan and heatsink from the boxed product; a separate compatible cooler is required.