AMD Ryzen 9 3950X vs Intel Core i9-10980XE

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Ryzen 9 3950X compared with Core i9-10980XE

	AMDRyzen 9 3950X	IntelCore i9-10980XE
Overview
Released
Released	November 2019	November 2019
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	16	18 (better)
Threads
Threads	32	36 (better)
Base clock
Base clock	3.5 GHz	3 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	4.7 GHz	4.8 GHz (better)
L3 cache
L3 cache	64 MB (better)	24.75 MB
Cores
Cores	Zen 2; Matisse; sixteen cores with simultaneous multithreading. Two fully enabled eight-core CPU chiplets (PC Perspective).	Cascade Lake; 18 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by Intel’s exact-model family product brief.
Clocks
Clocks	Unlocked for overclocking; Precision Boost 2.	Turbo Boost Max 3.0 up to 4.80 GHz on the preferred core; ordinary Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 4.60 GHz. The main boost field uses Intel’s highest published frequency. Intel targeted November 2019 availability. Scan’s dated 26 November guide confirms that this exact processor was available to purchase; the exact maker-confirmed first-sale day remains unverified, so month precision is retained.
Cache
Cache	1024 KB L1; 8 MB L2; 64 MB L3.	24.75 MB Intel Smart Cache (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, explicitly stated in Intel’s exact-model comparison-chart row; a separate graphics solution is required.
Platform
Socket
Socket	AM4	LGA2066
Base power
Base power	105 W	165 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	No	No
Memory support
Memory support	DDR4 UDIMM; two channels; up to 128 GB. Two single-rank or dual-rank modules support 3200 MT/s; four single-rank modules 2933 MT/s and four dual-rank modules 2667 MT/s. ECC requires motherboard support.	Up to 256 GB; four channels of DDR4-2933; 94 GB/s maximum published bandwidth; no ECC.
PCIe
PCIe	PCIe 4.0; 24 native lanes in total, 20 usable. X570 adds 16 usable PCIe 4.0 lanes.	48 CPU lanes; PCIe 3.0. Intel’s 72-lane platform figure includes chipset lanes and is distinct from the processor’s 48 lanes.
Chipsets
Chipsets	AMD lists X570, X470, X370 and B450; check the motherboard's CPU support list and BIOS.	Intel X299; LGA2066.
Process
Process	TSMC 7nm FinFET CPU cores.	14 nm; Cascade Lake.
Cooler
Cooler	No cooler included; liquid cooling recommended. AMD's November launch notice recommends an AIO with at least a 280 mm radiator. Maximum operating temperature 95°C.	Intel explicitly excludes a fan and heatsink from the boxed product; a separate compatible cooler is required. Published junction limit: 86°C.