AMD Ryzen 9 3950X vs Intel Core i9-7900X

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Ryzen 9 3950X compared with Core i9-7900X
AMDRyzen 9 3950XIntelCore i9-7900X
Overview
ReleasedNovember 2019June 2017
Cores and clocks
Cores16 (better)10
Threads32 (better)20
Base clock3.5 GHz3.3 GHz
Boost clock4.7 GHz (better)4.5 GHz
L3 cache64 MB (better)13.75 MB
CoresZen 2; Matisse; sixteen cores with simultaneous multithreading. Two fully enabled eight-core CPU chiplets (PC Perspective).Skylake-X; 10 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by Intel’s exact-model family product brief.
ClocksUnlocked for overclocking; Precision Boost 2.Turbo Boost Max 3.0 up to 4.50 GHz on the preferred core; ordinary Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 4.30 GHz. The main boost field uses Intel’s highest published frequency. Intel’s September press-kit record names 26 June 2017 availability for the first Core X processors; its August record confirms the four- to ten-core models were already on shelves. The exact model’s first-sale day was not established, so month precision is retained.
Cache1024 KB L1; 8 MB L2; 64 MB L3.13.75 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3).
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphicsNoNo
GraphicsNo 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
SocketAM4LGA2066
Base power105 W140 W
UnlockedYesYes
Cooler in the boxNoNo
Memory supportDDR4 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 128 GB; four channels of DDR4-2666; 85 GB/s maximum published bandwidth; no ECC.
PCIePCIe 4.0; 24 native lanes in total, 20 usable. X570 adds 16 usable PCIe 4.0 lanes.44 CPU lanes; PCIe 3.0.
ChipsetsAMD lists X570, X470, X370 and B450; check the motherboard's CPU support list and BIOS.Intel X299; LGA2066.
ProcessTSMC 7nm FinFET CPU cores.14 nm; Skylake-X.
CoolerNo 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: 95°C.

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