AMD Ryzen 9 3950X vs Intel Core i9-9960X

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

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Ryzen 9 3950X compared with Core i9-9960X

	AMDRyzen 9 3950X	IntelCore i9-9960X
Overview
Released
Released	November 2019	2018
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	16	16
Threads
Threads	32	32
Base clock
Base clock	3.5 GHz	3.1 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	4.7 GHz (better)	4.5 GHz
L3 cache
L3 cache	64 MB (better)	22 MB
Cores
Cores	Zen 2; Matisse; sixteen cores with simultaneous multithreading. Two fully enabled eight-core CPU chiplets (PC Perspective).	Skylake-X refresh; Hyper-Threading and an unlocked multiplier, confirmed by Intel’s exact-model launch table.
Clocks
Clocks	Unlocked for overclocking; Precision Boost 2.	Turbo Boost Max 3.0 up to 4.50 GHz on the preferred cores; ordinary Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 4.40 GHz. Intel planned November 2018 availability. ASCII’s contemporary report confirms Japanese retail sale on 21 December 2018, but earlier worldwide sale was not established; year precision is retained.
Cache
Cache	1024 KB L1; 8 MB L2; 64 MB L3.	22 MB Intel Smart Cache; L3 designation confirmed by the exact Newegg listing.
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 confirmed by Intel’s exact-model support table.
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 128 GB; four channels of DDR 4-2666; 85 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.	44 CPU lanes; PCIe 3.0. The 68-lane family platform figure includes chipset lanes.
Chipsets
Chipsets	AMD lists X570, X470, X370 and B450; check the motherboard's CPU support list and BIOS.	Intel X 299; LGA 2066.
Process
Process	TSMC 7nm FinFET CPU cores.	14 nm; Skylake-X refresh.
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. Intel’s support article confirms solder thermal interface material for this exact model; published junction limit 85°C.