AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X vs Intel Core i9-10980XE

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Ryzen Threadripper 3960X compared with Core i9-10980XE

	AMDRyzen Threadripper 3960X	IntelCore i9-10980XE
Overview
Released
Released	November 2019	November 2019
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	24 (better)	18
Threads
Threads	48 (better)	36
Base clock
Base clock	3.8 GHz	3 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	4.5 GHz	4.8 GHz (better)
L3 cache
L3 cache	128 MB (better)	24.75 MB
Cores
Cores	Castle Peak; Zen 2 architecture; boxed product ID 100-100000010WOF. Requires sTRX4/TRX40, incompatible with sTR4/X399 motherboards. AMD confirms worldwide first availability on 25 November 2019, after its 7 November announcement.	Cascade Lake; 18 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by Intel’s exact-model family product brief.
Clocks
Clocks	Maximum boost up to 4.5 GHz; unlocked for overclocking	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	L1 1536 KB; L2 12 MB; the advertised 140 MB combined cache includes L2 and L3	24.75 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3).
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	No	No
Graphics
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	sTRX4	LGA2066
Base power
Base power	280 W	165 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	No	No
Memory support
Memory support	DDR4; four channels; up to 3200 MT/s	Up to 256 GB; four channels of DDR4-2933; 94 GB/s maximum published bandwidth; no ECC.
PCIe
PCIe	PCIe 4.0; AMD publishes 88 lanes across the processor and TRX40 chipset, with 72 usable	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	–	Intel X299; LGA2066.
Process
Process	CPU cores: TSMC 7 nm FinFET	14 nm; Cascade Lake.
Cooler
Cooler	No cooler included; 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.