Which CPU Should I Buy: Intel Core i9 or AMD Threadripper

Threadripper and i9 7980XE are the latest top-of-the-line CPUs from AMD and Intel. They can offer up to 18 cores and specifications that impress on all the issues revealed by both manufacturers so far. Below you will find the comparison between Threadripper and i9 7980XE and choose the best model for your needs.

Specifications:

Intel’s Core i9 7980XE CPU

Intel's top line has been announced with 18 cores and 36 threads (you can understand them as simulated cores logically depending on the situation). There are 18 MB of L2 cache and a further 24.75 MB of L3 cache: these are quantities never before used on home CPUs and should give the Intel processor slack to render much more than any other CPU. The cache memory stores data that is used by the CPU on a recurring basis, and the higher its capacity, the higher the processor speed tends to be.

According to Intel, the i9 7980XE will operate at 3.0 GHz, but with the Turbo, speeds of 4.5 GHz can be seen on some of the 18 CPU cores.


AMD Threadripper CPU

The AMD processor has 16 cores and 32 threads but has a technical aspect that can make it superior to the i9 in some cases: Threadripper supports 64 lines of PCIe 3.0, against Intel 44. The more PCIe lines supported, the greater the ability of the AMD-equipped computer to support multiple video cards, SSDs, and other peripherals that use the PCI-E interface.

Another positive factor of Threadripper is the cache volume in L3, at 32 MB, higher than the 24.75 found in rival i9. In addition, both Core i9 and Treadripper support DDR4 quad-channel.

Compatibility:

AMD and Intel super processors require the consumer to have a motherboard compatible with the new platforms. In the case of the Core i9, you will need to invest in models that use the Intel X299 chipset as well as the LGA 2066 socket. The bad news is that these boards are among the most expensive on the market, regardless of the manufacturer.

In the case of AMD, the same principle applies: only top-of-the-line video cards, with the X399 chipset (and the similarity of names with Intel's option can create confusion), will be able to accept Threadripper.


Overclock:

Both CPUs have multipliers released and tools to support overclocking, although the notion of speeding up processors with so many cores and speeds already high enough by default may seem like an exaggeration for many people.

In demonstrations, the Core i9 7900X, which is the i9 "cheap", has already been monitored operating steadily at 5.7 GHz and, compared to the Threadripper, Asus has indicated that speeds in the 5 GHz range are possible on its Motherboard X399.

Value for money

AMD has yet to release some important details about Threadripper: it is unclear how many models will be released and at what prices they will hit the market by the end of the year. In this, Intel comes out ahead: there are five different Core i9s, with prices ranging from US $ 999 to the entry unit with 10 cores and US $ 1,999 for the top of the line, with 18 cores.

The cost benefit of this type of processor is still difficult to measure because actual performance data is not yet available. But from the home user's point of view, it is uncertain how much an 18- or 16-core CPU makes a difference in a world dominated by applications and games that have all been developed for architectures of at most eight cores.

Regarding prices, although AMD did not disclose the values of the Threadripper line, it is necessary to consider the brand's historical tendency to practice lower prices than equivalent Intel products.

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