Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs Xeon Platinum 8168

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

2018

Why buy it

✅+93.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 33 MB).
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 48) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (31,945 vs 32,373).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,799 MSRP, while Xeon Platinum 8168 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌22% higher power demand at 250W vs 205W.

Xeon Platinum 8168

2017

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 205W instead of 250W, a 45W reduction.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (33 MB vs 64 MB).

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

2018

Xeon Platinum 8168

2017

Why buy it

✅+93.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 33 MB).
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 48) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 205W instead of 250W, a 45W reduction.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (31,945 vs 32,373).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,799 MSRP, while Xeon Platinum 8168 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌22% higher power demand at 250W vs 205W.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (33 MB vs 64 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX better than Xeon Platinum 8168?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is ahead with a 2.4% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Platinum 8168 pulls ahead with 1.3% better PassMark. Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX also has the bigger cache pool with 93.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 33 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Platinum 8168 is the better fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the smarter buy today. Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is at an unclear MSRP at $1,799 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 2.4% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon Platinum 8168 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.3% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (17.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2017) and 93.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 33 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX Benchmark Check

Xeon Platinum 8168 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Xeon Platinum 8168
1080p
low	198 FPS	195 FPS
medium	177 FPS	158 FPS
high	143 FPS	128 FPS
ultra	115 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	160 FPS	157 FPS
medium	134 FPS	123 FPS
high	104 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	73 FPS	72 FPS
medium	64 FPS	60 FPS
high	50 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	38 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX Open Xeon Platinum 8168

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Xeon Platinum 8168
1080p
low	536 FPS	403 FPS
medium	483 FPS	350 FPS
high	404 FPS	292 FPS
ultra	354 FPS	246 FPS
1440p
low	473 FPS	350 FPS
medium	424 FPS	310 FPS
high	360 FPS	260 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	217 FPS
4K
low	295 FPS	228 FPS
medium	265 FPS	203 FPS
high	242 FPS	180 FPS
ultra	213 FPS	149 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX Open Xeon Platinum 8168

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Xeon Platinum 8168
1080p
low	768 FPS	809 FPS
medium	640 FPS	787 FPS
high	577 FPS	744 FPS
ultra	504 FPS	659 FPS
1440p
low	640 FPS	722 FPS
medium	533 FPS	617 FPS
high	465 FPS	583 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	515 FPS
4K
low	469 FPS	465 FPS
medium	377 FPS	364 FPS
high	336 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	280 FPS	263 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX Open Xeon Platinum 8168

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Xeon Platinum 8168
1080p
low	799 FPS	809 FPS
medium	799 FPS	783 FPS
high	704 FPS	686 FPS
ultra	616 FPS	597 FPS
1440p
low	730 FPS	689 FPS
medium	644 FPS	604 FPS
high	549 FPS	526 FPS
ultra	474 FPS	452 FPS
4K
low	523 FPS	483 FPS
medium	473 FPS	434 FPS
high	419 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	362 FPS	338 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX Open Xeon Platinum 8168

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX and Xeon Platinum 8168

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 August 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 31,945 points. Launch price was $1,799.

Xeon Platinum 8168

The Xeon Platinum 8168 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 25 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 33 MB. L2 cache: 24 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 32,373 points. Launch price was $5,890.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX packs 32 cores / 64 threads, while the Xeon Platinum 8168 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8168 — a 12.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX (base: 3 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (12 nm), while the Xeon Platinum 8168 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX scores 31,945 against the Xeon Platinum 8168's 32,373 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon Platinum 8168. L3 cache: 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs 33 MB on the Xeon Platinum 8168.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Xeon Platinum 8168
Cores / Threads	32 / 64+33%	24 / 48
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz+14%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+11%	2.7 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB+94%	33 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	24 MB+4700%
Process	12 nm-14%	14 nm
Architecture	Zen+ (2018−2019)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	31,945	32,373+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi	33,213	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,206	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	7,612	—

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses the TR4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Platinum 8168 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2933 on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX versus 2666 on the Xeon Platinum 8168 — the Xeon Platinum 8168 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 768 — 90.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX) vs 6 (Xeon Platinum 8168). PCIe lanes: 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX) vs 48 (Xeon Platinum 8168) — the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X399 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX) and C621 (Xeon Platinum 8168).

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Xeon Platinum 8168
Socket	TR4	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2933	2666+66550%
Max RAM Capacity	2048 GB+279620167%	768
RAM Channels	4	6+50%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	64+33%	48

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Platinum 8168 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Platinum 8168). Primary use case: Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX targets Extreme Content Creation. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX rivals Core i9-9980XE; Xeon Platinum 8168 rivals EPYC 7501.