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.

Core Ultra 9 275HX

2025

Why buy it

✅+2.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 55W instead of 280W, a 225W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2114 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics, while Ryzen Threadripper 3960X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X across 36 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +23.6% higher average FPS across 36 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅266.7% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (54,763 vs 56,018).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,399 MSRP, while Core Ultra 9 275HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌409.1% higher power demand at 280W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 9 275HX moves to FCBGA2114 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 9 275HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 9 275HX

2025

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

2019

Why buy it

✅+2.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 55W instead of 280W, a 225W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2114 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics, while Ryzen Threadripper 3960X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +23.6% higher average FPS across 36 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅266.7% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X across 36 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (54,763 vs 56,018).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,399 MSRP, while Core Ultra 9 275HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌409.1% higher power demand at 280W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 9 275HX moves to FCBGA2114 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 9 275HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 9 275HX better than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 3960X makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core Ultra 9 275HX is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 9 275HX is the better fit. You are getting 2.3% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 24 threads.

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

Core Ultra 9 275HX is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen Threadripper 3960X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 9 275HX is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,399 MSRP, and it gives you 2.3% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 23.6% average FPS lead across 36 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (39.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core Ultra 9 275HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2019), a healthier platform with FCBGA2114 and DDR5 instead of TR4, and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 24 threads instead of 24/48. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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.

Core Ultra 9 275HX Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 9 275HX	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
1080p
low	309 FPS	270 FPS
medium	299 FPS	222 FPS
high	246 FPS	183 FPS
ultra	208 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	211 FPS
medium	228 FPS	164 FPS
high	175 FPS	130 FPS
ultra	154 FPS	96 FPS
4K
low	179 FPS	98 FPS
medium	151 FPS	81 FPS
high	112 FPS	63 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	51 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 275HX Open Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 9 275HX	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
1080p
low	802 FPS	835 FPS
medium	700 FPS	706 FPS
high	565 FPS	547 FPS
ultra	495 FPS	474 FPS
1440p
low	682 FPS	677 FPS
medium	614 FPS	587 FPS
high	505 FPS	476 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	387 FPS
4K
low	382 FPS	396 FPS
medium	349 FPS	345 FPS
high	326 FPS	307 FPS
ultra	283 FPS	271 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 275HX Open Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 9 275HX	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
1080p
low	866 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	708 FPS	927 FPS
high	628 FPS	862 FPS
ultra	537 FPS	765 FPS
1440p
low	744 FPS	777 FPS
medium	611 FPS	645 FPS
high	529 FPS	581 FPS
ultra	453 FPS	506 FPS
4K
low	527 FPS	540 FPS
medium	446 FPS	428 FPS
high	403 FPS	381 FPS
ultra	344 FPS	306 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 275HX Open Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 9 275HX	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
1080p
low	1078 FPS	1325 FPS
medium	959 FPS	1015 FPS
high	841 FPS	1074 FPS
ultra	757 FPS	875 FPS
1440p
low	862 FPS	1032 FPS
medium	756 FPS	900 FPS
high	660 FPS	778 FPS
ultra	585 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	635 FPS	744 FPS
medium	565 FPS	662 FPS
high	500 FPS	579 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 275HX Open Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 9 275HX and Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Core Ultra 9 275HX

The Core Ultra 9 275HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2025-01-01. It is based on the Arrow Lake-HX (2025) architecture. It features 24 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2114. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 56,018 points. Launch price was $600.

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

The Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 November 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 54,763 points. Launch price was $1,399.

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Processing Power

The Core Ultra 9 275HX packs 24 cores / 24 threads, matching the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X's 24 cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 275HX versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 9 275HX (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core Ultra 9 275HX uses the Arrow Lake-HX (2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 9 275HX scores 56,018 against the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X's 54,763 — a 2.3% lead for the Core Ultra 9 275HX. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,835 vs 1,270, a 76.2% lead for the Core Ultra 9 275HX that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 275HX vs 128 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X.

Feature	Core Ultra 9 275HX	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Cores / Threads	24 / 24	24 / 48
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+20%	4.5 GHz
Base Clock	2.7 GHz	3.8 GHz+41%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)	128 MB+256%
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)+500%	512K (per core)
Process	3 nm-57%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-HX (2025)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	56,018+2%	54,763
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	34,260
Geekbench 6 Single	2,835+123%	1,270
Geekbench 6 Multi	17,908	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 9 275HX uses the FCBGA2114 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 9 275HX versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X — the Core Ultra 9 275HX supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 256 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Core Ultra 9 275HX) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 3960X). PCIe lanes: 24 (Core Ultra 9 275HX) vs 88 (Ryzen Threadripper 3960X) — the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X offers 64 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM870,WM880 (Core Ultra 9 275HX) and AMD TRX40 (Ryzen Threadripper 3960X).

Feature	Core Ultra 9 275HX	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Socket	FCBGA2114	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6400+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB	256 GB
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	88+267%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 9 275HX) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper 3960X). The Core Ultra 9 275HX includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Graphics), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 9 275HX targets High-End Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 9 275HX rivals Ryzen 9 9955HX; Ryzen Threadripper 3960X rivals Core i9-10900X.