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 3990X

2019

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).
✅Draws 280W instead of 350W, a 70W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 7960X across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (64,366 vs 65,824).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.0 vs 55.7 PassMark/$ ($3,990 MSRP vs $1,499 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Ryzen Threadripper 7960X moves to sTR5 and DDR5.

Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.4% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,491 less on MSRP ($1,499 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 178.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 55.7 vs 20.0 PassMark/$ ($1,499 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 256 MB).
❌25% higher power demand at 350W vs 280W.

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

2019

Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

2023

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 128 MB).
✅Draws 280W instead of 350W, a 70W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.4% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,491 less on MSRP ($1,499 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 178.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 55.7 vs 20.0 PassMark/$ ($1,499 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 7960X across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (64,366 vs 65,824).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.0 vs 55.7 PassMark/$ ($3,990 MSRP vs $1,499 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Ryzen Threadripper 7960X moves to sTR5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (128 MB vs 256 MB).
❌25% higher power demand at 350W vs 280W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 7960X better than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X?

Yes. Ryzen Threadripper 7960X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 16.4% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data, 2.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 4.6% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper 7960X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 16.4% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 7960X is the better fit. You are getting 2.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads.

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

Ryzen Threadripper 7960X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen Threadripper 7960X is $2,491 cheaper on MSRP at $1,499 MSRP versus $3,990 MSRP, and it gives you a 16.4% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 178.4% better value on MSRP (55.7 vs 20.0 PassMark/$), 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 7960X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2019), a healthier platform with sTR5 and DDR5 instead of TR4, more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 48 threads instead of 64/128, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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.

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 7960X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X	Ryzen Threadripper 7960X
1080p
low	181 FPS	314 FPS
medium	152 FPS	290 FPS
high	131 FPS	241 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	203 FPS
1440p
low	157 FPS	278 FPS
medium	125 FPS	231 FPS
high	102 FPS	179 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	158 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	191 FPS
medium	72 FPS	158 FPS
high	57 FPS	121 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	107 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X Open Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X	Ryzen Threadripper 7960X
1080p
low	584 FPS	816 FPS
medium	503 FPS	695 FPS
high	386 FPS	541 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	469 FPS
1440p
low	491 FPS	668 FPS
medium	433 FPS	593 FPS
high	343 FPS	476 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	386 FPS
4K
low	308 FPS	373 FPS
medium	275 FPS	336 FPS
high	235 FPS	307 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	269 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X Open Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X	Ryzen Threadripper 7960X
1080p
low	681 FPS	893 FPS
medium	563 FPS	724 FPS
high	497 FPS	650 FPS
ultra	428 FPS	553 FPS
1440p
low	582 FPS	716 FPS
medium	488 FPS	581 FPS
high	427 FPS	509 FPS
ultra	368 FPS	428 FPS
4K
low	424 FPS	509 FPS
medium	338 FPS	420 FPS
high	293 FPS	376 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	312 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X Open Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X	Ryzen Threadripper 7960X
1080p
low	942 FPS	1116 FPS
medium	842 FPS	1002 FPS
high	724 FPS	879 FPS
ultra	639 FPS	792 FPS
1440p
low	777 FPS	873 FPS
medium	677 FPS	769 FPS
high	580 FPS	675 FPS
ultra	502 FPS	588 FPS
4K
low	540 FPS	637 FPS
medium	489 FPS	568 FPS
high	429 FPS	505 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X Open Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen Threadripper 3990X and Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 79,889 points. Launch price was $3,999.

Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

The Ryzen Threadripper 7960X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 October 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Storm Peak (2023) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 83,554 points. Launch price was $1,499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X packs 64 cores / 128 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X has 40 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X versus 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X — a 20.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X (base: 2.9 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X uses Storm Peak (2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X scores 79,889 against the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X's 83,554 — a 4.5% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 64,366 vs 65,824 (2.2% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,961 vs 2,780, a 34.5% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 22,045 vs 24,000 (8.5% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X). L3 cache: 256 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X vs 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X	Ryzen Threadripper 7960X
Cores / Threads	64 / 128+167%	24 / 48
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5.3 GHz+23%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	4.2 GHz+45%
L3 Cache	256 MB+100%	128 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Storm Peak (2023)
PassMark	79,889	83,554+5%
Cinebench R23 Multi	64,366	65,824+2%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,961	2,780+42%
Geekbench 6 Multi	22,045	24,000+9%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X uses the TR4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X uses sTR5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X — the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper 7960X supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 256 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 4-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 88 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: TRX40 (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X) and TRX50 (Ryzen Threadripper 7960X).

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X	Ryzen Threadripper 7960X
Socket	TR4	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-5200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB	1024 GB+300%
RAM Channels	4	4
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	88	88

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support true virtualization. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper 3990X rivals Core i9-10980XE; Ryzen Threadripper 7960X rivals Xeon w7-3445.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X	Ryzen Threadripper 7960X
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	true

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X launched at $3990 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X debuted at $1499. On MSRP ($3990 vs $1499), the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X is $2491 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X delivers 20.0 pts/$ vs 55.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X — making the Ryzen Threadripper 7960X the 94.3% better value option.