Ryzen Threadripper 7980X vs Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

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 7980X

2023

Why buy it

✅10% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (3,050 vs 3,220).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (98,427 vs 115,098).

Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

2025

Why buy it

✅+5.6% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

2023

Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

2025

Why buy it

✅10% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+5.6% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (3,050 vs 3,220).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (98,427 vs 115,098).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 9980X better than Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

Yes. Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting 16.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 4.5% 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 9980X is the better fit because it leads the single-thread side of the matchup with 5.6% stronger Geekbench single-core performance.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the better fit. You are getting 16.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads.

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

Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is in basically the same MSRP band at $4,999 MSRP versus $4,999 MSRP, and it gives you 4.5% higher PassMark. It is also 4.5% better value on MSRP (28.4 vs 27.2 PassMark/$), 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 9980X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2023) and more multi-core headroom with 64 cores / 128 threads instead of 64/128. 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 7980X Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 9980X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X	Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
1080p
low	302 FPS	303 FPS
medium	279 FPS	281 FPS
high	230 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	195 FPS
1440p
low	268 FPS	268 FPS
medium	223 FPS	224 FPS
high	171 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	152 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	185 FPS	186 FPS
medium	154 FPS	155 FPS
high	117 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	105 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 7980X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X	Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
1080p
low	787 FPS	803 FPS
medium	672 FPS	687 FPS
high	529 FPS	538 FPS
ultra	462 FPS	468 FPS
1440p
low	649 FPS	662 FPS
medium	577 FPS	590 FPS
high	469 FPS	477 FPS
ultra	380 FPS	386 FPS
4K
low	363 FPS	370 FPS
medium	327 FPS	334 FPS
high	302 FPS	308 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	269 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 7980X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X	Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
1080p
low	889 FPS	889 FPS
medium	728 FPS	728 FPS
high	654 FPS	654 FPS
ultra	556 FPS	556 FPS
1440p
low	693 FPS	693 FPS
medium	567 FPS	567 FPS
high	498 FPS	498 FPS
ultra	419 FPS	419 FPS
4K
low	490 FPS	490 FPS
medium	407 FPS	407 FPS
high	365 FPS	365 FPS
ultra	303 FPS	303 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 7980X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X	Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
1080p
low	1131 FPS	1131 FPS
medium	1014 FPS	1014 FPS
high	889 FPS	889 FPS
ultra	802 FPS	802 FPS
1440p
low	890 FPS	890 FPS
medium	783 FPS	783 FPS
high	688 FPS	688 FPS
ultra	599 FPS	599 FPS
4K
low	649 FPS	649 FPS
medium	579 FPS	579 FPS
high	514 FPS	514 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 7980X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen Threadripper 7980X and Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X 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 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 256 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: 135,949 points. Launch price was $4,999.

Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 30 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Shimada Peak (2025) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 142,069 points. Launch price was $4,999.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X and Ryzen Threadripper 9980X share an identical 64-core/128-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X uses the Storm Peak (2023) architecture (5 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X uses Shimada Peak (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X scores 135,949 against the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X's 142,069 — a 4.4% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 98,427 vs 115,098 (15.6% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 3,050 vs 3,220, a 5.4% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 26,000 vs 28,666 (9.8% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X). Both processors carry 256 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X	Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
Cores / Threads	64 / 128	64 / 128
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.4 GHz+6%
Base Clock	3.2 GHz	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	256 MB (total)	256 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	5 nm	4 nm-20%
Architecture	Storm Peak (2023)	Shimada Peak (2025)
PassMark	135,949	142,069+5%
Cinebench R23 Multi	98,427	115,098+17%
Geekbench 6 Single	3,050	3,220+6%
Geekbench 6 Multi	26,000	28,666+10%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the sTR5 socket with PCIe 4.0. Both support up to DDR5-5200 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 1 TB — 199.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 4-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 88 (Ryzen Threadripper 7980X) vs 80 (Ryzen Threadripper 9980X) — the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: TRX50 (Ryzen Threadripper 7980X) and sTR5,TRX50 (Ryzen Threadripper 9980X).

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X	Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
Socket	sTR5	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5200	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	1024 GB	1 TB
RAM Channels	4	4
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	88+10%	80

🔧

Advanced Features

Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: true (Ryzen Threadripper 7980X) vs AMD-V, SVM (Ryzen Threadripper 9980X). Primary use case: Ryzen Threadripper 7980X targets High-end Desktop / Content Creation, Ryzen Threadripper 9980X targets HEDT / Enthusiast Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper 7980X rivals Xeon w7-3465X; Ryzen Threadripper 9980X rivals Xeon w9-3495X.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 7980X	Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	true	AMD-V, SVM
Target Use	High-end Desktop / Content Creation	HEDT / Enthusiast Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X launched at $4999 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X debuted at $4999. On MSRP ($4999 vs $4999), the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is $0 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X delivers 27.2 pts/$ vs 28.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X — making the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X the 4.4% better value option.