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 3970X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +47.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.0 vs 46.6 PassMark/$ ($4,491 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,154 less on MSRP ($1,337 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅Delivers 232.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 46.6 vs 14.0 PassMark/$ ($1,337 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 64) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (42,986 vs 44,510).

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

2019

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +47.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,154 less on MSRP ($1,337 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅Delivers 232.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 46.6 vs 14.0 PassMark/$ ($1,337 MSRP vs $4,491 MSRP).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 64) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.0 vs 46.6 PassMark/$ ($4,491 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3970X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (42,986 vs 44,510).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 3970X better than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX?

Yes. Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 47.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 3.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 1.1% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 47.2% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is the better fit. You are getting 3.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads.

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

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is 235.9% more expensive on MSRP at $4,491 MSRP versus $1,337 MSRP, and it gives you a 47.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is also 232.2% better value on MSRP (46.6 vs 14.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019). That extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

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 3970X Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	270 FPS	183 FPS
medium	222 FPS	149 FPS
high	183 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	131 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	211 FPS	160 FPS
medium	164 FPS	127 FPS
high	130 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	98 FPS	73 FPS
medium	81 FPS	61 FPS
high	63 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	51 FPS	40 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	806 FPS	579 FPS
medium	681 FPS	499 FPS
high	528 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	457 FPS	327 FPS
1440p
low	652 FPS	485 FPS
medium	565 FPS	425 FPS
high	458 FPS	338 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	274 FPS
4K
low	381 FPS	304 FPS
medium	333 FPS	270 FPS
high	296 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	202 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	1025 FPS	681 FPS
medium	927 FPS	564 FPS
high	862 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	765 FPS	425 FPS
1440p
low	776 FPS	570 FPS
medium	644 FPS	479 FPS
high	580 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	506 FPS	364 FPS
4K
low	539 FPS	417 FPS
medium	428 FPS	333 FPS
high	381 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	306 FPS	234 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	1325 FPS	1020 FPS
medium	1015 FPS	917 FPS
high	1073 FPS	765 FPS
ultra	875 FPS	664 FPS
1440p
low	1031 FPS	802 FPS
medium	900 FPS	701 FPS
high	778 FPS	584 FPS
ultra	656 FPS	496 FPS
4K
low	744 FPS	559 FPS
medium	662 FPS	504 FPS
high	579 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	373 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 3970X Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

The Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 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 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 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: 62,946 points. Launch price was $1,999.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2020-07-14. It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: sWRX8. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 62,261 points. Launch price was $4,499.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX share an identical 32-core/64-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX — a 6.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). Both are built on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture using a 7 nm, 12 nm process. In PassMark, the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X scores 62,946 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX's 62,261 — a 1.1% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 44,510 vs 42,986 (3.5% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,664 vs 1,260, a 27.6% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,739 vs 25,211 (58.9% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX). Both processors carry 128 MB of L3 cache.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
Cores / Threads	32 / 64	32 / 64
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+7%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+6%	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	128 MB	128 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	62,946+1%	62,261
Cinebench R23 Multi	44,510+4%	42,986
Geekbench 6 Single	1,664+32%	1,260
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,739	25,211+83%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen Threadripper 3970X uses the TR4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 256 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX). PCIe lanes: 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX offers 64 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: TRX40 (Ryzen Threadripper 3970X) and AMD WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX).

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
Socket	TR4	sWRX8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB	2048 GB+700%
RAM Channels	4	8+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	64	128+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support true virtualization. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper 3970X rivals Core i9-10980XE; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX rivals Xeon W-3375.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 3970X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	true

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen Threadripper 3970X launched at $4491 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX debuted at $1337. On MSRP ($4491 vs $1337), the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is $3154 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X delivers 14.0 pts/$ vs 46.6 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX — making the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX the 107.5% better value option.