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The release of AMD's Threadripper chips has definitely changed the face of high-end processors. Not only did they provide the first contest that Intel has had at the top for years, but they also featured the highest number of cores we've ever seen on single-processor configurations that do not specifically target waiters. They're not usually geared exclusively to gamers, but if you're looking for AMD's top $ 300,000 2700X, Threadripper is your best bet.
Or it would be the case if Intel did not have an incredibly powerful Core i9 processor to compete with AMD. From extreme processors with up to 18 cores for large multithreaded loads, to high-end gaming chips like the 9900K, Intel's lineup is also worthy of your time if you're looking for a major processor upgrade.
Productivity
Some tasks, such as video encoding or image editing, make it possible to take real advantage of the masses of processor cores. This is where some of the most extreme processors can really play. Chips like the Intel 7980XE with its 18 cores absolutely demolish the more conservative chips like the 9900K, and if an application can handle its ridiculous number of hearts, the 2990WX can take a considerable head start, even on the Intel competition.
This is not always the case, as some applications simply do not know what to do with the 64 threads offered by the 2990WX. In some cases, comparable performance can be achieved with much more affordable processors such as the 2950X. In applications that promote individual base power versus a multitude of threads, Intel processors at comparable prices can go from the front. Although we could not test it against the second-generation Ryzen chips, the 9900K destroyed last year's Threadrippers in our Handbrake video encoding test.
What about the game?
We said that these chips were not really designed for the game, and although that's true, that does not mean they're terrible. Since modern games rely much more on the system's graphics processor, a 32-core processor may not have as much impact as you can think of the game.
There is a reason that all the best results of 3DMark Time Spy Extreme use Intel and AMD processors that cost thousands of dollars: Because they are incredibly powerful. This is not necessarily a perfect match for game scenarios. Of all the Core i9 and Threadripper processors, we recommend Intel Core i9-9900K to all the others for your extreme gaming needs, as its performance is far better than those of the competition during our tests. In heavier CPU games like Civilization VI, the 9900K processors have outgrown the processors with a much higher number of cores.
It's not that the other chips in the series can not play, they just are not worth the extra cost.
Efficiency
If you go side by side with a detailed specification chart of Intel Core i9 and AMD Threadripper processors, you'll see a lot of numbers. These numbers tend to be higher on the Threadripper side, and that's usually a good thing. More hearts, more clocks mean more power. But power is the key word here because Threadripper processors need more power to operate than their Intel counterparts. For example, the Core i9-9900K is only a 95-watt processor, but has a higher clock speed than a 180-watt 1920X Threadripper.
Intel processors have a 165-watt thermal design profile, and entry-level options, such as the 7900X and 7920X, require only 140 watts. Threadripper, on the other hand, pulls a lot more. The first generation required 180 watts and the 2920X and 2950X of the second generation, the same thing. The leading 2970WX and 2990WX, however, have a TDP of 250 watts. This means high energy consumption and high cooling requirements.
Price
As it is quite typical of the debate between AMD and Intel over the past decade, AMD processors are the most cost-effective and the same scenario is reproducing significantly, even at this end of the spectrum. The first-generation Threadripper processors cost between $ 320 and $ 600, while second-generation processors range from $ 650 to $ 1,800 – although the more budget-conscious 2920X and 2970WX have not been widely available yet. of the writing.
In comparison, Intel's 9900K is reasonably priced (although still high compared to traditional processors) at $ 530, but the most extreme Intel processors are much more expensive. The entry-level 7900X still costs $ 900 per year and a half after its release, and the 7980XE, with fewer cores and fewer clocks than its counterpart Threadripper, costs $ 2,050.
Prices are a bit lower for the Intel discount scheduled later this year, reaching a high of $ 1,980 for the 9980XE, but no definitive release date for these chips has yet been announced.
It should also be mentioned that the Threadripper TR4 socket design will be used in all future generations of motherboards until at least 2020, which means that processor upgrades will not require a new motherboard either. Intel does the same for updating its Core i9 7000 processors, but the 9900K requires a new motherboard and its successor will do the same.
Pay for what you need
All high-end processors from AMD and Intel are amazing hardware components. They have performances and specifications that almost nobody needs, but for those who have one, there are some points to remember from our comparison that deserve to be taken into account. In some applications that can take full advantage of the extra cores offered by AMD's Threadripper chips, they have a considerable advantage even on the best Intel.
In many applications, this is not the case. These chips are not designed for everyone. There is a reason why our guide to the best processors is more interested in midrange than anything else.
Even in the realm of high-end users, the best Threadripper and Core i9 processors cost nearly $ 2,000 each, which is generally not recommended for the most extreme people. In terms of cost, AMD chips tend to be a lot more affordable, which is even more the case if you plan to use first-generation Threadripper processors that dramatically reduce the performance of their counterparts. the Core i9 range of Intel. However, they require more energy, so factor it into your long-term cost projections.
If you're only looking for the game, the Core i9-9900K is the only processor here to recommend, as the other models do not offer sufficient performance improvement (if at all in some cases) for an additional cost. .
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