Here is a comparison of the key specifications between the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X:
| Specification | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Zen 4 | Zen 2 |
| Manufacturing Process | 5nm (CPU), 6nm (I/O) | 7nm (CPU), 12nm (I/O) |
| Cores/Threads | 64/128 | 64/128 |
| Base Clock Speed | 3.2 GHz | 2.9 GHz |
| Max Boost Clock Speed | Up to 5.1 GHz | Up to 4.3 GHz |
| L1 Cache | 4 MB | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 64 MB | 32 MB |
| L3 Cache | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Default TDP | 350W | 280W |
| PCIe Version | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Total PCIe Lanes | 92 | 64 |
| Usable PCIe Lanes | 88 | 56 |
| Memory Support | DDR5, up to 5200 MT/s | DDR4, up to 3200 MT/s |
| Max Memory Channels | 4 | 4 |
| Integrated Graphics | No | No |
The key differences are:
- The 7980X uses the newer Zen 4 architecture while the 3990X uses the previous gen Zen 2 architecture.
- The 7980X is built on a more advanced 5nm/6nm process while the 3990X uses 7nm/12nm.
- The 7980X has a higher boost clock speed and default TDP.
- The 7980X supports PCIe 5.0 and has more usable lanes.
- The 7980X supports faster DDR5 memory versus DDR4 on the 3990X.
So in summary, the 7980X has the generational improvements you would expect – a faster architecture on a more advanced manufacturing process, higher clocks and I/O bandwidth, and support for cutting edge memory. This makes the 7980X the clear performance leader between the two.