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.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $764 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 28.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 29.1 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 95W instead of 280W, a 185W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 33,455).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +60.4% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅700% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 29.1 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($1,149 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌194.7% higher power demand at 280W vs 95W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $764 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 28.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 29.1 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 95W instead of 280W, a 185W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +60.4% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅700% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 33,455).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 29.1 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($1,149 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌194.7% higher power demand at 280W vs 95W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX better than Core i7-9700K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-9700K is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 60.4% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the better fit. You are getting 132.4% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is 198.4% more expensive on MSRP at $1,149 MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you a 60.4% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-9700K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 28.4% better value on paper (37.4 vs 29.1 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2018), 433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 threads instead of 8/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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.

Core i7-9700K Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	308 FPS	202 FPS
medium	278 FPS	164 FPS
high	231 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	183 FPS
medium	221 FPS	145 FPS
high	178 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	86 FPS
medium	140 FPS	73 FPS
high	108 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	360 FPS	557 FPS
medium	321 FPS	485 FPS
high	291 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	351 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	478 FPS
medium	282 FPS	424 FPS
high	258 FPS	356 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	296 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	299 FPS
medium	221 FPS	268 FPS
high	208 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	217 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	360 FPS	772 FPS
medium	360 FPS	637 FPS
high	360 FPS	568 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	494 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	599 FPS
medium	360 FPS	494 FPS
high	360 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	376 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	431 FPS
medium	360 FPS	344 FPS
high	360 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	243 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	360 FPS	836 FPS
medium	360 FPS	836 FPS
high	360 FPS	823 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	725 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	836 FPS
medium	360 FPS	745 FPS
high	360 FPS	630 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	540 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	594 FPS
medium	360 FPS	540 FPS
high	360 FPS	468 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	405 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 July 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Castle Peak (2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (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: 33,455 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX — a 13% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX uses Castle Peak (2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX's 33,455 — a 79.7% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	12 / 24+50%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+14%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	4 GHz+11%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	64 MB+433%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Castle Peak (2020)
PassMark	14,397	33,455+132%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	18,500
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,652
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	11,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-9700K) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX offers 112 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Socket	LGA1151	sWRX8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	128+700%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX targets Professional Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX rivals Xeon w5-2455X.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	Professional Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX debuted at $1149. On MSRP ($385 vs $1149), the Core i7-9700K is $764 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 29.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX — making the Core i7-9700K the 24.9% better value option.