Core i7-13700K vs Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX — a 25% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses Zen+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX's 31,945 — a 35.6% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 31,000 vs 33,213 (6.9% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 1,206, a 80.9% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 7,612 (85.5% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX.

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K versus DDR4-2933 on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX — the Core i7-13700K supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 165.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13700K) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX offers 44 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K) and X399 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX).

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX targets Extreme Content Creation. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX rivals Core i9-9980XE.

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX debuted at $1799. At current prices ($400 vs $1247), the Core i7-13700K is $847 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 25.6 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX — making the Core i7-13700K the 126.8% better value option.