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 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.7% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $3,661 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 240.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 20.0 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (22,430 vs 79,889).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

2019

Why buy it

✅+256.2% higher PassMark.
✅+700% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅266.7% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.0 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($3,990 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.7% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $3,661 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 240.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 20.0 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+256.2% higher PassMark.
✅+700% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅266.7% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (22,430 vs 79,889).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.0 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($3,990 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 3990X makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 7 3700X is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is the better fit. You are getting 256.2% better PassMark, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 700% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 32 MB).

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

Ryzen 7 3700X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 3700X is $3,661 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $3,990 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.7% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 256.2% better PassMark. It is also 240.5% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 20.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Ryzen 7 3700X is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more overall headroom and a better platform outlook.

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 7 3700X Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	200 FPS	181 FPS
medium	163 FPS	152 FPS
high	137 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	110 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	156 FPS	157 FPS
medium	121 FPS	125 FPS
high	100 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	84 FPS	85 FPS
medium	71 FPS	72 FPS
high	56 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	46 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 3700X Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	561 FPS	584 FPS
medium	525 FPS	503 FPS
high	428 FPS	386 FPS
ultra	383 FPS	330 FPS
1440p
low	545 FPS	491 FPS
medium	471 FPS	433 FPS
high	394 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	337 FPS	277 FPS
4K
low	350 FPS	308 FPS
medium	304 FPS	275 FPS
high	274 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	204 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 3700X Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	561 FPS	681 FPS
medium	561 FPS	563 FPS
high	561 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	561 FPS	428 FPS
1440p
low	561 FPS	582 FPS
medium	561 FPS	488 FPS
high	538 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	368 FPS
4K
low	499 FPS	424 FPS
medium	394 FPS	338 FPS
high	343 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	234 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 3700X Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	561 FPS	942 FPS
medium	561 FPS	842 FPS
high	561 FPS	724 FPS
ultra	561 FPS	639 FPS
1440p
low	561 FPS	777 FPS
medium	561 FPS	677 FPS
high	561 FPS	580 FPS
ultra	555 FPS	502 FPS
4K
low	561 FPS	540 FPS
medium	501 FPS	489 FPS
high	447 FPS	429 FPS
ultra	396 FPS	373 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 3700X Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 7 3700X and Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 79,889 points. Launch price was $3,999.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 7 3700X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X offers 64 cores / 128 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X has 56 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Ryzen 7 3700X uses the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 3700X scores 22,430 against the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X's 79,889 — a 112.3% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X vs 256 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X.

Feature	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	64 / 128+700%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+2%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+24%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB	256 MB+700%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	22,430	79,889+256%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	64,366
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,961
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	22,045

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 7 3700X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 7 3700X) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) vs 88 (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X) — the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X offers 64 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X) and TRX40 (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X).

Feature	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Socket	AM4	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	88+267%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X) / true (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X). Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper 3990X rivals Core i9-10980XE.

Feature	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	true

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 7 3700X launched at $329 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X debuted at $3990. On MSRP ($329 vs $3990), the Ryzen 7 3700X is $3661 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 7 3700X delivers 68.2 pts/$ vs 20.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 109.2% better value option.