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 5700X

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,200 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 105.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 89.0 vs 43.4 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 350W, a 285W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 9970X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (14,000 vs 76,136).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 9970X, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 92 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen Threadripper 9970X moves to sTR5 and DDR5.

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +26.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 92 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅283.3% more PCIe lanes (92 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 43.4 vs 89.0 PassMark/$ ($2,499 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌438.5% higher power demand at 350W vs 65W.

Ryzen 7 5700X

2022

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,200 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 105.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 89.0 vs 43.4 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 350W, a 285W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +26.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 92 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅283.3% more PCIe lanes (92 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 9970X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (14,000 vs 76,136).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 9970X, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 92 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen Threadripper 9970X moves to sTR5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 43.4 vs 89.0 PassMark/$ ($2,499 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌438.5% higher power demand at 350W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 9970X better than Ryzen 7 5700X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 9970X makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 7 5700X 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 9970X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 26.0% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 32 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is the better fit. You are getting 443.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 32 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 7 5700X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is 735.8% more expensive on MSRP at $2,499 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 26.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 7 5700X is also 105.2% better value on MSRP (89.0 vs 43.4 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022), a healthier platform with sTR5 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 128 MB L3 cache instead of 32 MB, more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 8/16, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 5700X Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 7 5700X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
1080p
low	156 FPS	314 FPS
medium	129 FPS	289 FPS
high	115 FPS	240 FPS
ultra	94 FPS	203 FPS
1440p
low	137 FPS	278 FPS
medium	111 FPS	231 FPS
high	95 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	158 FPS
4K
low	77 FPS	191 FPS
medium	67 FPS	158 FPS
high	55 FPS	121 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	107 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 5700X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 7 5700X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
1080p
low	649 FPS	818 FPS
medium	549 FPS	697 FPS
high	448 FPS	542 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	552 FPS	674 FPS
medium	484 FPS	599 FPS
high	407 FPS	480 FPS
ultra	350 FPS	388 FPS
4K
low	343 FPS	377 FPS
medium	303 FPS	339 FPS
high	277 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	271 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 5700X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 7 5700X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
1080p
low	665 FPS	891 FPS
medium	557 FPS	723 FPS
high	509 FPS	649 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	552 FPS
1440p
low	554 FPS	714 FPS
medium	458 FPS	580 FPS
high	419 FPS	508 FPS
ultra	358 FPS	427 FPS
4K
low	402 FPS	508 FPS
medium	322 FPS	419 FPS
high	292 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	311 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 5700X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 7 5700X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
1080p
low	665 FPS	1116 FPS
medium	665 FPS	1002 FPS
high	665 FPS	879 FPS
ultra	665 FPS	792 FPS
1440p
low	665 FPS	872 FPS
medium	665 FPS	768 FPS
high	607 FPS	674 FPS
ultra	533 FPS	587 FPS
4K
low	545 FPS	636 FPS
medium	488 FPS	568 FPS
high	439 FPS	504 FPS
ultra	385 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 5700X Open Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 7 5700X and Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Ryzen 7 5700X

The Ryzen 7 5700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 26,609 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

The Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 30 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Shimada Peak (2025) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 108,377 points. Launch price was $2,499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 7 5700X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X has 24 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5700X versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X — a 16% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X (base: 3.4 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Ryzen 7 5700X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X uses Shimada Peak (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 5700X scores 26,609 against the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X's 108,377 — a 121.2% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 14,000 vs 76,136 (137.9% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,116 vs 3,220, a 41.4% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 9,715 vs 29,244 (100.3% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 5700X vs 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X.

Feature	Ryzen 7 5700X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	32 / 64+300%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	5.4 GHz+17%
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	4 GHz+18%
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	128 MB (total)+300%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)	Shimada Peak (2025)
PassMark	26,609	108,377+307%
Cinebench R23 Multi	14,000	76,136+444%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,116	3,220+52%
Geekbench 6 Multi	9,715	29,244+201%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 7 5700X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X uses sTR5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 5700X versus DDR5-6400 on the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X — the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 5700X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 1 TB — 196.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 7 5700X) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 9970X). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 7 5700X) vs 92 (Ryzen Threadripper 9970X) — the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X offers 68 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 7 5700X) and TRX50 (Ryzen Threadripper 9970X).

Feature	Ryzen 7 5700X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
Socket	AM4	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-6400+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	1 TB+700%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	92+283%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5700X) vs AMD-V, SVM (Ryzen Threadripper 9970X). Primary use case: Ryzen 7 5700X targets Gaming, Ryzen Threadripper 9970X targets HEDT / Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 5700X rivals Core i7-11700K; Ryzen Threadripper 9970X rivals Xeon w7-3465X.

Feature	Ryzen 7 5700X	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V, SVM
Target Use	Gaming	HEDT / Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 7 5700X launched at $299 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X debuted at $2499. On MSRP ($299 vs $2499), the Ryzen 7 5700X is $2200 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 7 5700X delivers 89.0 pts/$ vs 43.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X — making the Ryzen 7 5700X the 68.9% better value option.