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 9 PRO 3900

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $800 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $1,299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 162.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 62.6 vs 23.8 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $1,299 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 250W, a 185W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Prism), unlike Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,500 vs 29,045).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

2018

Why buy it

✅+66% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅166.7% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.8 vs 62.6 PassMark/$ ($1,299 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌284.6% higher power demand at 250W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 PRO 3900.

Ryzen 9 PRO 3900

2019

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $800 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $1,299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 162.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 62.6 vs 23.8 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $1,299 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 250W, a 185W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Prism), unlike Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX.

Why buy it

✅+66% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅166.7% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,500 vs 29,045).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.8 vs 62.6 PassMark/$ ($1,299 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌284.6% higher power demand at 250W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 PRO 3900.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 better than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 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 2970WX is the better fit. You are getting 66% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads.

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

Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 is $800 cheaper on MSRP at $499 MSRP versus $1,299 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 66% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. It is also 162.8% better value on MSRP (62.6 vs 23.8 PassMark/$), 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 9 PRO 3900 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2018). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 9 PRO 3900 Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 PRO 3900	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
1080p
low	188 FPS	198 FPS
medium	150 FPS	177 FPS
high	122 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	156 FPS	160 FPS
medium	121 FPS	134 FPS
high	96 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	85 FPS
4K
low	83 FPS	73 FPS
medium	69 FPS	64 FPS
high	54 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	41 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 PRO 3900	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
1080p
low	589 FPS	536 FPS
medium	510 FPS	483 FPS
high	414 FPS	404 FPS
ultra	368 FPS	354 FPS
1440p
low	506 FPS	473 FPS
medium	446 FPS	424 FPS
high	374 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	299 FPS
4K
low	317 FPS	295 FPS
medium	283 FPS	265 FPS
high	256 FPS	242 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	213 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 9 PRO 3900	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
1080p
low	781 FPS	768 FPS
medium	690 FPS	640 FPS
high	615 FPS	577 FPS
ultra	539 FPS	504 FPS
1440p
low	664 FPS	640 FPS
medium	540 FPS	533 FPS
high	481 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	419 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	471 FPS	469 FPS
medium	370 FPS	377 FPS
high	327 FPS	336 FPS
ultra	264 FPS	280 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 9 PRO 3900	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
1080p
low	781 FPS	774 FPS
medium	781 FPS	774 FPS
high	781 FPS	704 FPS
ultra	706 FPS	616 FPS
1440p
low	781 FPS	730 FPS
medium	710 FPS	644 FPS
high	609 FPS	549 FPS
ultra	538 FPS	474 FPS
4K
low	574 FPS	523 FPS
medium	516 FPS	473 FPS
high	452 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	398 FPS	362 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 and Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

Ryzen 9 PRO 3900

The Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 30 September 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 31,251 points. Launch price was $499.

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

The Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 30,954 points. Launch price was $1,299.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX — a 2.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX uses Zen+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 scores 31,251 against the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX's 30,954 — a 1% lead for the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 17,500 vs 29,045 (49.6% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,688 vs 1,240, a 30.6% lead for the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,000 vs 7,241 (32% advantage for the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900). Both processors carry 64 MB of L3 cache.

Feature	Ryzen 9 PRO 3900	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
Cores / Threads	12 / 24	24 / 48+100%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+2%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+3%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB	64 MB
L2 Cache	6 MB+1100%	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm-42%	12 nm
Architecture	Zen 2 (2017−2020)	Zen+ (2018−2019)
PassMark	31,251	30,954
Cinebench R23 Multi	17,500	29,045+66%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,688+36%	1,240
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,000+38%	7,241

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 9 PRO 3900) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 9 PRO 3900) vs 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX offers 40 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X570,B550,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 PRO 3900) and X399 (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX).

Feature	Ryzen 9 PRO 3900	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
Socket	AM4	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	64+167%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 targets Professional Content Creation, Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX targets Extreme Multi-threaded Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 rivals Core i9-10900; Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX rivals Core i9-7940X.

Feature	Ryzen 9 PRO 3900	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	Professional Content Creation	Extreme Multi-threaded Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 launched at $499 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX debuted at $1299. On MSRP ($499 vs $1299), the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 is $800 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 delivers 62.6 pts/$ vs 23.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX — making the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 the 89.8% better value option.