i5-8600K vs Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

VS

Aggregate performance score

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
2019
24 cores / 48 threads, 280 Watt
34.55
+438%
Core i5-8600K
2017
6 cores / 6 threads, 95 Watt
6.42

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X outperforms Core i5-8600K by a whopping 438% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i5-8600K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1081049
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation17.773.97
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesAMD Ryzen ThreadripperIntel Core i5
Power efficiency11.686.40
Architecture codenameMatisse (2019−2020)Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018)
Release date25 November 2019 (4 years ago)5 October 2017 (7 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,399$257

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X has 348% better value for money than i5-8600K.

Detailed specifications

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i5-8600K basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores24 (Tetracosa-Core)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads486
Base clock speed3.8 GHz3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed4.5 GHz4.3 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 3.0
Bus rate8 × 16 GT/s4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplier3836
L1 cache96K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache512K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache128 MB9 MB (shared)
Chip lithography7 nm, 12 nm14 nm
Die sizeno data149 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors19,200 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility++
Unlocked multiplier++

Compatibility

Information on Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i5-8600K compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1 (Uniprocessor)
SocketTR4FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)280 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i5-8600K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
TSX-+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+
Precision Boost 2+no data

Security technologies

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i5-8600K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection-+
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i5-8600K are enumerated here.

AMD-V++
VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i5-8600K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4 Eight-channelDDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory size256 GB128 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth102.403 GB/s42.671 GB/s
ECC memory support+-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card-Intel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memory-64 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video-+
Clear Video HD-+
Graphics max frequency-1.15 GHz
InTru 3D-+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i5-8600K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported-3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i5-8600K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support-+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4-4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDP-4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort-4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i5-8600K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX-12
OpenGL-4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i5-8600K.

PCIe versionno data3.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 34.55
+438%
i5-8600K 6.42

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 54885
+438%
i5-8600K 10202

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 1677
+6.4%
i5-8600K 1576

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 13279
+133%
i5-8600K 5697

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 34.55 6.42
Recency 25 November 2019 5 October 2017
Physical cores 24 6
Threads 48 6
Chip lithography 7 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 280 Watt 95 Watt

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X has a 438.2% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 2 years, 300% more physical cores and 700% more threads, and a 100% more advanced lithography process.

i5-8600K, on the other hand, has 194.7% lower power consumption.

The Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-8600K in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i5-8600K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Intel Core i5-8600K
Core i5-8600K

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


4.1 117 votes

Rate Ryzen Threadripper 3960X on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4 772 votes

Rate Core i5-8600K on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Ryzen Threadripper 3960X or Core i5-8600K, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.