Xeon E5-2696 v4 vs Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

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Aggregate performance score

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
2019
24 cores / 48 threads, 280 Watt
34.55
+121%
Xeon E5-2696 v4
2016
22 cores / 44 threads, 150 Watt
15.65

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X outperforms Xeon E5-2696 v4 by a whopping 121% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Xeon E5-2696 v4 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking108439
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation18.53no data
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
SeriesAMD Ryzen ThreadripperIntel Xeon E5
Power efficiency11.689.87
Architecture codenameMatisse (2019−2020)Broadwell (2015−2019)
Release date7 November 2019 (5 years ago)20 June 2016 (8 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,399no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Xeon E5-2696 v4 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)22 (Docosa-Core)
Threads4844
Base clock speed3.8 GHz2.2 GHz
Boost clock speed4.5 GHz3.6 GHz
Bus typeno dataQPI
Bus rate8 × 16 GT/s2 × 9.6 GT/s
Multiplier3822
L1 cache1536 KBno data
L2 cache12 MB5.5 MB
L3 cache128 MB55 MB
Chip lithography7 nm, 12 nm14 nm
Die sizeno data456.12 mm2
Number of transistors23540 Million7200 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+-
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Xeon E5-2696 v4 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)2 (Multiprocessor)
SocketTR4no data
Power consumption (TDP)280 Watt150 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Xeon E5-2696 v4. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

AES-NI++
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
TSX-+
Precision Boost 2+no data

Security technologies

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Xeon E5-2696 v4 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Xeon E5-2696 v4 are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Xeon E5-2696 v4. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4 Eight-channelno data
Maximum memory size256 GB1,536 GB
Max memory channels4no data
Maximum memory bandwidth102.403 GB/sno data
ECC memory support+-

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Xeon E5-2696 v4.

PCIe versionno data3.0
PCI Express lanesno data40

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
+121%
Xeon E5-2696 v4 15.65

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 54875
+121%
Xeon E5-2696 v4 24862

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
+49.7%
Xeon E5-2696 v4 1120

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 13260
+47.2%
Xeon E5-2696 v4 9006

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 34.55 15.65
Recency 7 November 2019 20 June 2016
Physical cores 24 22
Threads 48 44
Chip lithography 7 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 280 Watt 150 Watt

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X has a 120.8% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 3 years, 9.1% more physical cores and 9.1% more threads, and a 100% more advanced lithography process.

Xeon E5-2696 v4, on the other hand, has 86.7% lower power consumption.

The Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is our recommended choice as it beats the Xeon E5-2696 v4 in performance tests.

Note that Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is a desktop processor while Xeon E5-2696 v4 is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Xeon E5-2696 v4, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Intel Xeon E5-2696 v4
Xeon E5-2696 v4

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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