Xeon Platinum 8280 vs Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

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Aggregate performance score

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
2019
32 cores / 64 threads, 280 Watt
39.70
+92.3%
Xeon Platinum 8280
2018
28 cores / 56 threads, 205 Watt
20.64

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X outperforms Xeon Platinum 8280 by an impressive 92% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Xeon Platinum 8280 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking65270
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation16.231.66
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
SeriesAMD Ryzen ThreadripperIntel Xeon Platinum
Power efficiency13.429.53
Architecture codenameMatisse (2019−2020)Cascade Lake-SP (2018)
Release date7 November 2019 (5 years ago)11 December 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,999$10,009

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has 878% better value for money than Xeon Platinum 8280.

Detailed specifications

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Xeon Platinum 8280 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 cores32 (Dotriaconta-Core)28 (Octacosa-Core)
Threads6456
Base clock speed3.7 GHz2.7 GHz
Boost clock speed4.5 GHz4 GHz
Bus rate8 × 16 GT/sno data
Multiplier3727
L1 cache2 MB64 KB (per core)
L2 cache16 MB1 MB (per core)
L3 cache128 MB38.5 MB (shared)
Chip lithography7 nm, 12 nm14 nm
Maximum core temperatureno data84 °C
Number of transistors23540 Million8,000 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility++
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Xeon Platinum 8280 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)8 (Multiprocessor)
SocketTR4FCLGA3647
Power consumption (TDP)280 Watt205 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Xeon Platinum 8280. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
AES-NI++
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
TSX-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data-
Precision Boost 2+no data
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Xeon Platinum 8280 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Xeon Platinum 8280 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 3970X and Xeon Platinum 8280. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4 Eight-channelDDR4-2933
Maximum memory size256 GB1 TB
Max memory channels46
Maximum memory bandwidth102.403 GB/s140.8 GB/s
ECC memory support++

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card-N/A

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Xeon Platinum 8280.

PCIe versionno data3.0
PCI Express lanesno data48

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 3970X 39.70
+92.3%
Xeon Platinum 8280 20.64

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 3970X 63069
+92.4%
Xeon Platinum 8280 32781

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 39.70 20.64
Recency 7 November 2019 11 December 2018
Physical cores 32 28
Threads 64 56
Chip lithography 7 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 280 Watt 205 Watt

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has a 92.3% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 10 months, 14.3% more physical cores and 14.3% more threads, and a 100% more advanced lithography process.

Xeon Platinum 8280, on the other hand, has 36.6% lower power consumption.

The Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is our recommended choice as it beats the Xeon Platinum 8280 in performance tests.

Note that Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is a desktop processor while Xeon Platinum 8280 is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Xeon Platinum 8280, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Intel Xeon Platinum 8280
Xeon Platinum 8280

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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