i7-6700K vs Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

VS

Aggregate performance score

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
2020
64 cores / 128 threads, 280 Watt
50.29
+795%
Core i7-6700K
2015
4 cores / 8 threads, 91 Watt
5.62

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X outperforms Core i7-6700K by a whopping 795% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Ryzen Threadripper 3990X and Core i7-6700K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking341135
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation9.211.06
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesAMD Ryzen ThreadripperIntel Core i7 (Desktop)
Power efficiency17.005.84
Architecture codenameMatisse (2019−2020)Skylake (2015−2016)
Release date7 February 2020 (4 years ago)5 August 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$3,999$339

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X has 769% better value for money than i7-6700K.

Detailed specifications

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X and Core i7-6700K 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 cores64 (Tetrahexaconta-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads1288
Base clock speed2.9 GHz4 GHz
Boost clock speed4.3 GHz4.2 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 3.0
Bus rateno data4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplier2940
L1 cache96K (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache512K (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache256 MB8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography7 nm, 12 nm14 nm
Die size74 mm2122 mm2
Maximum case temperature (TCase)95 °C64 °C
Number of transistors3,800 million1750 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+-
Unlocked multiplier++

Compatibility

Information on Ryzen Threadripper 3990X and Core i7-6700K 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 configuration11 (Uniprocessor)
SocketTR4FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)280 Watt91 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3990X and Core i7-6700K. 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-+
Precision Boost 2+no data

Security technologies

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X and Core i7-6700K 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 3990X and Core i7-6700K 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 3990X and Core i7-6700K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4-3200DDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory size256 GB64 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth102.403 GB/s34.134 GB/s
ECC memory support+-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card-Intel HD Graphics 530
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 3990X and Core i7-6700K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported-3
eDP-+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
DVI-+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3990X and Core i7-6700K 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
Max resolution over VGA-N/A

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3990X and Core i7-6700K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX-12
OpenGL-4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3990X and Core i7-6700K.

PCIe version4.03.0
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 3990X 50.29
+795%
i7-6700K 5.62

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 3990X 79889
+794%
i7-6700K 8932

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 3990X 1622
+7.7%
i7-6700K 1506

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 3990X 14186
+187%
i7-6700K 4940

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 50.29 5.62
Recency 7 February 2020 5 August 2015
Physical cores 64 4
Threads 128 8
Chip lithography 7 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 280 Watt 91 Watt

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X has a 794.8% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, 1500% more physical cores and 1500% more threads, and a 100% more advanced lithography process.

i7-6700K, on the other hand, has 207.7% lower power consumption.

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-6700K in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Ryzen Threadripper 3990X and Core i7-6700K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Intel Core i7-6700K
Core i7-6700K

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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