HotHardware’s page-four results put AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper 9980X and 9970X at the top of its 3DMark CPU Profile comparison, but the larger lesson is workload fit. These 350 W workstation processors can run games and graphics tests, yet their 64-core and 32-core designs make sense primarily for heavily parallel production work rather than a gaming-first PC. The observations below come from HotHardware’s July 30, 2025 test systems, including a 360 mm Silverstone TR5 cooler, and should not be treated as guaranteed results in every build.
9980X and 9970X: the relevant specifications
| Processor | Cores / threads | Base clock | Maximum boost | Listed TDP | Total cache | AMD launch-era suggested price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen Threadripper 9980X | 64 / 128 | 3.2 GHz | Up to 5.4 GHz | 350 W | 320 MB | $4,999 |
| Ryzen Threadripper 9970X | 32 / 64 | 4.0 GHz | Up to 5.4 GHz | 350 W | 160 MB | $2,499 |
These figures come from AMD’s May 20, 2025 launch announcement. The prices are suggested launch prices, not verified current retail prices. AMD planned DIY retailer availability for July 2025. AMD positions the 9000 series for enthusiasts and creators, including content creation, compiling and local AI training; its partner materials also describe rendering, simulation, engineering and other workstation workloads.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ 9980X | Buy on Amazon | |
| 2 |
|
AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ 7970X 32-Core, 64-Thread Processor | $1,949.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ 9960X | $1,449.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ 7980X 64-Core, 128-Thread Processor | $3,057.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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What HotHardware tested on page 4
HotHardware moved from application testing to graphics and game-related measurements. The page includes 3DMark CPU Profile, the DirectX 12 Steel Nomad test, and game runs in F1 2024, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail and The Talos Principle 2, using more than one resolution and image-quality setting. In its 3DMark CPU Profile comparison, the 9980X and 9970X occupied the first two positions.
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Why the 3DMark result needs context
A top CPU Profile result demonstrates strong throughput in that benchmark, not a universal gaming advantage. The test is one data point from HotHardware’s configured systems, and frame rates in a real game can become limited by the graphics card, resolution, engine and settings long before 64 or 32 CPU cores are fully occupied.
#1 Best Overall
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processors for Desktop Workstations
- Ryzen Threadripper 9000 Series
Are Threadripper 9980X and 9970X good gaming processors?
They can play games, but gaming should not be the reason to choose one by default. TechSpot’s separate testing describes Threadripper as not designed or intended for gaming and says a gaming-focused processor can deliver a better experience at lower cost. Its results found acceptable game performance, while lightly threaded workloads such as Photoshop 2025 heavily underutilized both Threadripper chips and performed poorly relative to more appropriate designs.
When gaming on Threadripper is reasonable
- You are building a workstation that also serves as a secondary gaming machine.
- Your primary applications scale across many cores, making the platform cost defensible before gaming is considered.
- You accept that a mainstream gaming CPU may offer better value or peak gaming behavior.
When to buy a different CPU
If games are the main workload, compare gaming-oriented processors instead. Threadripper’s platform, motherboard, cooling and processor costs are difficult to justify solely for higher game benchmarks, and the review evidence does not establish a universal frame-rate lead.
Rank #2
- 32 Cores and 64 Processing Threads for Powerful, Professional Processing Power
- Incredible 5.3 GHz Max Boost Frequency, with a huge 160MB Cache
- Unlocked, with automatic overclocking feature
- Quad-Channel DDR5 RDIMM support up to 1TB, and 80 usable PCIe lanes for serious bandwidth and I/O
- 350W TDP, Cooler Not Included
9980X versus 9970X: choosing by workload
Choose the 9980X for sustained parallel work
The 9980X provides 64 cores and 128 threads, double the core and thread count of the 9970X. That makes it the logical candidate for software that can keep a very large number of workers busy, such as long renders, simulations, large builds or other workstation jobs that scale efficiently. It also carries twice the listed cache, but the $4,999 launch suggestion is twice the 9970X’s $2,499 figure.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesChoose the 9970X for a lower-cost 32-core workstation
The 9970X still offers 32 cores and 64 threads. Its 4.0 GHz base clock is higher on paper than the 9980X’s 3.2 GHz, while both list up to 5.4 GHz boost. Base clock alone does not predict application performance: scheduling, cooling, memory, software scaling and the specific workload determine the result. The 9970X is the more practical starting point when 32 cores are sufficient or the budget must leave room for the platform and professional graphics hardware.
Rank #3
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processors for Desktop Workstations
- Ryzen Threadripper 9000 Series
Power, temperatures and cooling
HotHardware measured the whole computer
The review’s power meter measured total system consumption at the wall, not processor-only power. In its tested configurations, fully loaded Threadripper systems reached similar peak power, and HotHardware reported lower idle or light-load consumption for its Threadripper 9000 systems than for the previous-generation systems it tested. Those are lab comparisons, not a universal efficiency guarantee.
Observed operating behavior
On the 9980X test system, frequency varied between the 3.2 GHz base and 5.4 GHz boost range in varied PCMark workloads. During the 3DMark CPU Profile run, HotHardware said the processor stayed in the 5 GHz range. PCMark temperatures were mostly in the mid-50s to high-60s Celsius, with brief peaks near 80°C. These readings belong to the review’s motherboard, software, case and 360 mm Silverstone TR5 cooler.
Rank #4
- 64 Cores and 48 Processing Threads for Incredible, Professional Processing Power
- Incredible 5.1 GHz Max Boost Frequency, with a colossal 320MB Cache
- Unlocked, with automatic overclocking feature
- Quad-Channel DDR5 RDIMM support up to 1TB, and 80 usable PCIe lanes for serious bandwidth and I/O
- 350W TDP, Cooler Not Included
Plan the platform before buying the chip
- Use cooling explicitly compatible with the sTR5 socket; confirm the current supported-socket list and case clearance.
- Budget for a workstation-class motherboard, memory and power supply in addition to the CPU.
- Do not assume the advertised 5.4 GHz will be sustained on every core.
AMD defines maximum boost as the highest frequency achievable by a single core during a bursty single-threaded workload. AMD also says boost behavior varies with thermal paste, cooling, motherboard design and BIOS, chipset drivers and operating-system updates.
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The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the uncompromising option for a well-funded, highly parallel workstation. The 9970X delivers a 32-core/64-thread foundation at half the launch-era suggested CPU price and may be the better-balanced choice when the workload does not scale to 64 cores. Neither is a sensible default gaming purchase: select Threadripper for the workstation tasks first, then treat gaming as a capable secondary use.
Quick Recap
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