Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsHotHardware’s July 30, 2025 review found the Threadripper 9980X and 9970X at the top of its Geekbench 6.4 and PCMark 10 Applications comparisons, with stronger memory bandwidth than the Xeon and previous-generation Threadripper systems it tested. Its memory-latency and cache-latency results were more mixed. These are results from HotHardware’s specific test systems—not a guarantee that every workload will run faster.
What this page of the review tests
This is the memory and general-application portion of HotHardware’s Threadripper 9980X and 9970X review, by Marco Chiappetta and dated July 30, 2025. It covers AIDA64 memory and cache measurements, Geekbench v6.4, and UL PCMark 10 Applications, including Microsoft Office and Edge workloads.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ 9960X | $1,449.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ 7970X 32-Core, 64-Thread Processor | $1,949.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX, 16-core, 32-Thread Desktop Processor | $937.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ 7960X 24-Core, 48-Thread Processor | $1,085.71 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
HotHardware says it used current-at-publication firmware and drivers, installed and updated Windows 11 Pro, applied optimized or high-performance motherboard defaults, and set memory to the maximum officially supported speed without overclocking. It also standardized system cleanup before testing and says its processor test beds had been revamped, with data freshly generated for that review cycle. The findings below should be read in that test context.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Memory bandwidth, memory latency and cache latency
AMD specifies four-channel DDR5 RDIMM support up to 6400 MT/s for both processors. In its comparison, HotHardware contrasted the new CPUs’ official memory-speed support with 5200 and 4800 MT/s systems. It reported significantly higher peak memory bandwidth for the Threadripper 9000 systems than for the Xeon and Threadripper 7000 systems it tested.
#1 Best Overall
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processors for Desktop Workstations
- Ryzen Threadripper 9000 Series
That bandwidth result did not mean the new processors led every memory-related measure. HotHardware placed their memory latency in the middle of the comparison. For cache latency, it reported roughly similar L1 latency among the Threadrippers, lower L2 latency but higher L3 latency for the 9980X and 9970X than for their predecessors. It also found lower cache bandwidth on the tested Xeons. These are review-specific comparisons, not universal rankings across all configurations.
Geekbench v6.4: strong results, but not a core-count scaling test
HotHardware describes Geekbench v6.4 as a mix of single- and multithreaded CPU-core workloads, including encryption, image compression, HTML5 parsing and physics. The 9980X and 9970X took the top two spots in its comparison.
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
The result needs context: HotHardware cautions that Geekbench does not benefit much from the extra cores or cache of some very high-core-count chips. A strong showing here is evidence of good performance in this benchmark’s workload mix, not proof that either CPU will scale best in heavily parallel production work.
PCMark 10 Applications: Office and browser workloads
For UL PCMark 10 Applications, HotHardware tested Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft Edge. It reported the 9980X and 9970X in the top two positions. The publication attributed the outcome to a combination of memory speed, clocks and Zen 5 architecture.
Rank #3
- UPC: 730143314626
- Weight: 1.950 lbs
- 16 çekirdek / 32 İplik
- 4 GHz
- DDR4 3200 (Maks.), UPC: 730143314626
That result offers a useful view of these particular application tests, but it does not establish that everyday Office or browsing tasks will be faster for every user. Software version, system configuration and the work being done all matter.
What the two processors bring to a build
The processors share an sTR5 socket, TRX50 chipset support and four-channel DDR5 RDIMM memory support up to 6400 MT/s, but differ considerably in core count and cache. AMD’s current product specifications list:
Rank #4
- 24 Cores and 48 Processing Threads for Professional Processing Power
- Incredible 5.3 GHz Max Boost Frequency, with a huge 152MB 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
| Specification | Threadripper 9980X | Threadripper 9970X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / threads | 64 / 128 | 32 / 64 |
| Base clock | 3.2 GHz | 4.0 GHz |
| Maximum boost clock | Up to 5.4 GHz | Up to 5.4 GHz |
| L3 cache | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Total cache | 320 MB, per AMD’s COMPUTEX 2025 release | 160 MB, per AMD’s COMPUTEX 2025 release |
| Default TDP | 350 W | 350 W |
| Memory specification | Four-channel DDR5 RDIMM, up to 6400 MT/s | Four-channel DDR5 RDIMM, up to 6400 MT/s |
| Other stated platform requirements | sTR5; TRX50; ECC support; PCIe 5.0; discrete graphics required; thermal solution not included | sTR5; TRX50; ECC support; PCIe 5.0; discrete graphics required; thermal solution not included |
AMD lists L3 cache separately from total cache, so those figures are not interchangeable. Check the exact motherboard and memory-kit compatibility before buying; the CPU specifications alone do not establish support for a particular board or kit.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWhich one fits your workload?
The 9980X’s 64 cores and 128 threads give it twice the core and thread count of the 9970X, while both carry a stated maximum boost of up to 5.4 GHz. That makes the core-count difference a central consideration when evaluating workloads that can use many threads. The 9970X has a higher listed base clock, but clock figures by themselves do not determine application performance.
For a decision, weigh the parallel throughput your software can actually use against the lightly threaded and mixed workloads you run, then account for memory behavior, complete platform requirements and current processor prices. HotHardware’s results provide comparisons for its tested applications and setup; without current prices and a defined workload, they do not establish which chip is the better buy.
Quick Recap
Sources
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X specifications
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X specifications
- AMD’s COMPUTEX 2025 Threadripper 9000 announcement
- HotHardware review: Memory, Full System, And Browser Benchmarks
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
