AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X & 9970X Review: Zen 5 Powers Massive Gains

AMD’s new Ryzen Threadripper 9980X and 9970X CPUs feature Zen 5 architecture and significant performance gains for power users.

AMD continues to evolve its high-end desktop lineup with the new Ryzen Threadripper 9980X and 9970X. Built on the latest Zen 5 architecture, these new chips are targeted at professional users working in multithreaded environments like 3D rendering, video production, software compiling, and scientific workloads. They also mark the latest entries into the TRX50 platform, AMD’s enthusiast-class infrastructure that bridges workstation-grade performance with desktop accessibility. The TRX50 offers overclocking support, PCIe Gen5, and quad-channel DDR5, making it a more cost-efficient option for users who don’t need the complete feature set of the WRX90 platform.

While the model names are familiar, the new Threadripper CPUs bring notable changes under the hood. The 9980X comes with a 64-core, 128-thread layout using a 12+1 CCD (core complex die) configuration; that’s twelve compute CCDs paired with a single I/O die, in line with AMD’s chiplet-based scaling for top-end parts. The 9970X trims this back to a 32-core, 64-thread setup via a 6+1 CCD layout.

Leave a Comment