AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX

What separates them

Price history

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX: lowest $7,799.00 on Nov 3 at B&H Photo-Video-Audio; $7,899.99 on Nov 6.
• AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX: lowest $2,700.99 on Nov 3 at Amazon.

Prices at every store

Specs compared

Questions and answers

Which is faster for rendering and simulation?

The 9985WX. Both have 64 cores and 128 threads, but Zen 5 cores at up to 5.4 GHz beat Zen 2 cores at up to 4.2 GHz, and DDR5 plus PCIe 5.0 add bandwidth.

Can I put the 9985WX in an existing sWRX8 board?

No. The 9985WX uses socket sTR5 and the 3995WX uses sWRX8. They are not interchangeable, so the 9985WX needs a new motherboard and DDR5 RDIMM memory.

Does the 3995WX support more than 32GB of RAM?

Yes. The 32GB figure in its listing is not the platform limit; sWRX8 boards with eight-channel DDR4 support far more, with ECC. The 9985WX listing states up to 2TB of DDR5 RDIMM.

Is the 9985WX worth the extra cost?

For a new build, yes: you get Zen 5, PCIe 5.0, 148 lanes and DDR5. If you already own an sWRX8 board, the 3995WX avoids the cost of a new board and memory kit.

Which is easier to cool?

The 3995WX at 280W TDP. The 9985WX is rated 350W, so plan on a larger cooler and a higher-wattage power supply.

Do either have integrated graphics?

No. Both need a discrete GPU, and the 9985WX listing states one is required.