Performance Review of AMD Threadripper 9970X and 9980X Processors on Linux

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X and 9980X processors, part of the Threadripper 9000 series, are designed to deliver exceptional workstation performance in 2025. These processors, powered by the Zen 5 architecture, bring a significant generational improvement over previous Threadripper models. The 9980X offers 64 cores and 128 threads, matching the Threadripper 7980X, while the 9970X has 32 cores and 64 threads, comparable to the 7970X. Notably, these processors support ECC DDR5-6400 memory, which offers enhanced performance for tasks like CPU-based AI inferencing and memory bandwidth-intensive applications. AMD has ensured that these new processors are compatible with existing sTR5 Threadripper 7000 series workstations, with a simple BIOS upgrade. The review highlights that, after extensive testing on Linux with Ubuntu 25.04, these Threadrippers perform excellently, showing no compatibility or stability issues. Benchmarks comparing these new Threadrippers to previous models, such as the 7990X, 9970X, and Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K, reveal impressive results for demanding applications. The Threadripper 9000 series is a top choice for professionals looking for powerful, reliable Linux-based workstation performance.