In a recent PCWorld YouTube video, Gordon Ung and Will Smith compared the performance of high-end desktop CPUs: AMD’s Threadripper and Intel’s Core i9. The test was conducted using a Falcon Northwest Talon Hawk Desktop with a 64-core AMD Threadripper 7980X and a custom-built Intel machine with a Core i9-14900KS. Both machines were equipped with top-of-the-line components, including an RTX 4090 graphics card and Crucial T705 Gen5 SSD. The Intel machine had 48GB of Patriot Viper Elite 5 DDR5 RAM, while the AMD machine had 128GB of Kingston DDR5 RAM.
Will Smith, a former game developer, created a custom map in the Unreal 5 engine to test the performance of both CPUs in rendering tasks. The Threadripper outperformed the Core i9 in these tasks, with significantly faster render times. The AMD machine’s 64 cores proved to be more beneficial for heavy computing tasks, while the Core i9’s 24 split cores were optimized for performance and efficiency.
The Threadripper excelled in tasks like rendering lighting in levels, especially in Unreal Engine tasks, showcasing its superiority over the Core i9. However, the cost of the Threadripper, priced at $5,000 for the CPU alone, may not be justified for solo developers or small indie studios. In such cases, it might be more practical to invest in a dedicated render server to optimize rendering tasks.
While the Threadripper is designed for heavy computing tasks, it may not translate to better gaming performance compared to high-end gaming PCs using the same components. For occasional development tasks, investing in an expensive processor like the Threadripper may not be necessary.
In summary, the Intel Core i9 is likened to a mass-market pickup truck, while the AMD Threadripper is compared to a giant dump truck—they are both capable, but the choice depends on the specific needs and tasks. For those interested in desktop hardware discussions, subscribing to PCWorld’s YouTube channel is recommended.
Article Source
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2382308/threadripper-vs-core-i9-whats-the-best-cpu-for-game-developers.html
