AMD EPYC 7601 vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a remarkably consistent picture across every Cinebench benchmark in the database. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with no benchmark going to the AMD EPYC 7601. This uniformity is rare in processor comparisons, where architecture and core count differences typically create at least some split between single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

The closest margin appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Threadripper PRO 5945WX scores 486 against the EPYC 7601's 423, a 14.9% advantage. The multi-core test in the same suite shows a nearly identical 14.8% gap, with scores of 3447 and 3003 respectively. That consistency continues in Cinebench R20, where the Threadripper PRO 5945WX posts 14365 multi-core and 2027 single-core, versus 12516 and 1766 for the EPYC 7601, again a 14.8% delta.

Cinebench R23 reinforces the pattern. The Threadripper PRO 5945WX reaches 34204 multi-core and 4828 single-core, while the EPYC 7601 manages 29800 and 4207. The percentage difference stays fixed at 14.8% across the multi-core tests, suggesting the performance advantage is structural rather than workload-specific.

What makes this interesting is the core count disparity. The EPYC 7601 has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Threadripper PRO 5945WX has only 12 cores and 24 threads. Despite having 20 fewer cores, the Threadripper PRO 5945WX still wins multi-core benchmarks by roughly 15%. This implies the per-core performance gap is substantial enough to overcome the EPYC's raw core advantage. The data does not include Geekbench results for the EPYC 7601, so the Threadripper PRO 5945WX's Geekbench scores of 13371 multi-core and 2059 single-core stand without a direct comparison.

The average benchmark score in the database places the Threadripper PRO 5945WX at 9348, against 8619 for the EPYC 7601. Both processors sit at the 65th percentile among all CPUs tracked by the database, meaning they occupy a similar overall performance tier despite the internal differences. The Threadripper PRO 5945WX's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8180 at 9406 (0.6% behind), the Intel Atom x7835RE at 9430 (0.9% behind), the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X at 9284 (0.7% ahead), and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8280M at 9260 (1% ahead). The EPYC 7601's nearest rivals are all mobile processors: the Intel Core i7-10510U at 8580 (0.5% ahead), the Intel Core i5-8250U at 8577 (0.5% ahead), the Intel Core i7-8565U at 8665 (0.5% behind), and the Intel Core i5-8265U at 8568 (0.6% ahead). The rival lists themselves reveal a positioning difference: the Threadripper PRO 5945WX competes with enterprise Xeon parts, while the EPYC 7601's average score lands it alongside low-power laptop chips.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data alone, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is the clear performance choice. It wins every recorded test, and the margins are not trivial. A 14.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 34204 against 29800, is a meaningful gap for rendering or simulation workloads. The single-core advantage of 14.8% in R23, 4828 versus 4207, also matters for responsiveness and lightly threaded applications.

The EPYC 7601, however, is not without a case. It offers 32 cores and 64 threads, more than double the Threadripper PRO 5945WX's 12 cores and 24 threads. For workloads that scale with core count rather than per-core speed, the EPYC's architecture might still be attractive, but the recorded benchmarks do not show it winning any of the tested multi-core scenarios. The data suggests that the Threadripper PRO 5945WX's Zen 3 architecture and higher clocks deliver more usable performance in the tested applications.

Who should pick which? The data points to the Threadripper PRO 5945WX for users who need maximum performance in Cinebench-style workloads, particularly those that benefit from strong single-core and moderate multi-core performance. The EPYC 7601 could be considered for systems where the higher core count is needed for parallel tasks that the benchmarks do not capture, or where the 180W TDP compared to 280W is a system design concern. The EPYC 7601 also uses the AMD Socket SP3 platform, which may offer different system-level options than the WRX8 socket of the Threadripper PRO 5945WX.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of AMD's server and workstation lineup. The Threadripper PRO 5945WX uses the Zen 3 architecture with the codename Chagall PRO, built on a 7nm process at TSMC with 16,600 million transistors spread across a 4x 81 mm² die configuration. The EPYC 7601 uses the original Zen architecture with the codename Naples, built on a 14nm process at GlobalFoundries with 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. The node difference alone explains much of the efficiency and clock speed gap.

Clock speeds tell a clear story. The Threadripper PRO 5945WX has a base clock of 4.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The EPYC 7601 has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The Threadripper PRO 5945WX runs almost 2 GHz higher at base and 1.3 GHz higher at boost. This clock advantage, combined with the architectural improvements in Zen 3, drives the benchmark results.

Cache configurations differ in structure. The Threadripper PRO 5945WX has 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 64 MB of total L3. The EPYC 7601 has 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 64 MB of shared L3. The total L3 is the same at 64 MB, but the EPYC's per-core L1 is larger. The Threadripper PRO 5945WX's L3 is not marked as shared in the data, while the EPYC's is explicitly shared, suggesting a different memory hierarchy design.

Memory support is similar on paper. Both support DDR4 and both use an eight-channel memory bus. The Threadripper PRO 5945WX has a higher memory bandwidth rating at 204.8 GB/s versus 170.6 GB/s for the EPYC 7601. Both support ECC memory. The PCIe implementation differs: the Threadripper PRO 5945WX uses Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU, while the EPYC 7601 uses Gen 3 with no lane count specified in the data.

The Threadripper PRO 5945WX has a locked multiplier, while the EPYC 7601 has an unlocked multiplier. The EPYC's 180W TDP is lower than the Threadripper PRO 5945WX's 280W, which is notable given the EPYC has more cores. The production status for both is listed as active, and both target the server or workstation market segment.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD EPYC 7601 has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has a base clock of 4.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The AMD EPYC 7601 has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz.

Q: How does the power consumption compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has a TDP of 280W, while the AMD EPYC 7601 has a TDP of 180W.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX supports 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the AMD EPYC 7601 supports 170.6 GB/s. Both use DDR4 memory with an eight-channel bus.

Q: Which processor has a newer architecture?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX uses the Zen 3 architecture on a 7nm TSMC process, while the AMD EPYC 7601 uses the original Zen architecture on a 14nm GlobalFoundries process.

Q: Did the EPYC 7601 win any benchmark in the database?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX won all six recorded head-to-head benchmarks, with the EPYC 7601 recording zero wins.

Where Each One Wins

Looking strictly at the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX wins in every measured category. Single-core performance is consistently 14.8% to 14.9% higher across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. Multi-core performance matches that margin at 14.8% across the same suites. The Threadripper PRO 5945WX also holds a higher average benchmark score at 9348 versus 8619, and a higher memory bandwidth rating at 204.8 GB/s versus 170.6 GB/s.

The EPYC 7601's wins are more contextual than direct. It has more cores and threads, which could favor workloads that the database does not test. It has a lower TDP at 180W, which may suit dense server deployments where power and cooling are constrained. It uses a different socket, SP3, which opens up a different platform ecosystem than the WRX8 socket of the Threadripper PRO 5945WX. The EPYC also has a larger L1 cache per core at 96 KB versus 64 KB, which could benefit certain access patterns. The unlocked multiplier on the EPYC is a differentiating feature, though the data does not indicate how that might affect real-world performance.

For users prioritizing the recorded benchmarks, the Threadripper PRO 5945WX is the unambiguous choice. For users prioritizing core count, platform flexibility, or power efficiency, the EPYC 7601 has qualitative advantages that the benchmark suite does not capture.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. The Threadripper PRO 5945WX belongs to the 5000 series with a Zen 3 architecture, while the EPYC 7601 belongs to the EPYC 7001 series with the original Zen architecture. The codenames differ: Chagall PRO versus Naples. The process nodes differ: 7nm at TSMC versus 14nm at GlobalFoundries. The transistor counts differ substantially: 16,600 million versus 4,800 million. The die configurations differ: 4x 81 mm² versus a single 213 mm².

Core and thread counts differ: 12 cores and 24 threads versus 32 cores and 64 threads. Clock speeds differ: 4.10 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost versus 2.20 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. TDP differs: 280W versus 180W. Sockets differ: AMD Socket WRX8 versus AMD Socket SP3. The L1 cache per core differs: 64 KB versus 96 KB. The L3 cache designation differs: 64 MB total versus 64 MB shared. Memory bandwidth differs: 204.8 GB/s versus 170.6 GB/s. PCIe generation differs: Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU versus Gen 3 with no lane count listed.

Release dates differ: the Threadripper PRO 5945WX launched in March 2022, while the EPYC 7601 launched in June 2017. The part numbers differ: 100-000000448 for the Threadripper, PS7601BDVIHAF for the EPYC. The multiplier state differs: locked on the Threadripper, unlocked on the EPYC. The generation labels differ: Ryzen Threadripper (Zen 3, Chagall) versus EPYC (Zen, Naples). The base specifications that match include DDR4 memory support, eight-channel memory bus, ECC memory support, no integrated graphics, and active production status.