AMD EPYC 7663 vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX and AMD EPYC 7663 are both 7nm AMD parts with 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, but they serve different market segments: the Threadripper is a Desktop part while the EPYC is designed for Server/Workstation use. The data shows a clear split in performance characteristics, with the Threadripper dominating most synthetic benchmarks while the EPYC takes specific wins in physics simulation and prime number finding. Both chips sit at the 98th percentile among all CPUs, but their average benchmark scores differ notably: the Threadripper PRO 3995WX averages 171748, while the EPYC 7663 averages 161973, a gap of roughly 6%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX comes in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 106423 against the EPYC 7663's 73719. That is a 44.4% advantage, the largest delta in the entire head-to-head comparison. This suggests the Threadripper's 64 cores and 128 threads are exceptionally well-utilized in workloads that exercise AVX-style instruction sets, far outpacing the EPYC's 56 cores and 112 threads in this specific test.

Data compression is another major win for the Threadripper PRO 3995WX. Its score of 1841292 crushes the EPYC 7663's 1447020, a 27.2% improvement. This is a substantial margin that indicates the Threadripper's memory subsystem and core count combine to deliver superior throughput in compression algorithms. Similarly, data encryption shows the Threadripper ahead by 11.4%, scoring 124433 versus 111725, a more modest but still clear advantage.

The Cinebench suite paints a consistent picture of the Threadripper PRO 3995WX as the multi-core leader. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Threadripper wins by exactly 2.2% each time. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 71338 versus the EPYC's 69773; in single-core, it posts 10071 against 9850. The R20 results follow suit: 29961 versus 29304 multi-core, and 4229 versus 4137 single-core. Even in the older R15 tests, the pattern holds at 7190 versus 7032 multi-core and 1014 versus 992 single-core. This uniformity suggests a consistent architectural advantage rather than workload-specific tuning.

Floating point math also favors the Threadripper PRO 3995WX, with a score of 277715 compared to the EPYC 7663's 251535, a 10.4% lead. Integer math is closer: 490116 versus 468096, a 4.7% edge for the Threadripper. The PassMark multi-thread test shows the Threadripper again ahead, 83928 versus 82087, a 2.2% margin. Random string sorting is a narrow win for the Threadripper, 188574 versus 184367, a 2.3% difference.

The AMD EPYC 7663 takes its biggest win in PassMark physics, scoring 8020 against the Threadripper's 5498. That is a 31.4% advantage for the EPYC, a substantial reversal of the usual trend. This likely reflects the EPYC's Zen 3 architecture, which offers improved IPC and memory latency characteristics that benefit physics simulations. The EPYC also wins the find prime numbers test, scoring 676 versus 566, a 16.3% lead. Single-thread performance is essentially a tie, with the EPYC edging ahead by just 0.4%: 2606 versus 2595.

Overall, the Threadripper PRO 3995WX wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the EPYC 7663 wins 4. The Threadripper's victories are often decisive, particularly in extended instructions and data compression, while the EPYC's wins are concentrated in specific compute patterns.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX as the stronger all-around performer. It leads in every Cinebench test, all six by a consistent 2.2% margin, and dominates in data compression, encryption, extended instructions, and floating point math. For workflows that rely on rendering, compression, or cryptographic workloads, the Threadripper is the clear choice from these benchmark results. Its 13 wins out of 17 head-to-head comparisons, combined with a higher average benchmark score of 171748 versus 161973, make it the more versatile processor for general compute.

However, the AMD EPYC 7663 is not without merit. Its 31.4% lead in PassMark physics is remarkable, and the 16.3% advantage in find prime numbers suggests it handles certain algorithmic workloads with greater efficiency. The near-tie in single-thread performance, with the EPYC leading by 0.4%, means users focused on lightly threaded tasks will see no meaningful difference. The EPYC also targets the Server/Workstation segment, so buyers in that space may prioritize its platform features such as the AMD Socket SP3 and the EPYC 7003 series ecosystem.

Pick the Threadripper PRO 3995WX if your priorities are maximum core count, higher boost clocks, and dominance in compression and encryption benchmarks. Pick the EPYC 7663 if physics simulation or prime number computation is the primary workload, or if the server-oriented platform and its Zen 3 architecture are more important than raw multi-core scores. The data does not support a single universal winner, but the Threadripper's broader benchmark dominance gives it the edge for most mixed workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX has 64 cores, while the AMD EPYC 7663 has 56 cores. The Threadripper also has 128 threads versus the EPYC's 112 threads.

Q: How much faster is the Threadripper in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Threadripper PRO 3995WX scores 71338 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the EPYC 7663 scores 69773. This gives the Threadripper a 2.2% advantage.

Q: In which benchmark does the EPYC 7663 have its largest win?

A: The EPYC 7663's largest win is in PassMark physics, where it scores 8020 against the Threadripper's 5498, a 31.4% lead.

Q: Are the single-thread scores similar between the two?

A: Yes, they are nearly identical. The EPYC 7663 scores 2606 in PassMark single-thread, while the Threadripper PRO 3995WX scores 2595, a difference of just 0.4% in the EPYC's favor.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Threadripper PRO 3995WX has an average benchmark score of 171748, compared to the EPYC 7663's 161973. This is a difference of about 6% in the Threadripper's favor.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of each CPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX has a launch MSRP of $5489, and the AMD EPYC 7663 has a launch MSRP of $6366.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several core specifications. The Threadripper PRO 3995WX has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the EPYC 7663 has 56 cores and 112 threads. Base clock speeds are listed as 2.70 GHz for the Threadripper and 2000.00 MHz for the EPYC, with boost clocks of 4.20 GHz and 3.50 GHz respectively. The Threadripper has a TDP of 280, while the EPYC has a TDP of 240.

The socket types differ as well: the Threadripper uses AMD Socket WRX8, while the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3. The market segment also separates them, with the Threadripper listed as Desktop and the EPYC as Server/Workstation. Release dates show the Threadripper launched on 2020-07-13, while the EPYC followed on 2021-03-14. The part numbers are 100-000000087100-100000087WOF for the Threadripper and 100-000000318100-100000318WOF for the EPYC. Both have a multiplier that is not unlocked.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is significant. The Threadripper PRO 3995WX is built on Zen 2 with the codename Castle Peak, while the EPYC 7663 uses Zen 3 with the codename Milan. Both are fabricated on a 7 nm process by TSMC, but the transistor counts differ: the Threadripper has 30,400 million transistors across 8x 74 mm² dies, while the EPYC has 33,200 million transistors across 8x 81 mm² dies.

Cache configurations are similar in size but differ in organization. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and both have 256 MB of L3 cache. However, the Threadripper's L3 is described as 256 MB, while the EPYC's is listed as 256 MB (shared). Memory support is identical: DDR4 with an eight-channel memory bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, and both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity matches at Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). Neither CPU features integrated graphics. The EPYC's Zen 3 architecture accounts for its wins in physics and prime number benchmarks, while the Threadripper's Zen 2 design with more cores drives its broader performance lead.