AMD EPYC 9015 vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX Comparison

The AMD EPYC 9015 and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX represent two distinct philosophies for high-core-count desktop and workstation computing. The EPYC 9015, a Zen 5 part from the EPYC 9005 series, is a modern 8-core server processor built for the data center, while the Threadripper PRO 3955WX is a 16-core Zen 2 behemoth aimed at professional desktops. Benchmark data places both in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, but their average scores diverge, with the EPYC 9015 achieving an average benchmark score of 57555 and the Threadripper PRO 3955WX scoring 56555. This guide dissects their performance profiles, architectural gaps, and ideal use cases based solely on the provided facts.

Where Each One Wins

The data splits the two processors into clear functional territories based on workload characteristics. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX secures decisive victories in multi-threaded and data-heavy tasks. It wins 7 of the 11 head-to-head benchmarks, including all the major throughput tests: PassMark multithread, integer math, floating-point math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, and random string sorting. This dominance is directly tied to its 16 cores and 32 threads, which allow it to crush parallel workloads.

Conversely, the AMD EPYC 9015 wins 4 benchmarks, and these wins are strategically significant. It takes the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 3265, a 21.9% lead over the Threadripper’s 2679. It also wins the find prime numbers test by a massive 53.5% margin (304 vs 198) and the physics test by 17.6% (2893 vs 2460). These results indicate that the EPYC 9015’s newer Zen 5 architecture provides a substantial per-core performance advantage, making it superior for latency-sensitive, lightly-threaded, or single-core-dependent applications. In essence, the Threadripper PRO 3955WX is the brute-force parallel processor, while the EPYC 9015 is the precision instrument for single-threaded responsiveness.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is generational and foundational. The EPYC 9015 is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the codename "Turin," fabricated on a 4 nm process node by TSMC. In contrast, the Threadripper PRO 3955WX uses the older Zen 2 architecture, codenamed "Castle Peak," on a 7 nm process node. This process advantage is evident in the transistor counts: the EPYC 9015 packs 16,630 million transistors across a die size of 2x 70.6 mm², while the Threadripper PRO 3955WX contains 7,600 million transistors on a larger 2x 74 mm² die. The newer process and design allow the EPYC 9015 to achieve higher performance per core despite having half the cores.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The EPYC 9015 provides 80 KB of L1 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Threadripper PRO 3955WX offers 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core. Both share a 64 MB L3 cache, but the EPYC 9015’s is labeled as "64 MB (shared)" while the Threadripper’s is simply "64 MB." Memory support is another major differentiator: the EPYC 9015 uses DDR5 memory across a twelve-channel bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 576.0 GB/s. The Threadripper PRO 3955WX is limited to DDR4 on an eight-channel bus, providing 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. This nearly 3x bandwidth advantage for the EPYC 9015 is critical for memory-intensive server workloads.

Other key differences include the socket (SP5 for EPYC, WRX8 for Threadripper), TDP (125W vs 280W), and PCIe capabilities. The EPYC 9015 supports PCIe Gen 5 with 128 lanes, while the Threadripper PRO 3955WX supports PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes. The EPYC 9015 also has a significantly higher launch MSRP of $527 compared to the Threadripper’s $1149. Finally, the release dates are far apart: the EPYC 9015 launched on 2024-10-09, while the Threadripper PRO 3955WX launched on 2020-07-13.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head data is the PassMark data compression test, where the Threadripper PRO 3955WX scores 601738 against the EPYC 9015’s 353014, a 41.3% lead. This is the largest single delta in the entire comparison and highlights the raw parallel power of the 16-core part. Data encryption tells a similar story, with the Threadripper PRO 3955WX winning 38058 to 17790, a 53.3% advantage. These are the two most lopsided victories for the Threadripper, indicating workloads that scale nearly perfectly with core count.

The EPYC 9015, however, posts its own dominant wins. In the PassMark find prime numbers test, the EPYC 9015 scores 304 versus the Threadripper’s 198, a massive 53.5% margin. This is a well-known single-threaded integer test, and the EPYC 9015’s Zen 5 architecture clearly excels here. The single-thread test confirms this trend, with the EPYC 9015 scoring 3265 against 2679, a 21.9% lead. The physics test also goes to the EPYC 9015 (2893 vs 2460, a 17.6% win), further demonstrating its superior per-core efficiency.

In the broader multi-threaded benchmarks, the Threadripper PRO 3955WX maintains its lead but with varying margins. It wins the PassMark multithread test with 40155 points against 30689, a 23.6% advantage. Integer math sees a 30.1% lead (132456 vs 92524), and floating-point math shows a 21% lead (77979 vs 61615). Extended instructions go to the Threadripper PRO 3955WX by 28.2% (38952 vs 27970), and random string sorting by 37.6% (63758 vs 39772). These results show that while the Threadripper PRO 3955WX is consistently ahead in parallel tasks, the EPYC 9015’s per-core strength keeps it competitive in mixed workloads, preventing a total rout.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the choice between these two processors depends entirely on the user’s primary workload. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX is the clear winner for anyone whose daily tasks are heavily multi-threaded. The benchmark results show a consistent and substantial lead across data compression, encryption, integer math, floating-point math, and general multithreaded throughput. For video rendering, 3D simulation, or large-scale data processing that can utilize all 16 cores, the Threadripper PRO 3955WX is the superior engine, despite its older architecture.

The AMD EPYC 9015 is the pick for workloads that prioritize single-threaded performance, low latency, or memory bandwidth. Its 21.9% lead in single-thread performance and 53.5% lead in prime number finding make it ideal for applications that rely heavily on per-core speed, such as certain database operations, scientific simulations with limited parallelism, or real-time processing tasks. Furthermore, its DDR5 memory support and 576.0 GB/s bandwidth dwarf the Threadripper’s 204.8 GB/s, making it the better choice for memory-bound server workloads. The EPYC 9015 is a server processor first, and its design reflects that focus on efficiency and raw memory throughput, while the Threadripper PRO 3955WX is a productivity-focused desktop part optimized for core-count scaling.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD EPYC 9015 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How much faster is the EPYC 9015 in single-threaded performance?

A: In the PassMark single-thread benchmark, the EPYC 9015 scores 3265 compared to the Threadripper PRO 3955WX’s 2679, giving the EPYC 9015 a 21.9% advantage.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark data encryption test, where the Threadripper PRO 3955WX leads by 53.3%, scoring 38058 versus the EPYC 9015’s 17790.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD EPYC 9015 and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX support ECC memory.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The AMD EPYC 9015 supports DDR5 memory on a twelve-channel bus, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX supports DDR4 memory on an eight-channel bus.

Q: Are both CPUs unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The multiplierUnlocked field is false for both the AMD EPYC 9015 and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 9015 | AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores | 8 | 16 |

| Threads | 16 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 125 W | 280 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP5 | AMD Socket WRX8 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Zen 2 |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 7 nm |

| Transistors | 16,630 million | 7,600 million |

| Die Size | 2x 70.6 mm² | 2x 74 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Twelve-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 576.0 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 128 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 128 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Launch MSRP | $527 | $1149 |

| Release Date | 2024-10-09 | 2020-07-13 |