AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data in this comparison is one-sided, but not in the way the raw scores might suggest. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a complete set of recorded PassMark results across nine workloads, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X has no benchmark entries in the database at all. That absence shapes the entire analysis.

The Ryzen 5 3501U wins every measurable category by default, since it is the only processor with recorded scores. Its strongest absolute results appear in data compression, where it scores 87,380, and integer math, where it reaches 26,321. Floating point math follows at 12,707, with random string sorting at 10,414. These are the workloads where the mobile chip shows its most pronounced strengths.

The single-thread score of 2,136 and the multithread score of 7,071 give a mixed picture of the 3501U's capabilities. The multithread figure is roughly 3.3 times the single-thread figure, which aligns with a 4-core, 4-thread design where each core contributes one thread. The data encryption score of 5,580 and extended instructions score of 3,274 round out the productivity-focused results. Find prime numbers, at just 21, is the weakest recorded score, which indicates the processor struggles with integer-heavy prime enumeration despite solid integer math performance elsewhere.

The physics score of 483 is another low point, suggesting that simulated physics workloads do not favor this mobile part. The average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 14,320, and the processor sits in the 69th percentile among all CPUs in the database. That percentile places it above the median, but the nearest rivals show just how tightly clustered this performance tier is.

The Threadripper 9960X, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of 0 and sits in the 50th percentile, which is the default position for a CPU with no recorded measurements. It cannot be said to win any workload in the current data, because no workload has been measured for it.

The Verdict

The data supports only one direct conclusion: the Ryzen 5 3501U is the only processor in this pair with measurable performance, so any workload comparison defaults to it. However, the verdict is not a simple endorsement of the mobile chip. The two processors occupy entirely different market segments, and the database records that distinction clearly.

The 3501U is a 15-watt mobile processor from the 3000 series, built on a 12 nm process with 4 cores and 4 threads. It belongs in thin-and-light laptops, where its modest power envelope and integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics make it a self-contained compute package. The Threadripper 9960X is a 350-watt desktop processor from the 9000 series with 24 cores and 48 threads, built on a 4 nm process. It targets high-end desktop workstations, where its power draw and socket requirements are acceptable trade-offs for extreme multi-threaded throughput.

The recorded data shows the 3501U at the 69th percentile among all CPUs, with an average score of 14,320. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 at 14,336, which is 0.1% faster, and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C at 14,277, which is 0.3% slower. The Intel Core 7 160UL trails by 0.6% at 14,232, and the Intel Core i5-10400F trails by 1% at 14,185. This is a razor-thin performance band, with the entire group spread over roughly one percentage point.

The Threadripper has no comparable scores, so it cannot be positioned against these rivals. Its launch MSRP is $1,499, and it carries an unlocked multiplier, which the 3501U does not. For workloads that fit within a 15-watt mobile platform, the 3501U is the only option with evidence in the database. For workloads that demand 24 cores and 48 threads, the Threadripper is the only option that exists in this comparison at all, but its performance remains unmeasured.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark array in the database is empty, and the win counters show 0 for both processors. This means there are no direct paired measurements comparing the two chips. The analysis must therefore rely on the standalone benchmarks recorded for the Ryzen 5 3501U.

The largest single score for the 3501U is in data compression at 87,380. This is more than 12 times its multithread score of 7,071, which shows that the compression test rewards the processor's specific instruction handling rather than raw thread count. Data encryption follows at 5,580, which is roughly 79% of the multithread score, indicating that encryption work scales differently from general multithreaded computation.

Integer math at 26,321 is the second-highest score, and it exceeds floating point math at 12,707 by a factor of about 2.1. This split suggests the 3501U is comparatively stronger at integer workloads than floating point ones. Random string sorting at 10,414 falls between the two math categories, while extended instructions at 3,274 and single-thread at 2,136 occupy the lower middle range.

The two lowest scores are physics at 483 and find prime numbers at 21. The physics result is only about 3.4% of the multithread score, which indicates a severe penalty in that workload. The prime number score is effectively negligible, at less than 0.1% of the integer math score. These two outliers define the processor's weaknesses more sharply than its strengths.

The average benchmark score of 14,320 places the 3501U at the 69th percentile. The nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546, scores 14,336, a delta of -0.1%, meaning the V2546 is marginally ahead. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C is 0.3% behind the 3501U, the Intel Core 7 160UL is 0.6% behind, and the Intel Core i5-10400F is 1% behind. These deltas are small enough that run-to-run variation could reorder the group, but the database records the 3501U as the second-fastest of the four.

The Threadripper 9960X has an average score of 0 and no nearest rivals, so no head-to-head walkthrough is possible for it. The recorded data confirms that its 24 cores and 48 threads have not been exercised by any benchmark in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an average benchmark score of 14,320 across its recorded tests. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X has an average benchmark score of 0, because no benchmarks are recorded for it.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 3501U compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The 3501U sits at the 69th percentile among all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 is 0.1% faster with a score of 14,336, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C is 0.3% slower at 14,277, the Intel Core 7 160UL is 0.6% slower at 14,232, and the Intel Core i5-10400F is 1% slower at 14,185.

Q: What are the core and thread counts of each processor?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Ryzen Threadripper 9960X has 24 cores and 48 threads.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Ryzen Threadripper 9960X supports DDR5 memory on a quad-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Ryzen Threadripper 9960X has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A.

Q: Which workloads show the weakest results for the Ryzen 5 3501U?

A: The lowest recorded scores for the 3501U are find prime numbers at 21 and physics at 483. These are far below its multithread score of 7,071 and integer math score of 26,321.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and process nodes. The Ryzen 5 3501U is part of the 3000 series, uses the Picasso codename, and is built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. Its generation is listed as Ryzen 5 with Zen+ (Picasso) architecture. The Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is part of the 9000 series, uses the Shimada Peak codename, and is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. Its generation is listed as Ryzen Threadripper with Zen 5 (Shimada Peak) architecture.

The transistor counts differ substantially. The 3501U contains 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Threadripper 9960X contains 33,260 million transistors spread across 4x 70.6 mm² dies. That is roughly 6.7 times the transistor count of the mobile chip, distributed across a larger total silicon area.

Cache hierarchies are also different. The 3501U uses 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Threadripper 9960X uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 128 MB of L3. The Threadripper's L3 cache is 32 times larger than the 3501U's shared L3, which reflects its desktop workstation positioning and the Zen 5 architecture's larger cache design.

Memory support diverges completely. The 3501U uses DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth and no ECC support. The Threadripper 9960X uses DDR5 on a quad-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth and supports ECC memory. The Threadripper's memory bandwidth is about 5.3 times higher.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation and lane count. The 3501U uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Threadripper 9960X uses Gen 5 with 80 lanes available from the CPU. The Threadripper also has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the 3501U does not. The Threadripper uses AMD Socket sTR5, while the 3501U uses AMD Socket FP5.

The power envelopes are at opposite ends of the spectrum. The 3501U has a TDP of 15 watts and targets the mobile market. The Threadripper 9960X has a TDP of 350 watts and targets the desktop market. Clock speeds reflect this: the 3501U runs at 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost, while the Threadripper runs at 4.20 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost. The Threadripper's boost clock is 1.6 GHz higher despite drawing over 23 times the power.

The Threadripper 9960X was released on 2025-07-29, while the 3501U has a release date of 2026-05-31. The Threadripper's launch MSRP is $1,499. The 3501U has no recorded launch MSRP. Both processors are listed as Active in production status, and both are manufactured by AMD. The 3501U's part number is YM3501C4T4MFG, while the Threadripper's is 100-000001595.