AMD Ryzen 5 5500 vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX and AMD Ryzen 5 5500 both belong to AMD’s 5000 series and share the Zen 3 architecture, yet they occupy opposite ends of the performance spectrum. The Threadripper PRO is a 64-core, 128-thread workstation processor built for the AMD Socket WRX8 platform, while the Ryzen 5 5500 is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop chip on AMD Socket AM4. Benchmark data shows the Threadripper PRO winning all eight head-to-head comparisons, with deltas ranging from 12.5% in Geekbench single-core to 395.7% in Cinebench R15 single-core. The following analysis breaks down the architectural divide, benchmark results, and use-case implications strictly from the provided data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has 6 cores and 12 threads. This represents a 58-core and 116-thread difference in favor of the Threadripper PRO.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Threadripper PRO scores 81,175 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core, compared to the Ryzen 5 5500’s 16,429 points. The Threadripper PRO leads by 394.1% in this test.

Q: What is the single-core performance gap between the two processors?

A: In Geekbench single-core, the Threadripper PRO scores 1,947 versus the Ryzen 5 5500’s 1,730, a 12.5% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Threadripper PRO scores 11,460 versus 2,319, a 394.2% lead.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Threadripper PRO has an average benchmark score of 19,928, while the Ryzen 5 5500 has an average of 19,593. The Threadripper PRO’s score is slightly higher, though both sit near the 74th and 73rd percentiles of all CPUs, respectively.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory. However, the Threadripper PRO uses an eight-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen 5 5500 uses a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Threadripper PRO has 256 MB of L3 cache, whereas the Ryzen 5 5500 has 16 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 cache per core.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the Zen 3 architecture and a 7 nm TSMC process node, but their physical designs diverge sharply. The Threadripper PRO, codenamed Chagall PRO, utilizes a multi-chiplet layout with 8x 81 mm² dies and a total of 33,200 million transistors. In contrast, the Ryzen 5 5500, codenamed Cezanne, is a monolithic 180 mm² die with 10,700 million transistors. This structural difference explains the massive core-count disparity: the Threadripper PRO packs 64 cores across its chiplets, while the Ryzen 5 5500 fits 6 cores on a single die.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. Both allocate 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, but the Threadripper PRO’s L3 cache totals 256 MB, versus 16 MB for the Ryzen 5 5500. Memory support further separates them: the Threadripper PRO offers eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory support, while the Ryzen 5 5500 provides dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s and no ECC. PCIe capability is another differentiator — the Threadripper PRO features Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen 5 5500 is limited to Gen 3.

Clock speeds and power envelopes also contrast. The Threadripper PRO has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, with a 280 W TDP. The Ryzen 5 5500 runs at 3.60 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, with a 65 W TDP. The Threadripper PRO’s multiplier is locked, while the Ryzen 5 5500’s is unlocked. Market positioning differs as well: the Threadripper PRO targets the Server/Workstation segment, while the Ryzen 5 5500 is a Desktop part. Both processors lack integrated graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

In every recorded benchmark, the Threadripper PRO outperforms the Ryzen 5 5500. The Cinebench suite shows the most dramatic gaps, reflecting the Threadripper PRO’s core-count dominance. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Threadripper PRO scores 8,182 versus 1,656, a 394.1% lead. The R15 single-core test yields 1,155 against 233, a 395.7% advantage. Cinebench R20 follows the same pattern: multi-core 34,093 versus 6,900 (394.1% lead) and single-core 4,813 versus 973 (394.7% lead). Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 81,175 versus 16,429 (394.1% lead), while single-core shows 11,460 versus 2,319 (394.2% lead).

Geekbench results offer a more nuanced picture. In Geekbench multi-core, the Threadripper PRO scores 16,598 against the Ryzen 5 5500’s 7,976, a 108.1% advantage — substantial but far smaller than the Cinebench deltas. Geekbench single-core narrows the gap further: the Threadripper PRO scores 1,947 versus 1,730, a 12.5% lead. This single-core result is notable because it shows that the Threadripper PRO’s higher boost clock (4.50 GHz versus 4.20 GHz) translates into a real, though modest, per-thread advantage.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the Threadripper PRO excels in heavily threaded workloads, where its core count multiplies performance, but even in single-threaded tests it maintains a lead. The Ryzen 5 5500’s 12.5% deficit in Geekbench single-core is its closest result, while its Cinebench single-core deficit exceeds 390%, which is anomalous given that single-core tests typically scale with clock speed rather than core count. This discrepancy may reflect differences in cache size or memory architecture, but the data does not specify the cause.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. Core count: 64 versus 6. Threads: 128 versus 12. Base clock: 2.70 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. Boost clock: 4.50 GHz versus 4.20 GHz. TDP: 280 W versus 65 W. Socket: AMD Socket WRX8 versus AMD Socket AM4. Codename: Chagall PRO versus Cezanne. Transistors: 33,200 million versus 10,700 million. Die size: 8x 81 mm² versus 180 mm². L3 cache: 256 MB versus 16 MB. Memory bus: eight-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 204.8 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s. ECC support: true versus false. PCIe: Gen 4 with 128 lanes versus Gen 3. Market segment: Server/Workstation versus Desktop. Multiplier unlocked: false versus true. Release date: 2022-03-07 versus 2022-04-03. Launch MSRP: $6499 versus $159. Part number: 100-000000444 versus 100-000000457.

The only shared specifications are the manufacturer (AMD), series (5000 series), architecture (Zen 3), process node (7 nm), foundry (TSMC), memory type (DDR4), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (512 KB per core), and the absence of integrated graphics. Both processors also show active production status.

Where Each One Wins

The Threadripper PRO wins all eight head-to-head benchmarks, making it the outright performance leader in every measured test. Its largest victories come in Cinebench multi-core tests, where it leads by 394.1% across R15, R20, and R23. These results indicate that the Threadripper PRO is designed for workloads that saturate many cores, such as rendering, scientific computation, or virtual machine hosting. Its 128 threads and 256 MB L3 cache provide the resources needed for parallel processing at scale.

The Ryzen 5 5500, despite losing every head-to-head comparison, has its own strengths in the data. Its lower TDP (65 W versus 280 W) and unlocked multiplier suggest it is suited for energy-conscious desktop builds or overclocking scenarios. Its smaller die (180 mm² versus 8x 81 mm²) and lower transistor count (10,700 million versus 33,200 million) indicate a simpler, more cost-effective design. In terms of benchmark scores, the Ryzen 5 5500’s closest relative performance comes in Geekbench single-core, where it trails by only 12.5%. The Ryzen 5 5500 also has additional benchmark data not available for the Threadripper PRO, including 3DMark tests and PassMark suites, though no direct comparison exists for those metrics.

The data does not show any test where the Ryzen 5 5500 wins. Its wins are contextual: it fits a different platform (AM4 versus WRX8), supports Gen 3 PCIe instead of Gen 4, and offers a much lower power draw. For workloads that rely on single-threaded performance, the Ryzen 5 5500 is closer to the Threadripper PRO, but still behind.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX is unequivocally the faster processor in every benchmark recorded. It leads by 394.1% to 395.7% across all Cinebench tests, and by 108.1% in Geekbench multi-core. Even in Geekbench single-core, where core count matters least, it holds a 12.5% advantage. Any user prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput should choose the Threadripper PRO, as its 64 cores and 128 threads deliver performance that the Ryzen 5 5500 cannot approach.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500, however, is the only one of the two that offers an unlocked multiplier, and its 65 W TDP is a fraction of the Threadripper PRO’s 280 W. Its average benchmark score of 19,593 is close to the Threadripper PRO’s 19,928, despite the massive core-count difference, because the Ryzen 5 5500 has additional benchmark results (3DMark, PassMark) that may skew its average upward. The percentile rankings reflect this: the Threadripper PRO sits at the 74th percentile, the Ryzen 5 5500 at the 73rd.

For a desktop user on Socket AM4 who values flexibility and low power consumption, the Ryzen 5 5500 is the practical choice. For a workstation user on Socket WRX8 who needs maximum core counts, memory bandwidth (204.8 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s), and ECC support, the Threadripper PRO is the only option that meets those requirements. The data shows no overlap in their intended roles: the Threadripper PRO is a server/workstation part, the Ryzen 5 5500 is a desktop part. Choose based on platform and workload, not on benchmark averages, since the averages conceal a 394% gap in multi-core rendering.