AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX vs Intel Xeon 6731P Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX and Intel Xeon 6731P occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, yet both land in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. The Ryzen is a 16-core mobile part built for high-end laptops, while the Xeon is a 32-core server/workstation behemoth. Their benchmark results reveal a fascinating split: the Xeon dominates in raw multi-threaded throughput and specialized server workloads, but the Ryzen counters with a crushing single-thread advantage and better performance in several general-purpose tasks. The data shows two different philosophies, and the right choice depends entirely on the workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 6731P takes the majority of benchmark wins, securing 10 out of 15 head-to-head tests. Its victories cluster around heavy, parallel, and server-oriented tasks. The Xeon crushes the Ryzen in Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 44871 versus 37159, a 17.2% lead. It also wins in PassMark data compression (799474 vs 731998), data encryption (40087 vs 37330), extended instructions (65656 vs 57946), find prime numbers (541 vs 287), floating point math (157330 vs 136682), physics (7105 vs 2720), and random string sorting (88019 vs 77890). This is a clear pattern: the Xeon's 32 cores and 64 threads provide massive parallel throughput for compute-heavy server workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX wins 5 tests, and they are arguably the most decisive wins on the board. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4393 more than doubles the Xeon's 2107, a staggering 108.5% advantage. It also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (5905 vs 4522, a 30.6% lead), PassMark integer math (212598 vs 198761), and PassMark multi-thread (56171 vs 52790). The Ryzen's wins in multi-thread tests are particularly notable because it achieves them with only half the cores, indicating far superior per-core efficiency. For workloads that are latency-sensitive, lightly threaded, or rely on integer operations, the Ryzen is the clear winner.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX is built on TSMC's 4 nm process with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm² and 16,630 million transistors. It uses the Zen 5 architecture (codename Fire Range) and fits into the AMD Socket FL1. This is a mobile part with a 55 W TDP, designed for efficiency and high clock speeds in a constrained thermal envelope. Its boost clock reaches 5.40 GHz from a 2.50 GHz base, and it features an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

The Intel Xeon 6731P is a completely different animal. It uses Intel's 5 nm process (Granite Rapids) with a massive 598 mm² die. It fits into the Intel Socket 4710 and is a server/workstation part with a 245 W TDP. Its boost clock is considerably lower at 4.10 GHz from the same 2.50 GHz base, and the multiplier is locked. The Xeon has double the cores (32 vs 16) and threads (64 vs 32), which explains its multi-threaded dominance. However, the Ryzen's higher boost clock and newer architecture give it the single-thread edge.

Cache configurations reinforce the different design goals. The Ryzen has 80 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, with 64 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has larger per-core caches (112 KB L1, 2 MB L2) and a much larger 144 MB shared L3. Memory support also diverges: both use DDR5, but the Xeon features an eight-channel memory bus with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, dwarfing the Ryzen's dual-channel 89.6 GB/s. The Xeon also offers 136 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus the Ryzen's 28. The Ryzen includes a Radeon 610M iGPU; the Xeon has none.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic result is in PassMark single-thread performance. The Ryzen scores 4393, which is 108.5% higher than the Xeon's 2107. This is not a marginal difference; it means the Ryzen's per-core performance is more than double that of the Xeon. This explains why the Ryzen wins Cinebench R15 multi-core despite having half the cores — its individual cores are so much faster that they compensate for the deficit in core count.

The Xeon's counter-punch comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 6334 versus the Ryzen's 2174, a 65.7% advantage. This seems to contradict the PassMark result, but it highlights how different benchmark suites stress different aspects of the architecture. Similarly, the Xeon wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 17.2% (44871 vs 37159), but loses Cinebench R15 multi-core by 30.6% (4522 vs 5905). The older R15 test appears to favor the Ryzen's higher clock speeds, while R23 favors the Xeon's core count and cache.

In PassMark physics, the Xeon delivers a crushing 7105 score versus the Ryzen's 2720, a 61.7% lead. This test likely leverages the Xeon's massive thread count. The Xeon also wins find prime numbers by 47% (541 vs 287), a classic parallel integer workload. However, the Ryzen wins PassMark integer math by 7% (212598 vs 198761), suggesting that for certain integer operations, the Ryzen's per-core efficiency overcomes the Xeon's core advantage. The Ryzen's PassMark multi-thread win (56171 vs 52790, a 6.4% lead) is another sign that its architecture extracts more usable throughput from each core.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture. The Intel Xeon 6731P is the choice for server and workstation workloads that demand massive parallel processing, huge memory bandwidth, and extensive PCIe connectivity. Its wins in physics, prime number finding, floating-point math, and data compression make it ideal for scientific computing, database workloads, virtualization, and any task that scales perfectly across many cores. The 409.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and 136 PCIe lanes are critical advantages for memory-bound and I/O-heavy server applications.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX is the pick for mobile workstations and high-performance laptops where single-thread responsiveness and efficiency matter. Its 108.5% single-thread lead is decisive for everyday application responsiveness, gaming, and lightly-threaded professional software. Its wins in integer math and multi-thread tests show it is no slouch in parallel work either, delivering competitive throughput at a fraction of the power draw (55 W vs 245 W). The Ryzen's unlocked multiplier also appeals to enthusiasts who want to extract more performance.

Strictly from the data, anyone needing a server CPU should take the Xeon. Anyone needing a mobile CPU should take the Ryzen. The Xeon is a server/workstation part with a launch MSRP of $2700; the Ryzen has no listed launch MSRP. They are not direct competitors, but if forced to choose for a general-purpose system, the Ryzen's single-thread dominance and lower power envelope make it the more versatile daily driver, while the Xeon is the specialist for heavy parallel lifting.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has better single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX wins decisively. Its PassMark single-thread score is 4393, which is 108.5% higher than the Intel Xeon 6731P's 2107.

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: It depends on the test. The Intel Xeon 6731P wins Cinebench R23 multi-core (44871 vs 37159), but the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX wins PassMark multi-thread (56171 vs 52790) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (5905 vs 4522).

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Xeon 6731P has 32 cores and 64 threads, exactly double the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX's 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX has a 55 W TDP, while the Intel Xeon 6731P has a 245 W TDP. This is a major difference, reflecting the Xeon's server-oriented power draw.

Q: Which CPU has more memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Xeon 6731P has a massive advantage with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth over an eight-channel memory bus. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX has 89.6 GB/s over a dual-channel bus.

Q: Which CPU wins in integer math performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX wins PassMark integer math with a score of 212598, which is 7% higher than the Intel Xeon 6731P's 198761.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX | Intel Xeon 6731P |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 16 | 32 |

| Threads | 32 | 64 |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 245 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel Socket 4710 |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 5 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 2x 70.6 mm² | 598 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 112 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB (shared) | 144 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 409.6 GB/s |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 5, 28 Lanes | Gen 5, 136 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | N/A |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |