AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 vs Intel Xeon w7-3555 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data splits these two processors into clearly different roles. The Intel Xeon w7-3555 wins 9 of the 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 takes the remaining 2. The Intel part posts a 97th percentile score against all CPUs, compared to the AMD’s 96th percentile, a narrow overall gap. The average benchmark score for the Xeon w7-3555 is 106192, roughly 10.5% higher than the Ryzen 9 PRO 9945’s 96083. However, the AMD part is not simply a lesser chip; it dominates in single-thread workloads, where it scores 4619 against Intel’s 3549, a 23.2% advantage. For users running heavily threaded workstation tasks, the Intel Xeon w7-3555 is the clear pick based on its multi-core leads. For single-threaded responsiveness and lower platform overhead, the Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 wins decisively. The data suggests no universal winner; the choice depends entirely on whether the workload scales across many cores or relies on per-core speed.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon w7-3555 uses the Sapphire Rapids architecture on a 10 nm process, fabricated by Intel. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm process, fabricated by TSMC. The Intel die is described as 4x 477 mm², while the AMD chip uses 2x 70.6 mm², and the AMD part integrates 16,630 million transistors. Core counts differ sharply: the Xeon offers 28 cores and 56 threads, while the Ryzen 9 PRO offers 12 cores and 24 threads. Cache layouts also diverge. Both share 80 KB of L1 per core, but the Intel part has 2 MB of L2 per core versus 1 MB on the AMD, and the Intel L3 cache totals 75 MB versus 64 MB on the AMD.

Memory architecture is another major separator. The Intel Xeon w7-3555 supports eight-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 307.2 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 uses dual-channel DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs as well: Intel provides Gen 5 with 112 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only). The AMD part includes integrated Radeon Graphics, whereas the Intel part lists integrated graphics as N/A. Socket compatibility is entirely different: Intel uses Socket 4677, AMD uses AM5. The AMD chip has a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.40 GHz, compared to the Intel’s 2.70 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. Power envelopes are not directly comparable in the recorded data beyond the TDP field, which lists 325 for Intel and 65 for AMD.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 leads in single-thread performance. Its Passmark single-thread score is 4619, which is 23.2% higher than the Intel Xeon w7-3555’s 3549.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Xeon w7-3555 wins the Passmark multithread test with a score of 67754, which is 39.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945’s 48664.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in the Passmark physics test. The Intel Xeon w7-3555 scores 5802, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 scores 2902, giving Intel a 99.9% advantage.

Q: How do the memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The Intel Xeon w7-3555 supports eight-channel DDR5 memory with 307.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 supports dual-channel DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon w7-3555 and the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 list ECC memory support as true.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Xeon w7-3555 provides Gen 5 with 112 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only).

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon w7-3555 | AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 |

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

| Cores | 28 | 12 |

| Threads | 56 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 325 | 65 |

| Socket | Intel Socket 4677 | AMD Socket AM5 |

| Codename | Sapphire Rapids | Granite Ridge |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 4x 477 mm² | 2x 70.6 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 75 MB | 64 MB |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 307.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 112 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | N/A | Radeon Graphics |

| Release Date | 2024-08-23 | 2025-09-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $2339 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SRN75 | 100-000001407 |

The data shows that the Intel part has more than double the cores and threads of the AMD part, along with a wider memory bus and significantly more PCIe lanes. The AMD part counters with a higher base and boost clock, a smaller process node, and integrated graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are lopsided in favor of the Intel Xeon w7-3555 on nearly every multi-threaded metric. The largest win for Intel comes in the Passmark physics test, where its score of 5802 is 99.9% higher than the AMD’s 2902. This is followed by floating point math, where Intel scores 190917 versus 107340, a 77.9% lead. Extended instructions show a 74.9% advantage for Intel (77619 vs 44374). Data compression favors Intel at 966970 versus 579972, a 66.7% margin. Data encryption gives Intel 48007 against AMD’s 30450, a 57.7% win. Random string sorting goes to Intel by 53.9% (96112 vs 62458). Integer math shows Intel at 244642 against 171175, a 42.9% lead. The multithread test result is 67754 for Intel versus 48664 for AMD, a 39.2% margin. Even the find prime numbers test, which is often sensitive to single-thread speed, goes to Intel with 398 versus 342, a 16.4% win.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 wins only two tests, both measuring single-thread performance. The Passmark single-thread and singlethread tests both record 4619 for AMD versus 3549 for Intel, a 23.2% advantage for AMD. These are the only areas where the AMD part demonstrates a clear performance edge. The overall benchmark average still favors Intel, but the single-thread gap is substantial enough to matter for certain workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon w7-3555 wins in every multi-threaded category measured. It is the stronger choice for workloads that scale with core count and memory bandwidth, such as data compression, encryption, floating point math, integer math, physics calculations, and extended instruction sets. Its 28 cores and 56 threads, combined with an eight-channel memory bus delivering 307.2 GB/s, give it a massive throughput advantage. The data shows leads ranging from 16.4% to 99.9% across these tests. Any application that can spread its work across many cores will see a significant performance benefit from the Intel part.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 wins in single-thread performance, with a 23.2% higher score in both Passmark single-thread tests. Its higher base clock (3.40 GHz versus 2.70 GHz) and boost clock (5.40 GHz versus 4.80 GHz), along with the smaller 4 nm TSMC process, likely contribute to this result. For software that is lightly threaded or latency-sensitive, such as user interface tasks, scripting, or single-threaded compilation, the AMD part will feel faster per core. The AMD chip also offers integrated Radeon Graphics, which the Intel part lacks, so systems built around the Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 do not require a separate GPU for display output. The AMD part’s lower TDP (65 versus 325) also indicates a much lower power draw, which may matter for compact or energy-conscious workstation builds, though the recorded data does not include direct power consumption measurements.