AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a stark contrast between two very different AMD processors. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 is a mobile-focused, 8-core part designed for efficiency and integration, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is a desktop-class, 32-core powerhouse aimed at heavy multi-threaded workloads. Benchmark results show the Threadripper 9970X winning all 11 head-to-head tests, with the largest margins in multi-threaded tasks. The average benchmark score for the Threadripper 9970X is 279,778, placing it in the 99th percentile of all CPUs, while the Embedded P164 scores an average of 52,901, sitting in the 91st percentile.

For users processing large datasets, running virtual machines, or performing complex simulations, the Threadripper 9970X is the clear choice. Its 32 cores and 64 threads deliver massive parallel throughput, as shown by its passmark_multithread score of 107,399, which is 75.9% higher than the Embedded P164's 25,889. The Threadripper 9970X also has a launch MSRP of $2499.

Conversely, the Embedded P164 serves a completely different role. With a TDP of 28 watts, it is designed for embedded and mobile systems where power consumption and thermal output are critical constraints. Its integrated Radeon 880M graphics and support for LPDDR5X memory make it suitable for compact, always-on devices. Single-thread performance is closer, with the Threadripper 9970X scoring 4,530 versus 4,029 for the Embedded P164, an 11.1% difference, indicating that the smaller chip is not far behind in lightly threaded tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share a common foundation but diverge significantly in design. Both are built on TSMC's 4 nm process node and use the Zen 5 architecture, though the Embedded P164 is part of the Ryzen AI Embedded generation, which combines Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores under the codename Gorgon Point. The Threadripper 9970X uses pure Zen 5 cores in its Shimada Peak codename.

The most significant architectural difference lies in core counts. The Embedded P164 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Threadripper 9970X has 32 cores and 64 threads. This 4x core advantage directly explains the Threadripper's multi-threaded dominance. Cache hierarchies also differ sharply. The Embedded P164 features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Threadripper 9970X has a smaller per-core L1 at 64 KB, the same 1 MB per-core L2, but a massive 128 MB of L3 cache. The large L3 cache on the Threadripper helps feed its many cores with data, reducing memory latency in cache-resident workloads.

The physical packaging is also distinct. The Embedded P164 has a die size of 233 mm², while the Threadripper 9970X uses a multi-chiplet design with four dies, each measuring 70.6 mm², totaling roughly 282.4 mm² of silicon. The Threadripper also contains 33,260 million transistors, a figure not available for the Embedded P164. These architectural choices reflect their intended markets: the Embedded P164 consolidates resources into a single die for power efficiency, while the Threadripper scales out across multiple dies for maximum throughput.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent and overwhelming advantage for the Threadripper 9970X across all recorded tests. The largest relative win comes in passmark_find_prime_numbers, where the Threadripper scores 615 versus the Embedded P164's 71, an 88.5% difference. This test is highly sensitive to integer math and parallel execution, both of which favor the 32-core part.

In passmark_extended_instructions, the Threadripper scores 142,342 against 24,193 for the Embedded P164, an 83% gap. This indicates substantial advantages in AVX-class workloads that benefit from more cores and higher boost clocks. The Threadripper's boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus 5.00 GHz for the Embedded P164 contributes to this edge, along with the larger L3 cache.

Passmark_floating_point_math shows the Threadripper at 309,719 versus 55,799 for the Embedded P164, an 82% difference. Similarly, passmark_physics scores 6,835 versus 1,210, an 82.3% gap, reflecting the Threadripper's ability to handle complex physics simulations with many interacting objects.

Data compression and encryption tasks also favor the Threadripper heavily. Passmark_data_compression shows 1,757,998 versus 327,891, an 81.3% difference, while passmark_data_encryption shows 86,765 versus 16,055, an 81.5% gap. These workloads scale well with core count, so the results align with the 4x core advantage.

Integer math, a fundamental CPU task, shows the Threadripper at 465,378 versus 87,940, an 81.1% difference. Random string sorting, which tests memory access patterns and sorting algorithms, shows 191,445 versus 34,801, an 81.8% gap.

The closest contest is in single-threaded performance. Passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread both record 4,530 for the Threadripper and 4,029 for the Embedded P164, an 11.1% difference. This smaller gap indicates that per-core efficiency is similar, with the Threadripper's higher boost clock providing the edge. The Embedded P164 is competitive in lightly threaded applications, but it cannot match the Threadripper's raw parallel throughput.

Specification Differences

The following table highlights only the fields where the two processors differ:

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X |

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

| Cores | 8 | 32 |

| Threads | 16 | 64 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 350 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | AMD Socket sTR5 |

| Codename | Gorgon Point | Shimada Peak |

| Generation | Ryzen AI Embedded (Zen 5 / Zen 5c) | Ryzen Threadripper (Zen 5 (Shimada Peak)) |

| Die Size | 233 mm² | 4x 70.6 mm² |

| Transistors | Not available | 33,260 million |

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB | 128 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 80 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 880M | N/A |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2026-03-08 | 2025-07-29 |

| Launch MSRP | Not available | $2499 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | Unknown | 100-000001594 |

The Threadripper 9970X offers a quad-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, versus the dual-channel 89.6 GB/s of the Embedded P164. This memory bandwidth advantage is crucial for feeding 32 cores. The Threadripper also provides 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, enabling extensive expansion options, while the Embedded P164 has 16 Gen 4 lanes, sufficient for its mobile role. The Embedded P164 includes integrated Radeon 880M graphics, while the Threadripper has none, requiring a discrete GPU.

The Threadripper's unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, whereas the Embedded P164 is locked. The release dates also differ, with the Threadripper launching on 2025-07-29 and the Embedded P164 slated for 2026-03-08. Both support ECC memory, a key feature for reliability in professional workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X has 32 cores and 64 threads, four times the 8 cores and 16 threads of the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Threadripper 9970X has an average benchmark score of 279,778, placing it in the 99th percentile of all CPUs. The Embedded P164 has an average score of 52,901, placing it in the 91st percentile.

Q: What is the difference in single-threaded performance?

A: The Threadripper 9970X scores 4,530 in passmark_single_thread, while the Embedded P164 scores 4,029, an 11.1% difference. This is the smallest gap between the two processors.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Threadripper 9970X has 128 MB of L3 cache, while the Embedded P164 has 8 MB. The Threadripper also has a smaller per-core L1 cache at 64 KB versus 80 KB.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The Threadripper 9970X supports quad-channel DDR5 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The Embedded P164 supports dual-channel DDR5 and LPDDR5X with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X support ECC memory, according to the recorded data.