AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X vs Intel Pentium Gold G6405 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the core counts compare between these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Pentium Gold G6405 has 2 cores and 4 threads. This 8x difference in core count and thread count is the defining gap between the two parts.

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G6405 runs at a base clock of 4.10 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X has a base clock of 3.40 GHz. The Pentium also lacks a boost clock, whereas the Threadripper boosts up to 4.00 GHz.

Q: What do the Cinebench R23 results show?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Threadripper scores 23,440 versus the Pentium's 3,266, a delta of 617.7%. In single-core, the Threadripper scores 3,309 versus 461, a delta of 617.8%. The AMD part wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Threadripper supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The Pentium Gold uses dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. That is exactly double the bandwidth for the AMD part.

Q: Do these processors include integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G6405 includes UHD Graphics 610. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What are the launch MSRP values?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X had a launch MSRP of $999. The Intel Pentium Gold G6405 had a launch MSRP of $64.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split here is fundamental. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X is built on the Zen architecture, codename Whitehaven, using a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The Intel Pentium Gold G6405 uses the Comet Lake architecture, codename Comet Lake-R, also on a 14 nm process but from Intel's own fabs.

The Threadripper's silicon is a dual-die design, with a die size of 2x 213 mm² and 9,600 million transistors. The Pentium Gold has no listed transistor count or die size in the database, which reflects its much simpler, single-die construction. The Threadripper's L1 cache is 96 KB per core, L2 is 512 KB per core, and L3 is 32 MB. The Pentium's L1 is 64 KB per core, L2 is 256 KB per core, and L3 is 4 MB shared.

Memory architecture differs sharply. The Threadripper uses quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the Pentium uses dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s. Both support DDR4, and neither supports ECC memory. The Pentium Gold has a Gen 3 PCIe implementation with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Threadripper's PCIe details are not listed.

The Threadripper has an unlocked multiplier, while the Pentium's multiplier is locked. The Threadripper uses AMD Socket SP3r2, and the Pentium uses Intel Socket 1200. The Threadripper's TDP is 180 W, versus 58 W for the Pentium, reflecting the massive difference in core count and power delivery requirements.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark in the database. There are five comparisons, and the Threadripper takes all five. The wins are concentrated in Cinebench workloads, both multicore and single-core. The multicore deltas are staggering: 617.9% in Cinebench R15, 618% in R20, and 617.7% in R23. The single-core deltas are similarly lopsided, ranging from 617.8% to 619.7%.

The Threadripper's advantage is clearest in heavily threaded rendering and compute tasks. With 16 cores and 32 threads, it has 8 times the parallel resources of the Pentium Gold. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Threadripper's 23,440 score is over 7 times the Pentium's 3,266. This makes the AMD part suitable for content creation, 3D rendering, and any workload that scales with core count.

The Intel Pentium Gold G6405 has no benchmark wins against the Threadripper. However, its profile is not without merit in absolute terms. The Pentium's base clock of 4.10 GHz is higher than the Threadripper's 3.40 GHz base, and it includes integrated graphics, which the Threadripper lacks. The Pentium's 58 W TDP and dual-channel memory make it a low-power, simple desktop part. Its PassMark single-thread score of 2,253 shows that for lightly threaded tasks, it is not a slow chip, but against the Threadripper's single-core Cinebench results, it falls far behind.

The practical split is one of scale. The Threadripper is a high-end desktop processor for multi-threaded professional workloads. The Pentium Gold is an entry-level desktop processor for basic tasks, where its higher clock and integrated graphics reduce system complexity.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field. The Threadripper has 16 cores and 32 threads; the Pentium has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Threadripper's base clock is 3.40 GHz with a 4.00 GHz boost; the Pentium's base clock is 4.10 GHz with no boost clock listed.

TDP is 180 W for the Threadripper versus 58 W for the Pentium. The Threadripper uses AMD Socket SP3r2, the Pentium uses Intel Socket 1200. The Threadripper is based on Zen (Whitehaven), the Pentium on Comet Lake-R.

Cache configurations differ: the Threadripper has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 32 MB L3. The Pentium has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the bus width differs: quad-channel for the Threadripper, dual-channel for the Pentium. Memory bandwidth is 85.3 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s.

The Threadripper has no integrated graphics; the Pentium includes UHD Graphics 610. The Pentium has a Gen 3 PCIe implementation with 16 lanes (CPU only); the Threadripper's PCIe details are not listed.

The Threadripper has an unlocked multiplier and a part number of YD195XA8UGAAE. The Pentium has a locked multiplier and part number SRH3Z. The Threadripper's launch MSRP was $999, the Pentium's was $64.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, all won by the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X. The margins are remarkably consistent, all falling within a narrow band of 617.7% to 619.7%.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Threadripper scores 2,362 against the Pentium's 329, a delta of 617.9%. This is the smallest absolute gap in the set, but the percentage margin is representative. The R15 single-core test is not recorded in the head-to-head set, but the R20 single-core test is: the Threadripper scores 1,389 versus 193, a delta of 619.7%. This is the largest percentage win for the AMD part.

Cinebench R20 multicore shows the Threadripper at 9,844 versus 1,371, a delta of 618%. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 23,440 versus 3,266, a delta of 617.7%. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3,309 versus 461, a delta of 617.8%.

The consistency of the margins is notable. Across all five tests, the Threadripper's advantage hovers just above 6x. This suggests a uniform performance scaling advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The multicore tests reflect the 8x core-count advantage, though the actual delta is slightly lower, indicating that the Threadripper does not achieve perfect linear scaling. The single-core deltas are similar in percentage, which is more surprising given that the Pentium has a higher base clock. The Threadripper's single-core advantage likely comes from a more efficient execution pipeline and larger caches.

The Pentium Gold's PassMark results, while not part of the head-to-head set, provide context. Its PassMark single-thread score of 2,253 and multithread score of 3,790 show that it is a functional low-end part. But against the Threadripper, the gap is insurmountable. The Threadripper's average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 6,231, while the Pentium's is 6,605, but this is skewed by the different benchmark suites included for each part. The head-to-head Cinebench results are the authoritative comparison, and they show a decisive victory for the AMD processor in every measured workload.