CPU Comparison

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X beats the Intel Xeon W-2170B in every single benchmark recorded, with a consistent 13.3% margin across all six head-to-head tests. The Threadripper 1950X wins 6 out of 6 comparisons, while the Xeon W-2170B records zero victories. This is not a close contest by any measure, the AMD part leads in both multi-core and single-core workloads, making it the superior choice for anyone whose priority is raw performance in the tested applications.

The Threadripper 1950X also carries a higher average benchmark score of 6231 compared to the Xeon’s 5985, and it sits at the 62nd percentile among all CPUs versus the Xeon’s 61st. While the percentile difference is narrow, the average score gap of 246 points reflects a meaningful performance advantage. For users choosing between these two, the AMD part is the clear pick on benchmark evidence alone.

However, the Xeon W-2170B is not without its own merits. It offers ECC memory support, which the Threadripper 1950X lacks, and it consumes less power (140W TDP versus 180W). The Xeon is also an unlocked-down part with a locked multiplier, whereas the Threadripper has an unlocked multiplier. Workstation users who require error-correcting memory for data integrity would favor the Xeon despite its performance deficit. Server/workstation segment positioning and ECC support are the Xeon’s only advantages; on every measured performance metric, the AMD part wins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X uses the Zen architecture, built on a 14nm process at GlobalFoundries, and is part of the 1000 series under the Ryzen Threadripper (Zen Whitehaven) generation. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Intel Xeon W-2170B uses the Skylake architecture (Skylake-W), also on a 14nm process but at Intel’s own foundry, with 14 cores and 28 threads, a base clock of 2.50 GHz, and a higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Threadripper 1950X provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a 32 MB L3 cache. The Xeon W-2170B offers 64 KB of L1 per core, a larger 1 MB of L2 per core, but only 19.25 MB of shared L3. The AMD part’s larger L3 cache likely contributes to its multi-threaded lead, while Intel’s higher boost clock does not translate into a single-core win in the benchmark data.

Die size and transistor counts tell a story of different manufacturing approaches. The Threadripper 1950X uses a dual-die design with two 213 mm² dies, totaling 9,600 million transistors. The Xeon W-2170B uses a single 484 mm² die, and the fact pack does not list a transistor count for it. Memory support is identical in bandwidth, both are quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s, but the Xeon adds ECC memory capability, which the Threadripper does not support. The Xeon also exposes PCIe Gen 3 with 48 lanes (CPU only), while the Threadripper’s PCIe configuration is not listed in the data.

Socket and platform requirements differ: the Threadripper 1950X fits AMD Socket SP3r2, while the Xeon W-2170B uses Intel Socket 2066. The Xeon targets the server/workstation market segment and is marked as end-of-life, whereas the Threadripper is classified as a desktop part and remains in active production. The Threadripper has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking; the Xeon’s multiplier is locked. The Threadripper’s launch MSRP was $999; no launch MSRP is listed for the Xeon.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on benchmark results, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X wins everywhere. It takes all six head-to-head tests with a uniform 13.3% delta across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both multi-core and single-core variants. The consistency of that 13.3% margin is remarkable, it suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-dependent. The Threadripper’s 16 cores and 32 threads give it a two-core, four-thread advantage over the Xeon’s 14 cores and 28 threads, which explains the multi-core wins. Its single-core wins, despite the Xeon’s higher 4.30 GHz boost clock, point to architectural efficiency in the Zen core design.

Where the Xeon W-2170B “wins” is outside the benchmark suite. It supports ECC memory, which the Threadripper does not, making it the only choice for applications that require error-correcting memory. It also draws 140W TDP versus the Threadripper’s 180W, so systems with tighter thermal or power envelopes would prefer the Intel part. The Xeon’s server/workstation market segment and its 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only) could be relevant for specific workstation configurations, though the Threadripper’s PCIe capabilities are not documented in the fact pack.

For a desktop user who wants maximum benchmark performance and an unlocked multiplier, the Threadripper 1950X is the definitive choice. For a workstation user who prioritizes data integrity via ECC and lower power consumption, the Xeon W-2170B has a role, but it sacrifices 13.3% performance across the board to get there.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X wins all multi-core tests, including Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 23,440 versus the Intel Xeon W-2170B’s 20,693, a 13.3% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon W-2170B win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Xeon W-2170B with 0 wins out of 6 tests, while the Threadripper 1950X wins all 6.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: The Threadripper 1950X leads in every single-core test by 13.3%. For example, in Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3,309 versus the Xeon’s 2,921.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2170B supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X does not list ECC support in its specifications.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Threadripper 1950X has an average benchmark score of 6,231, while the Xeon W-2170B averages 5,985, a difference of 246 points.

Q: Are both processors on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both are built on a 14nm process, but the Threadripper 1950X is fabricated by GlobalFoundries, while the Xeon W-2170B is fabricated by Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking feature of this comparison is the uniformity of the results. Across six different benchmarks spanning three Cinebench versions and both single-core and multi-core modes, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X beats the Intel Xeon W-2170B by exactly 13.3% every time. This is not a case where one chip wins some tests and loses others; the delta is identical in every single measurement.

In Cinebench R15, the Threadripper 1950X scores 2,362 in multi-core and 333 in single-core, against the Xeon W-2170B’s 2,085 and 294, respectively. The multi-core margin of 277 points and single-core margin of 39 points both translate to that same 13.3% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD part posts 9,844 multi-core and 1,389 single-core, while the Intel part manages 8,691 and 1,226. The absolute gaps grow with the workload, 1,153 points in multi-core and 163 in single-core, but the percentage remains fixed.

Cinebench R23 shows the largest absolute differences. The Threadripper 1950X reaches 23,440 in multi-core, a full 2,747 points ahead of the Xeon W-2170B’s 20,693. In single-core, the scores are 3,309 versus 2,921, a 388-point gap. Again, the delta is 13.3%. The consistency suggests that the performance advantage is tied to the core count difference (16 versus 14) and the architectural efficiency of Zen, rather than any workload-specific optimization.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the head-to-head results. The Threadripper 1950X averages 6,231 across its benchmark suite, while the Xeon W-2170B averages 5,985. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U at 6,247 (-0.3%), the AMD EPYC 7272 at 6,186 (+0.7%), the Intel Core i9-7940X at 6,147 (+1.4%), and the AMD EPYC 7501 at 6,128 (+1.7%). For the Intel Xeon W-2170B, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i9-9920X at 5,917 (+1.1%), the AMD EPYC 7451 at 5,915 (+1.2%), the AMD EPYC 7501 at 6,128 (-2.3%), and the Intel Core i9-7940X at 6,147 (-2.6%). Notably, the EPYC 7501 appears in both lists, sitting slightly above the Xeon but slightly below the Threadripper.

The percentile rankings place both processors close together, 62nd percentile for the Threadripper 1950X and 61st for the Xeon W-2170B, but the benchmark data tells a clearer story. The AMD part wins every test, and it wins by the same margin every time. For anyone comparing these two chips on performance alone, the conclusion is straightforward: the Threadripper 1950X is the faster processor, and the Xeon W-2170B offers ECC support and lower power draw as its compensating trade-offs.