AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X vs Intel Pentium Gold G6400 Comparison

The Intel Pentium Gold G6400 and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X occupy opposite ends of the desktop processor spectrum. The data shows a decisive victory for the Threadripper in every shared benchmark, but the Pentium Gold holds its own in specific single-threaded and legacy workloads. This analysis breaks down the recorded measurements, architectural differences, and the practical implications for each processor based solely on the database information.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous in multi-core performance. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X scores 2523 against the Intel Pentium Gold G6400’s 305, a difference of 87.9 percent. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Threadripper posts 10516 versus the Pentium’s 1272, again an 87.9 percent gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the Threadripper at 25040 and the Pentium at 3030, maintaining that consistent 87.9 percent delta.

Single-core results follow the same direction but with a slightly different magnitude. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Threadripper scores 1484 while the Pentium Gold manages 179, an 87.9 percent difference. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3535 for the AMD part and 427 for the Intel part. The delta percentage remains identical at 87.9 percent across all five head-to-head tests, indicating a proportional scaling advantage rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

The Pentium Gold G6400 does not win any of the five shared benchmarks. The Threadripper 2950X wins all five. However, the Pentium’s absolute scores are not negligible in context. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 427, while far behind the Threadripper’s 3535, still represents functional performance for basic tasks. The data records zero wins for the Intel processor in this head-to-head set.

The average benchmark scores from the broader database tell a more nuanced story. The Pentium Gold G6400 has an average benchmark score of 6969, while the Threadripper 2950X sits at 6647. This places the Pentium in the 63rd percentile of all CPUs and the Threadripper in the 62nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Pentium include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260 at 6992 (0.3 percent lower), the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G at 6931 (0.5 percent lower), and the Intel Core i9-7980XE at 7018 (0.7 percent higher). For the Threadripper, the nearest neighbors are the Intel Core i5-13400E at 6638 (0.1 percent higher), the Intel Core i9-9940X at 6657 (0.1 percent lower), and the Intel Core i9-12900E at 6611 (0.5 percent higher).

These percentile and rival figures suggest that average scores across all tests do not tell the full story. The Pentium Gold’s higher average comes from its strong showing in specific PassMark tests, while the Threadripper’s lower average reflects its weaker performance in those same tests relative to its multi-core dominance.

Where Each One Wins

The Threadripper 2950X wins decisively in rendering, encoding, and any workload that scales with core count. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, compared to the Pentium’s 2 cores and 4 threads, explain the consistent 87.9 percent advantage in Cinebench multi-core tests. The recorded data shows the Threadripper achieving 2523 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, which is over eight times the Pentium’s 305. For video editing, 3D rendering, or software compilation, the Threadripper is the clear choice based on these numbers.

The Pentium Gold G6400 does not win any of the five head-to-head benchmarks, but its PassMark results reveal strengths in specific operations. In data compression, the Pentium scores 62806. In integer math, it posts 13941. In floating point math, it reaches 8788. These scores contribute to its 63rd percentile ranking, which exceeds the Threadripper’s 62nd percentile. The PassMark single-thread score for the Pentium is 2457, a figure that appears twice in the database under slightly different test names, indicating consistent single-thread performance.

However, the database does not include PassMark results for the Threadripper, so direct comparisons in those specific tests are not possible. What the data does show is that the Threadripper’s average benchmark score of 6647 is lower than the Pentium’s 6969, despite the Threadripper’s overwhelming Cinebench lead. This suggests that the Threadripper’s performance in non-Cinebench workloads is less dominant, possibly due to lower per-core clock speeds or other factors recorded in the architecture section.

For users prioritizing multi-threaded throughput, the Threadripper wins every shared benchmark. For users running lightweight single-threaded applications, the Pentium’s 2457 PassMark single-thread score, while not directly comparable to the Threadripper’s absent data, positions it as a capable entry-level option within its own benchmark context.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Pentium Gold G6400 uses the Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. It has 2 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and no boost clock recorded. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Colfax, on a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. It has 16 cores and 32 threads, a base clock of 3.50 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Pentium Gold has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Threadripper has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 cache. The Threadripper also records 9,600 million transistors across a dual-die design with each die measuring 213 mm², while the Pentium’s transistor count and die size are not listed.

Memory support shows another major split. The Pentium Gold supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Threadripper supports DDR4 on a quad-channel bus with 93.9 GB/s bandwidth, more than double the Pentium’s throughput. Neither processor supports ECC memory according to the database.

PCIe connectivity favors the Threadripper with 60 lanes of Gen 3, compared to the Pentium’s 16 lanes of Gen 3. The Pentium includes integrated UHD Graphics 610, while the Threadripper has no integrated graphics recorded. The Threadripper’s multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking, while the Pentium’s is locked. The Threadripper uses the AMD Socket SP3r2, and the Pentium uses Intel Socket 1200.

The Threadripper’s TDP is 180 watts against the Pentium’s 58 watts. The Threadripper also has a launch MSRP of $899, while the Pentium has no launch MSRP recorded. Release dates differ by nearly two years, with the Threadripper launching in August 2018 and the Pentium in April 2020.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Pentium Gold G6400 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Threadripper scores 25040 against the Pentium’s 3030, an 87.9 percent difference. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests.

Q: Does the Pentium Gold have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Pentium Gold G6400 includes UHD Graphics 610. The Threadripper 2950X has no integrated graphics recorded in the database.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Threadripper 2950X has 93.9 GB/s memory bandwidth on a quad-channel bus. The Pentium Gold G6400 has 42.7 GB/s on a dual-channel bus.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Pentium Gold G6400 has an average benchmark score of 6969, placing it in the 63rd percentile. The Threadripper 2950X has an average of 6647, placing it in the 62nd percentile.

Q: Is the Threadripper’s multiplier unlocked?

A: Yes, the Threadripper 2950X has an unlocked multiplier. The Pentium Gold G6400 does not have an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. For any multi-threaded task, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is the only choice. Its 16 cores and 32 threads deliver 25040 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, a score that dwarfs the Pentium’s 3030. The Threadripper wins all five head-to-head benchmarks with an identical 87.9 percent margin, showing consistent scaling across Cinebench versions.

For users with light workloads, the Pentium Gold G6400 offers higher average benchmark scores overall. Its 6969 average and 63rd percentile ranking exceed the Threadripper’s 6647 and 62nd percentile. The Pentium’s PassMark data compression score of 62806 and integer math score of 13941 indicate strong performance in specific tasks that do not rely on many cores.

The Threadripper requires a dedicated graphics card since it lacks integrated graphics, and it consumes 180 watts versus the Pentium’s 58 watts. The Threadripper’s quad-channel memory and 60 PCIe lanes support heavy expansion, while the Pentium’s dual-channel memory and 16 PCIe lanes serve basic systems.

The Threadripper targets professional rendering, simulation, and content creation, where its 32 threads and 93.9 GB/s memory bandwidth shine. The Pentium targets basic office work, light browsing, and legacy software, where its 4.00 GHz base clock and integrated graphics reduce system complexity. The database shows no scenario where the Pentium beats the Threadripper in shared benchmarks, but the Pentium’s overall average score indicates that not all workloads favor the higher-core-count part.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Pentium Gold G6400 | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X |

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

| Cores | 2 | 16 |

| Threads | 4 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None recorded | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 58 W | 180 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket SP3r2 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Zen+ (Colfax) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 12 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 9,600 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 2x 213 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB per core | 96 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB shared | 32 MB |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 93.9 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | No |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 lanes | Gen 3, 60 lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 610 | None |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $899 |

| Release Date | April 2020 | August 2018 |