AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX vs Intel Core i5-13400E Comparison

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX wins every single head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core i5-13400E, but the margin is remarkably consistent and surprisingly narrow given the vast difference in core counts. The Threadripper’s 24 cores and 48 threads dominate multi-threaded workloads, yet the i5-13400E’s higher boost clock and modern architecture keep it within striking distance in every test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX sweeps all six shared benchmarks, with a uniform advantage of roughly 14.6% across both multi-core and single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Threadripper scores 26305 against the i5-13400E’s 22950, a 14.6% lead that reflects the raw throughput of its 24 physical cores. The single-core result tells a similar story: 3713 versus 3240, again a 14.6% gap, which is surprising because the Intel part boosts to 4.60 GHz compared to the AMD’s 4.20 GHz.

Older Cinebench versions follow the exact same pattern. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Threadripper posts 11048 versus 9639, and in R15 multi-core it scores 2651 against 2313. Single-core results in R20 and R15 are 1559 versus 1360 and 374 versus 326, respectively. Every deltaPct in the head-to-head table reads 14.6% or 14.7%, meaning the relative performance gap is virtually identical regardless of workload type.

This consistency is the headline finding. The Threadripper 2970WX does not merely win multi-threaded tests by a wide margin and lose single-threaded tests; it wins everything by the same proportion. The i5-13400E’s architectural efficiency — a 10 nm Raptor Lake design with a 4.60 GHz boost — nearly compensates for having 14 fewer cores and 32 fewer threads, but not quite. The data shows a clear, if modest, victory for AMD across the board.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX has 24 cores and 48 threads. The Intel Core i5-13400E has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-13400E win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX winning all 6 tests, with the Intel part recording 0 wins.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Threadripper 2970WX has an average benchmark score of 6760, while the i5-13400E scores 6638. The Threadripper’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-12700E, scores 6776, a delta of -0.2% versus the AMD chip.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Threadripper 2970WX supports only DDR4 memory, while the i5-13400E supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-13400E includes integrated graphics, specifically UHD Graphics 730. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: How do their percentiles compare against all CPUs?

A: Both processors sit at the 62nd percentile against all CPUs, indicating they are statistically equivalent in overall standing despite the Threadripper’s benchmark wins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX uses the Zen+ architecture on a 12 nm process node, built by GlobalFoundries. It is codenamed Colfax and belongs to the 2000 series. The chip is constructed from four separate dies, each measuring 213 mm², for a total die size of 4x 213 mm², and it packs 19,200 million transistors. The Intel Core i5-13400E, by contrast, uses the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, built by Intel. Its single die measures 215 mm², and no transistor count is listed.

Cache configurations diverge sharply. The Threadripper allocates 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a massive 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-13400E provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but only 20 MB of shared L3. The Threadripper’s larger L3 pool is a direct consequence of its multi-die design, which aggregates cache across four chiplets.

Memory controllers also differ. The Threadripper 2970WX supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s. The i5-13400E supports dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5, but no memory bandwidth figure is provided in the data. PCIe capabilities are likewise asymmetric: the AMD part offers Gen 3 with 60 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel chip includes ECC memory support, whereas the AMD chip does not list ECC as enabled.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet reveals several key divergences beyond core counts. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, with a thermal design power (TDP) of 250 watts. The Intel Core i5-13400E runs at a lower 2.40 GHz base clock but a higher 4.60 GHz boost clock, with a much lower 65-watt TDP. This means the Intel part draws 185 fewer watts at nominal load, a substantial efficiency advantage.

Socket and platform requirements differ completely. The Threadripper uses AMD Socket SP3r2, while the i5-13400E uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, whereas the Intel part is locked. Release dates are also separated by over four years: the Threadripper launched on 2018-10-01, and the i5-13400E on 2023-01-03. The Threadripper has a launch MSRP of $1299, while no launch MSRP is listed for the Intel part.

The Intel i5-13400E includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), which the Threadripper lacks. Memory support diverges, with the AMD part limited to DDR4 and the Intel part accepting both DDR4 and DDR5. PCIe generations also differ, with the Threadripper on Gen 3 (60 lanes) versus the i5-13400E on Gen 5 (16 lanes). Finally, the Threadripper has a part number of YD297XAZUHCAF, while the Intel chip is SRMG5.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, making it the clear choice for raw compute performance. Its 14.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (26305 versus 22950) and identical 14.6% edge in single-core (3713 versus 3240) mean it delivers higher throughput in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads. For users who prioritize maximum performance in rendering, simulation, or any CPU-bound task, the data consistently favors the Threadripper.

The Intel Core i5-13400E does not win a single benchmark, but it wins on platform attributes. Its 65-watt TDP versus the Threadripper’s 250 watts makes it dramatically more power-efficient. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, includes integrated graphics, and uses the modern Intel Socket 1700 platform with PCIe Gen 5. The i5-13400E also supports ECC memory, which the Threadripper does not. For users who need a lower-power, feature-rich platform with memory flexibility and integrated display output, the Intel part offers advantages that benchmarks do not capture.

The Threadripper’s 24 cores and 48 threads provide a 2.4x core advantage and a 3x thread advantage over the i5-13400E’s 10 cores and 16 threads. Yet the performance delta is only 14.6%, indicating that the Intel architecture extracts far more work per core. The i5-13400E’s higher boost clock (4.60 GHz versus 4.20 GHz) and newer 10 nm process partially offset the core deficit, but the sheer parallelism of the Threadripper still wins out in every measured test.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is the faster processor in every benchmark category, but the Intel Core i5-13400E is the more practical platform choice for most desktop users. The Threadripper’s 14.6% lead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 — in both single-core and multi-core tests — is real and consistent, but it comes at the cost of a 250-watt TDP, a 2018-era platform, and a $1299 launch MSRP.

The i5-13400E, despite losing all six head-to-head tests, matches the Threadripper’s 62nd percentile ranking among all CPUs and posts a nearly identical average benchmark score (6638 versus 6760). It offers DDR4 and DDR5 support, integrated graphics, ECC memory, PCIe Gen 5, and a 65-watt TDP. Its nearest rival in the data is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X, which scores 6647 with a delta of -0.1%, meaning the i5-13400E sits in the same performance class as an older 16-core Threadripper.

For users who need maximum multi-threaded throughput and can accommodate the power and platform requirements, the Threadripper 2970WX is the winner across the board. For users who value efficiency, modern memory options, integrated graphics, and a lower-power footprint, the i5-13400E is the more balanced choice — even though it trails in every benchmark. The benchmark results are clear, but the best pick depends on whether raw compute or platform versatility matters more.