AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs Intel Core i5-7400 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX and Intel Core i5-7400 occupy opposite ends of the desktop computing spectrum, a fact made clear by the benchmark data. The Threadripper 2990WX is a 32-core, 64-thread enthusiast processor built on AMD's Zen+ architecture, while the Core i5-7400 is a 4-core, 4-thread mainstream chip based on Intel's Kaby Lake design. Their average benchmark scores reflect this divide: the Threadripper scores 7578 against the i5-7400's 7469, a difference of 1.5% in favor of the AMD part. Both processors sit at the 63rd percentile among all CPUs, but that surface-level similarity masks a fundamentally different set of performance characteristics. The data reveals a processor that dominates in multi-threaded workloads by enormous margins, yet the race in single-threaded tasks is far closer than the core counts suggest.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head results is the sheer scale of the Threadripper 2990WX's victory in multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD processor scores 27370 against the i5-7400's 4658, a delta of 487.6%. That means the Threadripper delivers nearly six times the multi-threaded rendering performance of the Intel chip. The pattern repeats across every Cinebench iteration: R15 multi-core shows a 488.1% advantage (2758 vs 469), R20 multi-core shows a 487.7% advantage (11495 vs 1956), and Geekbench multi-core shows a 331.4% advantage (11821 vs 2740). These are not incremental gains; they represent a different class of compute capability, driven by the Threadripper's 32 cores and 64 threads versus the i5-7400's 4 cores and 4 threads.

The single-core results tell a more nuanced story. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Threadripper scores 3864 against the i5-7400's 657, a 488.1% delta — proportionally similar to the multi-core gap. But Geekbench single-core reveals a much tighter contest: the Threadripper's 1303 score edges out the i5-7400's 1043 by just 24.9%. This discrepancy between Cinebench and Geekbench single-core results suggests that the AMD processor's higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz (versus 3.50 GHz on the Intel) helps in certain workloads, but the Intel chip's architecture remains competitive in others. Notably, the i5-7400 wins zero of the eight head-to-head benchmarks, yet its single-thread performance is not completely outclassed — the 24.9% Geekbench delta is the only contest where the Intel part comes within a meaningful distance.

The multi-core deltas are remarkably consistent across all Cinebench versions, hovering around 487-489%. This consistency indicates that the Threadripper's advantage scales linearly with core count and is not an artifact of any particular benchmark version. The Geekbench multi-core delta of 331.4% is lower than the Cinebench figures, suggesting that Geekbench's workload distribution does not fully exploit the Threadripper's thread count, but the AMD processor still more than quadruples the Intel chip's score in that test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has an average benchmark score of 7578, while the Intel Core i5-7400 scores 7469. The Threadripper leads by 1.5%, which places it slightly ahead of the i5-7400 in the nearest rivals comparison.

Q: How much faster is the Threadripper 2990WX in multi-core rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Threadripper scores 27370 versus 4658 for the i5-7400, a delta of 487.6%. The advantage is similar across Cinebench R15 (488.1%), R20 (487.7%), and Geekbench multi-core (331.4%).

Q: Is the i5-7400 competitive in single-core performance?

A: It depends on the benchmark. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-7400 scores 1043 against the Threadripper's 1303, a 24.9% gap. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the Threadripper leads by 488.1% (3864 vs 657), showing that the Intel chip's single-thread advantage is inconsistent across workloads.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 32 cores and 64 threads. The Intel Core i5-7400 has 4 cores and 4 threads. This 8x core advantage and 16x thread advantage drives the multi-core benchmark results.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Neither the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX nor the Intel Core i5-7400 supports ECC memory, according to the specification data.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-7400 includes integrated graphics, specifically the HD 630. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the clear winner for any workload that scales with core count and thread count. Rendering, video encoding, scientific simulation, and heavy multitasking all benefit from the 32-core, 64-thread configuration. The Cinebench multi-core results — with deltas between 487.6% and 488.1% — demonstrate that the Threadripper can complete multi-threaded render tasks in roughly one-sixth the time of the i5-7400. The Geekbench multi-core score of 11821 versus 2740 further confirms this advantage, though the lower delta of 331.4% suggests that some multi-threaded workloads do not scale as aggressively as Cinebench does. For users running thread-heavy professional applications, the Threadripper 2990WX is the only choice between these two.

The Intel Core i5-7400's strengths are more modest but still present. Its 65 W TDP makes it far more power-efficient than the Threadripper's 250 W TDP, and its compact Intel Socket 1151 platform is accessible in a wider range of motherboards. The integrated HD 630 graphics mean the i5-7400 can function in systems without a discrete GPU, which is not possible with the Threadripper. In single-threaded workloads, the Geekbench single-core result shows the i5-7400 is within 24.9% of the Threadripper — a respectable showing given the massive difference in core counts. The i5-7400 also has a lower base clock of 3.00 GHz, identical to the Threadripper, but its boost clock tops out at 3.50 GHz compared to 4.20 GHz on the AMD part.

For everyday desktop tasks, light productivity, and legacy applications that rely on single-threaded performance, the i5-7400 remains serviceable. Its PassMark results — 2074 in single-thread and 5475 in multithread — are not available for the Threadripper in the data, but the Cinebench and Geekbench scores suggest the Intel chip is not embarrassed in lightly threaded scenarios. However, the i5-7400 wins zero head-to-head benchmarks, so any claim of superiority must be framed around efficiency, platform cost, or integrated graphics rather than raw performance.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is core count: the Threadripper 2990WX packs 32 cores and 64 threads, while the i5-7400 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Both have a 3.00 GHz base clock, but the Threadripper boosts to 4.20 GHz versus 3.50 GHz on the Intel chip. The Threadripper's TDP is 250 W, compared to 65 W for the i5-7400. Memory support differs significantly: the Threadripper uses quad-channel DDR4 with 93.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-7400 uses dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe lanes also diverge, with the Threadripper offering 60 Gen 3 lanes versus 16 Gen 3 lanes on the i5-7400.

The cache hierarchies are built on different scales. The Threadripper has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The i5-7400 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Socket compatibility is entirely different: the Threadripper uses AMD Socket SP3r2, while the i5-7400 uses Intel Socket 1151. The Threadripper has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $1799, while the i5-7400 has a locked multiplier and no launch MSRP listed. The i5-7400 includes integrated HD 630 graphics, whereas the Threadripper has none. The Threadripper's part number is YD299XAZUIHAF, and the i5-7400's is SR32W.

Architecture Differences

The Threadripper 2990WX is built on AMD's Zen+ architecture, codenamed Colfax, using a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It uses a 4x 213 mm² die configuration totaling 19,200 million transistors. This is a second-generation Ryzen Threadripper part from the 2000 series, released in August 2018. The i5-7400 uses Intel's Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process at Intel, with no die size or transistor count listed. It is a seventh-generation Core i5 part released in January 2017. The Threadripper's production status is Active, as is the i5-7400's, but the architectural philosophies are decades apart in design intent: one is a multi-die monster designed for maximum throughput, the other a monolithic quad-core for mainstream efficiency.

The Zen+ architecture in the Threadripper benefits from AMD's improved 12 nm process, which enables higher clock speeds than the first-generation Zen parts. The 4x 213 mm² die layout means the processor aggregates four separate chiplets, each contributing 8 cores, to reach 32 total cores. The i5-7400's Kaby Lake architecture is a refined version of Skylake, optimized for power efficiency at 65 W and offering a modest boost clock of 3.50 GHz. Memory bandwidth is a major architectural differentiator: the Threadripper's quad-channel controller delivers 93.9 GB/s, more than double the i5-7400's 38.4 GB/s from its dual-channel setup. PCIe connectivity also reflects the server-class ambitions of the Threadripper, with 60 Gen 3 lanes versus 16 on the i5-7400. The Threadripper's 64 MB L3 cache is more than ten times the i5-7400's 6 MB shared cache, reducing memory latency in large data sets. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both are classified as desktop parts, but the Threadripper's feature set — unlocked multiplier, massive core count, quad-channel memory — positions it as a workstation-class CPU, while the i5-7400 remains a mainstream desktop component.