AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs Intel Core i5-7500 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a complete sweep for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX, which wins all eight recorded comparisons. The most dramatic margins appear in multi-core workloads, where the 2990WX's 32-core configuration dwarfs the Intel Core i5-7500's 4-core design. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD part scores 2758 against 517 for the Intel chip, a 433.5% advantage. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multi-core, with scores of 11495 versus 2155, a 433.4% delta. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 27370 against 5133, a 433.2% difference. These are not incremental gaps; they represent a fundamentally different class of throughput.

Single-core results are closer but still favor AMD. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the 2990WX scores 389 versus 72 for the i5-7500, a 440.3% delta. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1622 against 304, a 433.6% margin. Cinebench R23 single-core records 3864 versus 724, a 433.7% difference. The Geekbench single-core test narrows the gap considerably: 1303 for the 2990WX versus 1277 for the i5-7500, only a 2% delta. This is the closest contest in the entire comparison, and it suggests that in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive tasks, the two processors are nearly equivalent at the architectural level.

Multi-core Geekbench tells a different story. The 2990WX posts 11821, while the i5-7500 manages 3619, a 226.6% advantage for AMD. This margin, while still commanding, is smaller than the Cinebench multi-core deltas, indicating that Geekbench's workload mix does not scale as aggressively with core count. The benchmark results overall indicate that the 2990WX delivers between 2x and 4.4x the performance of the i5-7500 depending on the workload, with the largest wins in sustained multi-threaded rendering and the smallest in single-threaded integer tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing generations. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses the Zen+ architecture on the Colfax codename, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 32 cores and 64 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Intel Core i5-7500 uses the Kaby Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process at Intel, with 4 cores and 4 threads, a base clock of 3.40 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The AMD part's higher boost clock partially explains its single-core edge, but the core count disparity dominates multi-core results.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The 2990WX provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a 64 MB L3 cache. The i5-7500 provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The 2990WX's L3 cache is over ten times larger, which benefits workloads with large working sets. The transistor count for the 2990WX is listed at 19,200 million, while the i5-7500 has no transistor count recorded. The die size for the 2990WX is listed as 4x 213 mm², indicating a multi-die module design, while the i5-7500 has no die size recorded.

Memory architecture also separates the two. The 2990WX supports quad-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s, while the i5-7500 supports dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory according to the recorded data. PCIe lane counts differ as well: the 2990WX provides 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-7500 provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The i5-7500 includes integrated graphics (HD 630), whereas the 2990WX has no integrated graphics listed.

The 2990WX uses AMD Socket SP3r2, while the i5-7500 uses Intel Socket 1151. The 2990WX has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the i5-7500 does not. The AMD part is part of the 2000 series, while the i5-7500 has no series designation. The 2990WX has a TDP of 250 W, while the i5-7500 has a TDP of 65 W, a difference that reflects the AMD part's much larger core count and higher power envelope.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows that the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX wins every recorded test, but the magnitude of the win varies by workload type. In multi-threaded rendering workloads, as represented by Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, the 2990WX delivers deltas of 433.2% to 433.5% over the i5-7500. These are workloads that scale nearly linearly with core count, and the 32-core, 64-thread configuration of the 2990WX is designed to excel in them. Content creation, 3D rendering, video encoding, and scientific simulation are the obvious use cases where this processor dominates.

The i5-7500's best showing comes in single-threaded Geekbench, where it trails by only 2%. This suggests that in workloads dominated by a single thread with low cache pressure, the i5-7500 is nearly competitive. However, even in Cinebench single-core tests, the 2990WX holds a 433.6% to 440.3% advantage, which is surprising given the single-threaded nature of the test. The recorded data does not break down why this occurs, but the combined evidence indicates that the 2990WX's higher boost clock and larger cache provide a meaningful edge even in lightly threaded scenarios.

For users running everyday productivity tasks, web browsing, or office applications, the i5-7500's lower power draw and integrated graphics make it a more practical choice, though the benchmark data does not include power or graphics performance measurements. The 2990WX is positioned for high-end desktop workloads where raw throughput matters more than efficiency. The i5-7500, with its 4 cores and 4 threads, is a mainstream desktop part, while the 2990WX is a workstation-class processor. The data shows that the 2990WX is the clear winner in raw performance, but the i5-7500's smaller footprint and lower TDP make it suitable for compact builds where the 2990WX would be overkill.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every recorded specification. Core count: the 2990WX has 32 cores, the i5-7500 has 4. Thread count: 64 versus 4. Base clock: 3.00 GHz versus 3.40 GHz, a 0.40 GHz advantage for Intel. Boost clock: 4.20 GHz versus 3.80 GHz, a 0.40 GHz advantage for AMD. TDP: 250 W versus 65 W. Socket: SP3r2 versus Socket 1151. Architecture: Zen+ versus Kaby Lake. Process node: 12 nm versus 14 nm. Foundry: GlobalFoundries versus Intel. L1 cache: 96 KB per core versus 64 KB per core. L2 cache: 512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core. L3 cache: 64 MB versus 6 MB shared. Memory bus: quad-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 93.9 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. PCIe lanes: 60 versus 16. Integrated graphics: none versus HD 630. Multiplier: unlocked versus locked. Release date: August 2018 versus January 2017. The launch MSRP for the 2990WX is $1799, while the i5-7500 has no launch MSRP recorded. The 2990WX has a recorded transistor count of 19,200 million and a die size of 4x 213 mm², while the i5-7500 has neither recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX scores 27370, while the Intel Core i5-7500 scores 5133, giving AMD a 433.2% advantage.

Q: How close are the two in single-threaded Geekbench?

A: The 2990WX scores 1303, and the i5-7500 scores 1277, a 2% difference in favor of AMD.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-7500 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i5-7500 includes HD 630 integrated graphics, while the 2990WX has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The 2990WX supports quad-channel DDR4 with 93.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-7500 supports dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The 2990WX provides 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-7500 provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the 2990WX has an unlocked multiplier, while the i5-7500 does not.

Q: What is the core count difference?

A: The 2990WX has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the i5-7500 has 4 cores and 4 threads.