AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X, which claims 9 of the 11 matched tests. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus takes the remaining 2 wins, both in single-threaded workloads. The scale of the AMD advantage varies significantly by workload type, ranging from a modest 4.8% deficit in single-thread performance to a commanding 272% lead in integer math.

The largest margin comes in PassMark integer math, where the Threadripper 9970X scores 465,378 against the Ultra 5's 125,091. That is a 272% advantage, the widest gap recorded in the head-to-head set. Extended instructions follow closely, with the AMD part scoring 142,342 versus 44,565, a 219.4% lead. Data compression shows a 209.1% advantage, with scores of 1,757,998 and 568,721 respectively. These three tests highlight where the Threadripper's massive thread count and cache resources translate directly into throughput.

Random string sorting delivers a 177.1% win for AMD, at 191,445 against 69,090. The multithread score, often used as a general productivity indicator, shows 107,399 for the Threadripper against 51,596 for the Ultra 5, a 108.2% advantage. Data encryption also favors AMD heavily, 86,765 versus 42,144, for a 105.9% lead. Floating point math lands at 309,719 versus 162,692, a 90.4% edge, and the physics test shows 6,835 versus 3,494, which is 95.6% in favor of AMD. The prime numbers test is closer, with 615 versus 486, a 26.5% win for the Threadripper, the smallest of its nine victories.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins the PassMark single-thread test with 4,757 against AMD's 4,530. That is a 4.8% advantage, recorded identically in both the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread entries. This is the only category where Intel holds the lead, and the margin is narrow compared to the multi-threaded gaps. The data confirms that the Ultra 5's higher base clock of 4.20 GHz and boost clock of 5.30 GHz, combined with its 3 nm process, give it a slight edge in lightly threaded execution, but that advantage does not scale across parallel workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X uses the Zen 5 architecture, built on a TSMC 4 nm process, and carries the codename Shimada Peak. It belongs to the Ryzen Threadripper generation and the 9000 series. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 and the Ultra 5 generation, built on a TSMC 3 nm process. Both are produced by TSMC, but on different nodes.

The transistor counts differ substantially. The Threadripper 9970X integrates 33,260 million transistors across a multi-chip design with four 70.6 mm² dies. The Ultra 5 250K Plus uses a monolithic 243 mm² die containing 17,800 million transistors. This structural difference explains much of the performance split: AMD spreads the workload across four dies, while Intel concentrates its design on a single piece of silicon.

Core and thread counts are starkly different. The Threadripper 9970X offers 32 cores and 64 threads. The Ultra 5 250K Plus offers 18 cores and 18 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading entirely. Cache organization also diverges. AMD's L1 cache is 64 KB per core, L2 is 1 MB per core, and L3 totals 128 MB. Intel's L1 cache is 192 KB per core, L2 is 3 MB per core, and L3 is 30 MB shared. The Threadripper's 128 MB L3 is more than four times the Ultra 5's 30 MB, which directly benefits the large working sets common in compression, encryption, and scientific workloads.

Memory architecture reinforces the divide. The Threadripper 9970X uses quad-channel DDR5 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The Ultra 5 250K Plus uses dual-channel DDR5 with 115.2 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, but AMD's additional channels provide nearly double the theoretical bandwidth. PCIe connectivity also favors AMD, with Gen 5 support across 80 CPU lanes versus Intel's 20 lanes. The Threadripper 9970X has no integrated graphics, while the Ultra 5 250K Plus includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

Both processors have unlocked multipliers, and both are active production parts aimed at the desktop market. The Threadripper 9970X carries a launch MSRP of $2499, while the Ultra 5 250K Plus carries a launch MSRP of $199. The AMD part uses Socket sTR5, and the Intel part uses Socket 1851. TDP ratings differ sharply, with AMD at 350 W and Intel at 125 W, reflecting the Threadripper's much larger core count and higher power envelope.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X has 32 cores and 64 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, with no multithreading support.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus leads in PassMark single-thread tests, scoring 4,757 against AMD's 4,530. That is a 4.8% advantage for Intel.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X has 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 30 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X uses quad-channel DDR5 with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses dual-channel DDR5 with 115.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X has no integrated graphics.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X | Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus |

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

| Cores | 32 | 18 |

| Threads | 64 | 18 |

| Base Clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 350 W | 125 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket sTR5 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Transistors | 33,260 million | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | 4x 70.6 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 128 MB | 30 MB (shared) |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 204.8 GB/s | 115.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 80 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | N/A | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Launch MSRP | $2499 | $199 |

| Release Date | 2025-07-29 | 2026-03-10 |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X dominates every multithreaded workload in the recorded data. Its nine wins include data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, multithread performance, physics, and random string sorting. The margins in these tests range from 26.5% in the prime numbers test to 272% in integer math. The combination of 64 threads, 128 MB of L3 cache, and quad-channel memory bandwidth makes it the clear choice for workloads that scale across cores and demand high memory throughput. The 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth and 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes further support heavy compute environments with large datasets and multiple accelerators. Its 99th percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database reflects this positioning.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins only the PassMark single-thread tests, by a 4.8% margin. Its higher base clock of 4.20 GHz and boost clock of 5.30 GHz, combined with the 3 nm process, give it an edge in lightly threaded applications where a single core determines performance. The 18-core, 18-thread configuration and 30 MB of shared L3 cache still provide respectable throughput, as shown by its 93rd percentile ranking. The integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU adds display output capability that the Threadripper lacks, and the 125 W TDP indicates a far lower power envelope. For workloads that do not scale beyond a few threads, the Ultra 5's single-thread advantage and integrated graphics make it a self-contained desktop option, but the benchmark data shows no multithreaded test where it overtakes the Threadripper 9970X.