AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X and Intel Core 5 315 occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum. The Threadripper is a 64-core, 128-thread desktop processor built on the Zen 5 architecture, while the Core 5 315 is a 6-core, 6-thread mobile chip with integrated graphics. The benchmark data shows a total victory for the AMD part, which wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The average benchmark score for the Threadripper 9980X is 321,753, compared to 18,188 for the Intel Core 5 315, a gap that places the AMD processor in the 99th percentile of all CPUs and the Intel chip in the 72nd.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows no benchmark category where the Intel Core 5 315 outperforms the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. The closest contest is in single-threaded performance, where the AMD chip leads by only 12.8 percent in the PassMark single-thread test. This narrow margin indicates that the Threadripper 9980X is not merely a multi-core monster; its 5.40 GHz boost clock allows it to stay competitive in lightly threaded workloads.

The Threadripper 9980X dominates in every multi-threaded and throughput-oriented test. Its largest advantage appears in integer math, where it scores 872,071 against 31,690 for the Core 5 315, a delta of 2,651.9 percent. Data compression results show a 1,935.4 percent lead, and floating-point math shows a 1,217.1 percent lead. The Intel Core 5 315, by contrast, is a low-power mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, designed for efficiency rather than raw compute throughput. Its wins would only appear in power-constrained or battery-operated scenarios, which are not captured in the recorded benchmark suite.

The Cinebench results reinforce the split. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Threadripper scores 130,529 against 12,981 for the Intel part. Single-core R23 shows 18,427 versus 1,832. The Intel chip's closest relative performance is in the PassMark single-thread test, where its 4,021 score trails the AMD's 4,537 by a modest margin. For workloads that rely on a single thread, the Core 5 315 is within striking distance; for anything that scales across cores, the Threadripper 9980X is in a different class.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has 64 cores and 128 threads. The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

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

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Threadripper 9980X scores 130,529 versus 12,981 for the Core 5 315, a 905.5 percent difference. The PassMark multi-thread test shows 141,641 versus 15,272, an 827.5 percent delta.

Q: How does single-threaded performance compare?

A: The AMD chip leads in all single-thread tests. The smallest margin is in PassMark single-thread, where the Threadripper scores 4,537 against 4,021 for the Intel part, a 12.8 percent advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 18,427 versus 1,832, a 905.8 percent delta.

Q: Do these processors use the same memory type?

A: Both support DDR5 memory. The AMD Threadripper 9980X uses quad-channel memory with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Core 5 315 uses single-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel chip also supports LPDDR5X.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has an average benchmark score of 321,753, placing it in the 99th percentile. The Intel Core 5 315 has an average score of 18,188 and sits in the 72nd percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single delta in the head-to-head results is in PassMark integer math, where the Threadripper 9980X scores 872,071 against 31,690 for the Core 5 315, a 2,651.9 percent advantage. This result reflects the massive core-count difference: 64 Zen 5 cores versus 6 Wildcat Lake cores. Data compression shows a 1,935.4 percent lead, with scores of 2,974,534 and 146,143 respectively. Extended instructions follow at 1,642.1 percent, and random string sorting at 1,564.2 percent.

The Cinebench suite shows consistent deltas around 905 percent. R15 multi-core is 13,157 versus 1,308, a 905.9 percent lead. R15 single-core is 1,857 versus 184, a 909.2 percent lead. R20 multi-core is 54,822 versus 5,452, a 905.5 percent delta. R20 single-core is 7,739 versus 769, a 906.4 percent delta. R23 multi-core is 130,529 versus 12,981, a 905.5 percent delta. R23 single-core is 18,427 versus 1,832, a 905.8 percent delta. These near-identical percentages across Cinebench versions indicate that the performance ratio between the two chips is stable across scaling workloads.

The PassMark multi-thread test shows 141,641 versus 15,272, an 827.5 percent delta. Physics results show 8,001 versus 1,163, a 588 percent delta. Prime number finding shows 769 versus 112, a 586.6 percent delta. Floating-point math shows 559,003 versus 42,441, a 1,217.1 percent delta. Data encryption shows 157,137 versus 11,119, a 1,313.2 percent delta. The only test under 100 percent delta is PassMark single-thread, where the AMD chip leads 4,537 to 4,021, a 12.8 percent margin. The data confirms that the Threadripper 9980X wins every recorded benchmark, with its smallest advantage in single-threaded execution and its largest in integer-heavy parallel workloads.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ dramatically. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The AMD part has no hyperthreading-style thread doubling on the Intel side, meaning the Core 5 315 runs one thread per core. Clock speeds also differ: the Threadripper has a 3.20 GHz base clock and 5.40 GHz boost clock, while the Core 5 315 has a 1.50 GHz base clock and 4.40 GHz boost clock.

Power and packaging are entirely different. The Threadripper 9980X has a 350 W TDP and uses AMD Socket sTR5, while the Core 5 315 has a 15 W TDP and uses Intel BGA 1516. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not. Memory support shows the AMD chip with quad-channel DDR5 and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip uses single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part but not on the Intel part. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Threadripper offers Gen 5 with 80 lanes from the CPU, while the Core 5 315 offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes from the CPU.

The market segments are explicit in the data: the Threadripper 9980X is a desktop processor, and the Core 5 315 is a mobile processor. The release dates also differ, with the AMD part releasing on 2025-07-29 and the Intel part on 2026-04-15. The launch MSRP for the Threadripper 9980X is $4999. The launch MSRP for the Intel Core 5 315 is $340. The production status for both is listed as Active.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X uses the Zen 5 architecture under the codename Shimada Peak. It is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC and contains 66,520 million transistors across a die size of 8x 70.6 mm². The cache layout is per-core for L1 and L2: 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 256 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is built on a 3 nm process at Intel. The Intel part has no listed transistor count or die size. Its cache is organized differently: 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2 total, and 6 MB of shared L3.

The AMD chip belongs to the 9000 series and the Ryzen Threadripper generation defined by Zen 5 and Shimada Peak. The Intel part is from the Core 5 generation defined by Wildcat Lake. The process node difference is notable: Intel uses a 3 nm node while AMD uses a 4 nm node, though the AMD chip compensates with a much larger transistor budget and physical footprint. The Core 5 315 integrates Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Threadripper 9980X has no integrated graphics. The memory controllers reflect the architectural priorities: the AMD part has a quad-channel controller for maximum bandwidth, and the Intel part has a single-channel controller for low power consumption. The PCIe implementation also differs, with the AMD part carrying 80 Gen 5 lanes from the CPU and the Intel part carrying 6 Gen 4 lanes from the CPU.