AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus

The database comparison between the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus presents a stark contrast in processor design philosophy. The Threadripper 9980X sits at the top of AMD's 9000 series with 64 cores and 128 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus represents Intel's mainstream Core Ultra Series 2 with 18 cores and 18 threads. The recorded head-to-head benchmark results show the AMD part winning 15 of 17 tests, with the Intel part taking two narrow victories. These are not competing products in the traditional sense; they occupy different tiers of the desktop market, yet the data reveals specific strengths and weaknesses that define their respective roles.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X dominates nearly every multi-threaded and compute-intensive workload in the benchmark suite. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Threadripper scores 130529 against the Core Ultra 5's 30867, a 322.9% advantage. The data confirms this pattern across all rendering tests: Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 13157 versus 4640 (183.6% delta), and Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 54822 versus 18442 (197.3% delta). The PassMark suite reinforces the trend, with the AMD part winning integer math by 597.1%, data compression by 423%, extended instructions by 413.8%, and random string sorting by 322.8%. For workloads that scale with core count, such as rendering, code compilation, data compression, and scientific computation, the Threadripper 9980X is the clear winner based on the recorded measurements.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins only two benchmarks, both in the PassMark single-threaded tests. The Intel part scores 4757 in PassMark single-thread, compared to 4537 for the AMD part, a 4.6% advantage. This is the only category where the Intel processor demonstrates a lead. The Core Ultra 5 also benefits from a significantly lower TDP at 125 watts versus 350 watts, which suggests it can operate in a more constrained power envelope, though the database does not include thermal or power efficiency measurements. The Intel part's integrated graphics (Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU) also provides a feature the AMD part lacks entirely, as the Threadripper has no integrated graphics.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has 64 cores and 128 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads.

Q: What is the difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Threadripper 9980X scores 130529 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Core Ultra 5 scores 30867. This represents a 322.9% advantage for the AMD processor.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 4757, compared to 4537 for the Threadripper, a 4.6% margin. It also wins the identical PassMark singlethread test.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: The Threadripper 9980X supports quad-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 supports dual-channel DDR5 with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Threadripper 9980X has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The Threadripper 9980X has an average benchmark score of 321753, placing it in the 99th percentile of all CPUs. The Core Ultra 5 has an average score of 66855, placing it in the 93rd percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single victory for the AMD Threadripper 9980X occurs in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 18427 against the Intel Core Ultra 5's 2261, a 715% delta. This is an unusual result, as single-core tests typically show less variance between architectures. The data suggests the Threadripper's Zen 5 architecture delivers exceptional single-thread performance, despite the Core Ultra 5 having a higher base clock (4.20 GHz versus 3.20 GHz) and a nearly identical boost clock (5.30 GHz versus 5.40 GHz). The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a similar pattern with a 466.2% delta in favor of the AMD part.

In multi-core workloads, the differences are large but more predictable. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 322.9% delta, with scores of 130529 and 30867. PassMark integer math shows a 597.1% delta, with 872071 versus 125091. PassMark data compression shows a 423% delta, with 2974534 versus 568721. The smallest multi-core margin comes in PassMark physics, where the Threadripper leads by 129% (8001 versus 3494). The data shows that the Threadripper's 64-core configuration provides an overwhelming advantage in any workload that can utilize multiple cores.

The Intel Core Ultra 5's only victories are narrow. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4757 versus 4537, a 4.6% margin. The same result appears in the PassMark singlethread test, also 4757 versus 4537. These are the only two benchmarks in the entire head-to-head set where the Intel part leads. The database records no other Intel wins across Cinebench R15, R20, R23, or the PassMark suite's compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime numbers, floating point, integer math, multithread, physics, or random string sorting tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in core count and thread count. The Threadripper 9980X provides 64 cores and 128 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 provides 18 cores and 18 threads. Base clocks differ, with the Intel part at 4.20 GHz and the AMD part at 3.20 GHz. Boost clocks are close, at 5.30 GHz for Intel and 5.40 GHz for AMD. TDP differs substantially, with the AMD part rated at 350 watts and the Intel part at 125 watts. The Threadripper uses AMD Socket sTR5, while the Core Ultra 5 uses Intel Socket 1851. Memory support also differs: the Threadripper uses quad-channel DDR5 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core Ultra 5 uses dual-channel DDR5 with 115.2 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. PCIe lanes differ significantly, with the Threadripper providing Gen 5 with 80 lanes (CPU only) and the Core Ultra 5 providing Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Threadripper has no integrated graphics, while the Core Ultra 5 includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Threadripper has a launch MSRP of $4999, while the Core Ultra 5 has a launch MSRP of $199.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X uses the Zen 5 architecture with the codename Shimada Peak, built on a 4 nm process node at TSMC. It integrates 66,520 million transistors across a die size of 8x 70.6 mm². The cache hierarchy allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 256 MB of L3. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, built on a 3 nm process node at TSMC. It integrates 17,800 million transistors on a die size of 243 mm². The cache hierarchy allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. Both processors have unlocked multipliers. The Threadripper's quad-channel memory controller and 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes enable a high-bandwidth platform, while the Core Ultra 5's dual-channel controller and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes target a more conventional desktop configuration. The Threadripper's 8-die design suggests a multi-chiplet architecture, whereas the Core Ultra 5's single 243 mm² die indicates a monolithic design, though the database does not explicitly state the packaging details.

The Verdict

The data shows that the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the dominant processor for multi-threaded workloads. Its 64 cores and 128 threads produce scores that are several times higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 in rendering, compression, encryption, and math-intensive tests. The Threadripper's 99th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 321753, places it in a performance tier that the Core Ultra 5, at the 93rd percentile with an average score of 66855, does not approach. For users running heavily parallel applications, the Threadripper's results are decisive.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins only in single-threaded PassMark tests, by a margin of 4.6%. It also offers a lower TDP of 125 watts, a smaller process node at 3 nm, integrated graphics, and a more typical desktop platform with dual-channel memory and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The data indicates that the Core Ultra 5 is a mainstream processor that delivers competitive single-thread performance and efficient operation, but it cannot match the Threadripper's multi-core output. The choice between these two processors depends on whether the workload demands massive parallel throughput, which favors the Threadripper, or a more balanced, lower-power desktop experience, which the Core Ultra 5 provides. The recorded benchmark results leave no ambiguity about the performance hierarchy: the Threadripper wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, and the Core Ultra 5 wins two.