AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX vs Intel Core i5-4570 Comparison

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX outperforms the Intel Core i5-4570 in every single recorded test, with margins that range from substantial to overwhelming. Across all eight head-to-head comparisons, the Threadripper PRO 3945WX claims victory, leaving the older quad-core Haswell chip with zero wins. This is not a close contest by any metric, and the data reflects a generational and architectural chasm between a 2020 workstation processor and a 2013 desktop part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking results come from the Cinebench suite, where the Threadripper PRO 3945WX demonstrates near-identical dominance across all versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD part scores 2869 against the Intel's 447, a delta of 541.8%. The single-core R15 test tells the same story: 404 versus 63, a 541.3% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore score of 11956 dwarfs the i5-4570's 1865 (541.1% delta), while single-core shows 1687 against 263 (541.4%). The pattern holds in Cinebench R23, where the AMD chip posts 28469 multicore versus 4442 (540.9%) and 4019 single-core versus 627 (541%). These numbers indicate that the Threadripper PRO 3945WX is not merely faster — it is roughly 5.4 times faster in both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering workloads, a consistency that points to fundamental IPC and clock advantages rather than just core count.

Geekbench results follow the same trend but with a slightly narrower gap. In Geekbench multicore, the AMD processor scores 10854 against the Intel's 3118, a 248.1% delta. The single-core Geekbench test shows 1668 versus 1041, a 60.2% advantage — the smallest margin in the entire comparison, yet still a decisive win. This smaller single-core delta suggests that while the Zen 2 architecture is clearly superior, the gap narrows when workloads rely less on memory bandwidth and more on raw per-thread execution, where the older Haswell design still holds some ground. Still, the data shows no scenario where the i5-4570 comes out ahead.

The average benchmark score reinforces the hierarchy: the Threadripper PRO 3945WX sits at 7741, while the i5-4570 averages 7421. Interestingly, the Intel part's percentile ranking is 63, nearly matching the AMD's 64, which indicates that both CPUs occupy similar positions relative to all other tested processors — but the absolute scores tell a different story. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-10980XE (average 7910, delta -2.1%) and the Intel Core i5-6500 (7569, delta 2.3%), while the i5-4570's rivals cluster around the Intel Core i9-9990XE (7415, delta 0.1%) and AMD EPYC 7282 (7409, delta 0.2%). This placement shows that the Threadripper PRO 3945WX competes in a far higher performance tier, despite the similar percentile.

The Verdict

The verdict is straightforward: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the superior processor in every measurable way. It wins all eight head-to-head benchmarks, with the smallest margin being a 60.2% single-core Geekbench advantage and the largest being a 541.8% multicore Cinebench R15 lead. For any workload captured in this data — rendering, general computation, or single-threaded tasks — the Threadripper PRO 3945WX delivers results that the i5-4570 cannot approach. The Intel Core i5-4570, by contrast, offers no benchmark win to recommend it.

Who should pick which? Based strictly on the data, the Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the only rational choice for users prioritizing performance. Its 12 cores and 24 threads, paired with a 4.00 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost clock, produce scores that place it in the top tier of CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 7741 against the i5-4570's 7421. The i5-4570's 4 cores and 4 threads, with a 3.20 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost, simply cannot compete. There is no workload in the FACT PACK where the Intel part wins, so the verdict for any performance-driven purchase is clear: the AMD processor wins outright.

The only caveat is contextual, not performance-based. The i5-4570 is a desktop part with integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), while the Threadripper PRO 3945WX targets the server/workstation segment and lacks integrated graphics. For a user with a discrete GPU, this difference is irrelevant. For a user relying on integrated graphics, the i5-4570 has a functional advantage — but that advantage is not reflected in any benchmark score in this comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is stark because the data offers no wins for the Intel part. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX wins across every benchmark category: Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single and multicore, plus Geekbench in both single and multicore. This means the Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the pick for multi-threaded rendering, video encoding, scientific computing, and any workload that scales with cores and threads. Its 64 MB L3 cache and eight-channel DDR4 memory support with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth provide the memory subsystem to feed those cores, making it suitable for data-heavy workstation tasks.

The Intel Core i5-4570, despite losing every benchmark, has a theoretical use case in low-power, legacy desktop systems. Its 84 W TDP versus the AMD's 280 W TDP suggests it draws less power, and its Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics mean it can operate without a discrete GPU. The dual-channel DDR3 memory support and 6 MB shared L3 cache are modest but sufficient for basic office tasks or light browsing. However, the benchmark data does not include power consumption or integrated graphics tests, so these are qualitative observations, not data-backed conclusions. In terms of raw performance, the i5-4570 has no winning category.

For users who need maximum compute throughput, the Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the only option supported by the data. For users with a strict need for integrated graphics or lower power draw, the i5-4570 is the only option — but that decision comes with a 60% to 541% performance penalty depending on the workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX scores 28469, while the Intel Core i5-4570 scores 4442, a 540.9% delta in favor of AMD.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-4570 faster in any benchmark?

A: No. In the eight head-to-head benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX wins all eight, including single-core tests where the margin is smallest (60.2% in Geekbench single-core).

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX has an average benchmark score of 7741, while the Intel Core i5-4570 averages 7421 — a difference of 320 points.

Q: How does the single-core performance compare?

A: The AMD part leads in every single-core test: Cinebench R15 (404 vs 63), R20 (1687 vs 263), R23 (4019 vs 627), and Geekbench (1668 vs 1041). The smallest margin is 60.2% in Geekbench single-core.

Q: Does the Intel part have any integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-4570 includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4570 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is built on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Castle Peak, using a 7 nm process from TSMC. It integrates 7,600 million transistors on a die size of 2x 74 mm². The Intel Core i5-4570 uses the Haswell architecture, also codenamed Haswell, on a 22 nm process from Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. This process node difference — 7 nm versus 22 nm — is a primary driver of the performance gap, enabling the AMD part to pack more transistors and run at higher clocks.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The AMD processor provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and only 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The 64 MB L3 cache on the Threadripper PRO 3945WX is more than ten times larger, which helps with data-heavy workloads and multi-threaded scaling.

Memory architecture is another major divergence. The AMD part supports DDR4 memory with an eight-channel bus and a theoretical bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, along with ECC memory support. The Intel part supports DDR3 with a dual-channel bus, no listed bandwidth figure, and no ECC support. The eight-channel memory bus on the AMD processor is a workstation-class feature, enabling far greater memory throughput than the dual-channel design of the i5-4570.

PCIe support also differs: the AMD processor offers PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part offers PCIe Gen 3 with no lane count specified. This gives the Threadripper PRO 3945WX a significant advantage in expandability and I/O bandwidth, critical for workstation GPUs and NVMe storage. The AMD part also has a production status of "Active," while the Intel part's status is not listed.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every specification field. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4570 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 4.00 GHz for AMD and 3.20 GHz for Intel; boost clocks are 4.30 GHz and 3.60 GHz, respectively. TDP is 280 W for the AMD part versus 84 W for the Intel part, a difference of 196 W.

Sockets are incompatible: the AMD processor uses AMD Socket WRX8, while the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1150. The AMD part's generation is listed as "Ryzen Threadripper (Zen 2 (Castle Peak))" from the 3000 series, while the Intel part's generation is "Core i5 (Haswell)." The AMD processor targets the server/workstation market segment, whereas the Intel part targets desktop. Memory support differs: DDR4 with eight-channel bus for AMD, DDR3 with dual-channel bus for Intel. The AMD part supports ECC memory; the Intel part does not. The AMD processor has no integrated graphics, while the Intel part includes Intel HD 4600. Release dates also differ: the AMD part launched on 2020-07-13, while the Intel part launched on 2013-06-01.