AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX vs Intel Core 7 253PQE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX and Intel Core 7 253PQE occupy very different corners of the desktop processor market, yet their average benchmark scores land them within 1.1% of each other. The AMD part, with its 16 cores and 32 threads, posts an average benchmark score of 56555, while the Intel chip, with 10 cores and 20 threads, scores 55919. This places both in the 91st and 92nd percentiles of all CPUs respectively, making them close competitors despite their architectural chasms. The data reveals a classic split: AMD dominates in raw multi-threaded throughput and memory-intensive tasks, while Intel counters with superior single-thread and specialized math performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head results is AMD’s near-sweep of the Cinebench suite. Across all six Cinebench tests—R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core—the Threadripper PRO 3955WX wins with a consistent delta of 8.7% to 8.8%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 34131 versus Intel’s 31390, an 8.7% margin. Even in the single-core R23 test, where Intel’s 5.70 GHz boost clock might be expected to shine, AMD’s 4818 beats Intel’s 4431 by 8.7%. This uniformity suggests the Zen 2 architecture’s per-core efficiency, despite the AMD part’s lower 4.30 GHz boost, is genuinely competitive with Intel’s newer Bartlett Lake design in this workload.

The PassMark suite tells a more nuanced story. AMD’s biggest win comes in data encryption, where it scores 38058 against Intel’s 25515—a massive 49.2% advantage. Data compression also favors AMD heavily: 601738 versus 487335, a 23.5% lead. Extended instructions go to AMD by 20.3% (38952 to 32390), and random string sorting favors AMD by 17.6% (63758 to 54222). These are substantial margins, indicating that the Threadripper’s eight-channel memory bus and 64 MB of L3 cache provide a decisive edge in bandwidth-hungry and pointer-chasing workloads.

Intel fights back in the math-heavy and physics-based tests. The most dramatic Intel victory is in PassMark single-thread, where it scores 4389 against AMD’s 2679—a 39% lead. This is the largest delta of any benchmark in either direction, and it reflects the Intel part’s 5.70 GHz boost clock versus AMD’s 4.30 GHz. Intel also wins PassMark floating-point math by 25.9% (105279 to 77979) and physics by 17.2% (2970 to 2460). In integer math, Intel edges out AMD by 3.9% (137795 to 132456), and in find prime numbers, Intel wins by 3.9% (206 to 198). The PassMark multi-thread test goes to Intel by a narrow 3.6% (41656 to 40155), which is surprising given AMD’s 16-core advantage, but it underscores how strong Intel’s per-core throughput is in this specific benchmark.

The final tally shows AMD winning 10 benchmarks and Intel winning 7. However, the magnitude of Intel’s single-thread and floating-point wins is significant enough to keep the overall average scores close. AMD’s wins are concentrated in throughput-oriented tasks, while Intel’s are in latency-sensitive and math-heavy operations. The data suggests that the choice between these two is less about overall performance and more about workload characteristics.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct buyer profiles. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX is the clear choice for anyone running heavily multi-threaded, memory-bandwidth-sensitive applications. Its 49.2% lead in data encryption and 23.5% lead in data compression are not marginal—they represent real time savings in database operations, compression pipelines, and cryptographic workloads. The 8.7% Cinebench multi-core advantage reinforces this, making the AMD part the better pick for rendering, video encoding, and simulation workloads that scale with core count.

The Intel Core 7 253PQE, conversely, is the pick for users who prioritize single-thread responsiveness and floating-point math. Its 39% lead in PassMark single-thread and 25.9% lead in floating-point math make it the superior choice for scientific computing, financial modeling, and any application that relies heavily on scalar performance. The 17.2% physics win also hints at better performance in some gaming and simulation scenarios, though the lack of a Geekbench score for Intel in the data limits broader conclusions.

There is no universal winner here. The AMD part’s 16 cores and 32 threads make it a workstation-class part, while the Intel part’s 10 cores and 20 threads with a 5.70 GHz boost clock make it a high-frequency specialist. The 1.1% overall average score difference is statistically negligible, but the workload-specific deltas are not. If the task involves moving large datasets or encrypting streams, the Threadripper is the answer. If the task is dominated by a single fast thread, the Core 7 253PQE wins decisively.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX has an average benchmark score of 56555, which is 1.1% higher than the Intel Core 7 253PQE’s 55919.

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

A: In PassMark single-thread, the Intel Core 7 253PQE scores 4389 against AMD’s 2679, a 39% advantage for Intel. This is the largest delta in any benchmark.

Q: Where does the AMD processor win by the largest margin?

A: The AMD processor wins PassMark data encryption by 49.2%, scoring 38058 versus Intel’s 25515.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any multi-core benchmarks?

A: Yes, Intel wins PassMark multi-thread by 3.6% (41656 to 40155) and PassMark integer math by 3.9% (137795 to 132456), despite having 6 fewer cores.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX has an eight-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Core 7 253PQE has a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE boosts to 5.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX boosts to 4.30 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in almost every core specification. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 7 253PQE has 10 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks are close—3.90 GHz for AMD versus 3.50 GHz for Intel—but boost clocks diverge sharply, with Intel reaching 5.70 GHz against AMD’s 4.30 GHz. Thermal design power reflects this: AMD is rated at 280 watts, Intel at 125 watts.

Memory support is a major differentiator. AMD uses DDR4 with an eight-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth; Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 but is limited to a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The Intel part includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the AMD part has no integrated graphics. Sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket WRX8, Intel uses Socket 1700. Cache configurations are distinct as well: AMD has 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core with 64 MB shared L3; Intel has 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core with 33 MB shared L3. Process nodes differ (7 nm TSMC for AMD, 10 nm Intel), and release dates are far apart—AMD launched July 2020, Intel launches March 2026. The launch MSRP is $1149 for AMD and $409 for Intel.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX is built on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Castle Peak, and manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC. It uses 7,600 million transistors across a die size of 2x 74 mm². The Intel Core 7 253PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process by Intel, and is designated as Core 7 (Bartlett Lake) generation. Intel does not list transistor count or die size in the data.

The core designs reflect different philosophies. AMD’s Zen 2 architecture provides 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a large 64 MB L3 cache shared across all cores. Intel’s Bartlett Lake provides 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core—the larger per-core L2 is notable—with a smaller 33 MB shared L3. The larger L2 per core may contribute to Intel’s strong single-thread and floating-point results.

Memory architecture differences are pronounced. AMD’s eight-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth is a server-derived design, while Intel’s dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s is more mainstream. PCIe generation also differs: AMD uses Gen 4 with 128 lanes, Intel uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The Intel part’s integrated UHD Graphics 770 is absent on the AMD chip. Both have locked multipliers, but their target markets are clearly different—AMD’s higher TDP and platform requirements point to workstation use, while Intel’s lower TDP and integrated graphics suggest a more conventional desktop role. The production status for both is listed as Active.