AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX vs Intel Core i9-14900 Comparison

The Intel Core i9-14900 and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX are both 92nd-percentile desktop processors, yet they achieve that status through fundamentally different designs. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the Core i9-14900 wins 11 of 19 head-to-head tests, while the Threadripper PRO 3955WX takes 8. This is not a simple victory margin; it is a functional division where the Intel part dominates integer and floating-point workloads, and the AMD part controls memory-bandwidth-sensitive and single-core Cinebench tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive Intel victory is in PassMark single-thread performance, where the Core i9-14900 scores 4323 against the Threadripper's 2679, a 61.4% advantage. This pattern repeats in Geekbench, where Intel leads by 47.7% in both single-core (2488 vs 1684) and multi-core (18495 vs 12523) tests. The floating-point math workload shows a 54.2% gap (120262 vs 77979) in Intel's favor, and integer math follows with a 32.1% lead (175010 vs 132456). These are not marginal differences; they represent a substantial architectural efficiency advantage in general-purpose compute.

The Threadripper PRO 3955WX strikes back hardest in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 4818 versus Intel's 2212 — a 54.1% advantage. This is a surprising result given the Intel part's higher boost clock, but the data is unambiguous. The AMD processor also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 9% (34131 vs 31070), and it takes Cinebench R15 single-core by 35.1% (485 vs 315). However, the Intel part wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 39.3% (4793 vs 3440) and Cinebench R20 both multi-core (15910 vs 14335) and single-core (2245 vs 2023) by 11% each.

The PassMark suite reveals where the Threadripper's strengths lie. Data compression goes to AMD by 8.6% (601738 vs 550271), data encryption by 11.9% (38058 vs 33540), and extended instructions by 21.4% (38952 vs 30624). Random string sorting also favors AMD by 4.2% (63758 vs 61060), and the find prime numbers test is a narrow 5.1% win for AMD (198 vs 188). The Intel part counters with an 11% lead in PassMark multithread (44578 vs 40155) and a marginal 1.1% win in physics (2486 vs 2460). The overall average benchmark scores reflect this: Intel sits at 58115, with its nearest rival the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M at -0.4% delta, while AMD's 56555 places it 1% behind the Intel Core i9-14900HX.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear recommendation for users prioritizing raw single-thread responsiveness and general computational throughput: the Intel Core i9-14900. Its 61.4% lead in PassMark single-thread and 47.7% lead in Geekbench single-core make it the stronger choice for applications that rely on per-core speed, such as legacy software, lightly-threaded design tools, and everyday desktop tasks. The 32.1% integer math and 54.2% floating-point math advantages also favor scientific and financial workloads that are not memory-bandwidth constrained.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX is the pick for workloads that scale with memory throughput and specific instruction patterns. Its 21.4% lead in extended instructions and 11.9% lead in data encryption suggest a strong fit for cryptography and data processing pipelines. The 8.6% data compression win plus the 9% Cinebench R23 multi-core victory indicate that heavily threaded rendering tasks may favor AMD, despite Intel's wins in other multi-core tests. The eight-channel memory bus, which the Intel part lacks, likely explains these results, though the benchmark data itself is the only evidence needed for this conclusion.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge at every level of design. The Intel Core i9-14900 is built on Intel's 10 nm process with a 257 mm² die, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX uses TSMC's 7 nm process with two 74 mm² chiplets totaling 7,600 million transistors. The Intel part has 24 cores and 32 threads, whereas the AMD part has 16 cores and 32 threads — same thread count, but fewer physical cores on the AMD side. Base clocks differ significantly: Intel starts at 2.00 GHz and boosts to 5.80 GHz, while AMD runs at 3.90 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. The TDP figures are 65 W for Intel versus 280 W for AMD, though these power figures should not be conflated with performance efficiency in the absence of direct power benchmarks.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. Intel provides 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core, with 36 MB shared L3. AMD offers 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, but a larger 64 MB L3 pool. Memory support is a major differentiator: Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, while AMD supports only DDR4 but over an eight-channel bus with a rated 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe connectivity sees Intel at Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while AMD provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes. Intel includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, whereas AMD has no integrated graphics. Both support ECC memory and have locked multipliers.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX scores 4818, which is 54.1% higher than the Intel Core i9-14900's 2212.

Q: How do the two compare in PassMark multithread performance?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900 scores 44578, which is 11% higher than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX's 40155.

Q: Which processor supports more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX supports 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the Intel Core i9-14900 offers 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX has a rated 204.8 GB/s over an eight-channel DDR4 bus. The Intel Core i9-14900 uses a dual-channel bus with no bandwidth figure listed in the data.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900 has 24 cores, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX has 16 cores. Both have 32 threads.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900 includes UHD Graphics 770. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX has no integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-14900 wins in Cinebench R15 multicore (39.3% ahead), Cinebench R20 multicore (11%), Cinebench R20 singlecore (11%), Geekbench multicore (47.7%), Geekbench singlecore (47.7%), PassMark floating point math (54.2%), PassMark integer math (32.1%), PassMark multithread (11%), PassMark physics (1.1%), PassMark singlethread (61.4%), and PassMark single thread (61.4%). This is a broad sweep across both single-thread and multi-thread integer and floating-point workloads, making the Intel part the default choice for general-purpose compute, engineering simulations, and software compilation.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX wins in Cinebench R15 singlecore (35.1% ahead), Cinebench R23 multicore (9%), Cinebench R23 singlecore (54.1%), PassMark data compression (8.6%), PassMark data encryption (11.9%), PassMark extended instructions (21.4%), PassMark find prime numbers (5.1%), and PassMark random string sorting (4.2%). These wins cluster around memory-intensive operations and specific instruction sets. The Cinebench R23 multi-core victory is particularly notable because it contradicts the Intel wins in other multi-core tests, suggesting the AMD architecture handles that specific rendering workload better. For data compression, encryption, and string sorting, the Threadripper PRO 3955WX is the stronger performer.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-14900 | AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX |

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

| Cores | 24 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.80 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 280 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket WRX8 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 257 mm² | 2x 74 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 36 MB (shared) | 64 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 128 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | None |

| Launch MSRP | $549 | $1149 |

The launch MSRP figures are $549 for the Intel part and $1149 for the AMD part. The release dates differ by over three years, with Intel launching on 2024-01-07 and AMD on 2020-07-13. The Intel part has a smaller L3 cache at 36 MB versus AMD's 64 MB, but Intel compensates with larger per-core L1 and L2 caches. The AMD part's eight-channel memory bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth stand in contrast to Intel's dual-channel setup, which likely explains the AMD wins in memory-sensitive benchmarks. The Intel part's higher boost clock of 5.80 GHz versus AMD's 4.30 GHz aligns with its single-thread PassMark dominance, though the Cinebench R23 single-core result contradicts this pattern. Both parts are in active production, locked, and support ECC memory.