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

The Intel Core i9-14900T and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX occupy very different corners of the desktop market, yet their average benchmark scores place them within 1.4% of each other. The data shows a 24-core, 32-thread Intel part with a 35 W TDP facing a 16-core, 32-thread AMD part with a 280 W TDP. While the overall averages are close, the individual test results reveal a stark split: the AMD processor wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel processor takes 5, including some by very large margins.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX establishes its lead across the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 34131 against the Intel’s 33264, a 2.5% advantage. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core (14335 vs 13970, 2.5% delta) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (3440 vs 3352, 2.6% delta). Single-core results follow the same trend, with the AMD part ahead by 2.5% in both Cinebench R23 (4818 vs 4696) and Cinebench R20 (2023 vs 1972). These are consistent, if narrow, margins across the entire Cinebench lineup.

The AMD processor’s largest wins come in specialized workloads. PassMark data compression shows a 19.3% gap (601738 vs 485883), and data encryption is 20.4% higher (38058 vs 30305). The most dramatic difference is in extended instructions, where the AMD part scores 38952 against the Intel’s 25639, a 34.2% advantage. Random string sorting also favors AMD by 12.8% (63758 vs 55594). Even the PassMark multithread test, despite the Intel part having 8 more cores, goes to AMD by a slim 1.1% (40155 vs 39707). Find prime numbers adds another AMD win, 198 vs 181, an 8.6% margin.

The Intel Core i9-14900T fights back in two key areas. PassMark single-thread is a decisive victory: 4165 vs 2679, a 55.5% lead. That is the single largest delta in the entire comparison. Floating point math also goes to Intel by 24.9% (97406 vs 77979), and integer math by 9.4% (144857 vs 132456). The physics test rounds out Intel’s wins with a 5.3% margin (2591 vs 2460). These five wins show that the Intel processor’s architecture is far stronger in raw per-thread throughput and certain math operations, even though it loses the overall benchmark count.

The average benchmark scores confirm the near-parity. The AMD part averages 56555, while the Intel averages 55778. The delta between them is 1.4% in AMD’s favor. Both sit at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are statistically inseparable in overall performance tier, despite their wildly different approaches to achieving it.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX dominates in memory-sensitive and instruction-heavy workloads. Data compression, encryption, and extended instruction tests all show double-digit percentage leads. The 34.2% edge in extended instructions suggests workloads that leverage AVX or similar instruction sets will run substantially faster on the AMD platform. The 20.4% advantage in encryption and 19.3% in compression point to a strong memory subsystem and efficient data throughput. The eight-channel memory bus, capable of 204.8 GB/s, likely underpins these results, though the benchmark data alone cannot confirm causation.

The Intel Core i9-14900T wins where single-thread speed and scalar math matter. The 55.5% lead in PassMark single-thread is enormous, indicating that lightly threaded applications will feel much snappier on the Intel part. Floating point math at 24.9% higher is significant for scientific or engineering simulations that are not fully parallelized. Integer math follows with a 9.4% lead. The physics test, which often relies on a mix of single-thread and multi-thread execution, also favors Intel by 5.3%. For workloads that cannot use more than a few cores, the Intel part is clearly superior.

The Cinebench results are worth noting for their consistency. AMD wins every single one, but by margins of only 2.5-2.6%. This suggests that in pure multi-threaded rendering, the two processors are nearly equivalent, with AMD holding a slight edge. The Intel part’s 24 cores versus AMD’s 16 cores do not translate into a multi-core advantage; the AMD’s higher base clock of 3.90 GHz versus 1.10 GHz likely compensates in sustained workloads.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice based on workload profile. For users whose primary tasks involve encryption, data compression, or heavy instruction-set utilization, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX is the stronger option. Its wins in these categories are not marginal; they range from 8.6% to 34.2% over the Intel part. The AMD also edges out the Intel in every Cinebench test, making it the better pick for rendering workloads that scale across threads.

For users running single-threaded applications, legacy code, or floating-point-heavy simulations, the Intel Core i9-14900T is the better fit. The 55.5% single-thread lead is decisive, and the 24.9% floating-point margin is substantial. The Intel part also wins in integer math and physics, giving it a broad advantage in everyday desktop responsiveness and many professional single-core tools.

Both processors share the 94th percentile ranking, so neither is a slouch in absolute terms. The choice comes down to whether the workload favors AMD’s multi-threaded, memory-bandwidth-heavy design or Intel’s per-core speed and math throughput. The AMD part’s 16 cores and 32 threads match the Intel’s 32 threads, but the Intel’s 24 cores do not automatically win multi-core tests. The AMD’s 280 W TDP versus Intel’s 35 W TDP is a massive difference in power draw, but the benchmark scores do not penalize for it. Based strictly on performance data, pick AMD for compression/encryption and Intel for single-thread/math.

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 1.4% higher than the Intel Core i9-14900T’s average of 55778.

Q: How much faster is the Intel part in single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900T scores 4165 in PassMark single-thread, which is 55.5% higher than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX’s score of 2679.

Q: Does the AMD processor win all Cinebench tests?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX wins every Cinebench test in the comparison, including R15, R20, and R23 in both multi-core and single-core, with margins of 2.5% to 2.6%.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the comparison?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX scores 38952 versus the Intel’s 25639, a 34.2% difference.

Q: How many benchmarks does each processor win?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i9-14900T wins 5.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-14900T and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX are ranked in the 94th percentile among all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Core i9-14900T uses Raptor Lake (codenamed Raptor Lake-R) on a 10 nm process node manufactured by Intel. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX uses Zen 2 (codenamed Castle Peak) on a 7 nm process node manufactured by TSMC. The Intel part has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD part has 16 cores and 32 threads, meaning the Intel relies on more cores with fewer threads per core (the Intel architecture includes efficiency cores). The AMD has 7,600 million transistors spread across two 74 mm² dies, while the Intel has a single 257 mm² die.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The AMD’s larger L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB) likely contributes to its wins in data-heavy workloads. The AMD also supports eight-channel memory with a bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, while the Intel supports dual-channel memory with no listed bandwidth figure. Both support ECC memory, but the Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD supports only DDR4.

PCIe lanes are another major divergence. The Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). The AMD’s 128 lanes are a hallmark of the Threadripper platform, enabling far more expansion devices. The Intel includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the AMD has no integrated graphics at all. The AMD’s base clock is 3.90 GHz and boost clock is 4.30 GHz, while the Intel’s base clock is 1.10 GHz and boost clock is 5.50 GHz.

Specification Differences

The core count differs: Intel has 24 cores, AMD has 16 cores. Threads are identical at 32. Base clock differs significantly: Intel at 1.10 GHz, AMD at 3.90 GHz. Boost clock also differs: Intel at 5.50 GHz, AMD at 4.30 GHz. TDP is a major differentiator: Intel at 35 W, AMD at 280 W. Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1700 versus AMD Socket WRX8.

Process node differs: Intel at 10 nm, AMD at 7 nm. The foundry is different: Intel for the i9, TSMC for the Threadripper. Die size differs: Intel at 257 mm², AMD at 2x 74 mm². Transistor count is listed only for AMD at 7,600 million. L1 cache per core differs: Intel at 80 KB, AMD at 64 KB. L2 cache per core differs: Intel at 2 MB, AMD at 512 KB. L3 cache differs: Intel at 36 MB shared, AMD at 64 MB.

Memory support differs: Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, AMD supports only DDR4. Memory bus width differs: Intel dual-channel, AMD eight-channel. Memory bandwidth is listed only for AMD at 204.8 GB/s. PCIe generation and lanes differ: Intel Gen 5 with 16 lanes, AMD Gen 4 with 128 lanes. Integrated graphics are present only on Intel (UHD Graphics 770). Release dates differ: Intel on 2024-01-07, AMD on 2020-07-13. Launch MSRP differs: Intel at $549, AMD at $1149. Part numbers differ: Intel SRN3U, AMD 100-000000167. The production status is Active for both.