AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX vs Intel Core i3-12100F Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX and Intel Core i3-12100F occupy opposite ends of the desktop processing spectrum, and the benchmark data reflects that chasm with unusual clarity. Across the eight shared head-to-head tests, the Threadripper PRO claims seven victories, while the Core i3 takes a single, notable win. The average benchmark scores place the AMD part at 13,786 against Intel's 13,494, a difference of roughly 2%, yet the distribution of those scores tells a story of entirely different workloads. The data shows a 32-core, 64-thread workstation processor facing a 4-core, 8-thread entry-level chip, and the results are predictably lopsided in multi-threaded scenarios, while the single-threaded contest reveals a surprising upset.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head results is the consistency of the AMD processor's margin in Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Threadripper PRO scores 5,331 against the Core i3's 1,195, a delta of 346.1%. That exact percentage repeats across Cinebench R20 multi-core (22,215 vs 4,981) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (52,895 vs 11,860), both also at 346%. The single-core Cinebench results follow the same template: R15 shows 752 vs 168, R20 shows 3,136 vs 703, and R23 shows 7,467 vs 1,674, each with a delta of roughly 346%. This uniformity suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific—the AMD part's 64 threads simply overwhelm the Intel part's 8 threads in these rendering tasks.

Geekbench multi-core narrows the gap considerably but still favors AMD decisively. The Threadripper PRO scores 16,922, while the Core i3 manages 7,252, a 133.3% advantage. This is a smaller margin than Cinebench, indicating that Geekbench's multi-core workload does not scale perfectly with the AMD's thread count. Still, the AMD part nearly doubles the Intel score, a result that aligns with its 8x core advantage.

The single point of Intel victory is Geekbench single-core, where the Core i3-12100F scores 1,932 against the Threadripper PRO's 1,570. That is an 18.7% lead for Intel. This result flips the expected narrative, as the AMD processor's lower boost clock of 4.20 GHz versus Intel's 4.30 GHz likely contributes, though the architectural differences between Zen 2 and Alder Lake are the more probable cause. The Intel part also shows a slight clock advantage in base frequency, 3.30 GHz vs 3.50 GHz, but that does not offset the single-core deficit. Notably, the Intel part has a higher boost clock, 4.30 GHz vs 4.20 GHz, which appears directly relevant to this win.

The overall win count stands at 7 for AMD and 1 for Intel. However, the magnitude of the AMD victories dwarfs the Intel win in absolute terms. The Intel single-core win represents a 362-point difference, while the smallest AMD win (Geekbench multi-core) is a 9,670-point difference. The data suggests that for any workload that can utilize more than a few threads, the Threadripper PRO is categorically faster, while the Core i3 only leads in a narrow, lightly-threaded scenario.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX wins in every multi-threaded benchmark category. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all show the AMD part with a 346% advantage, which corresponds to its 32 cores and 64 threads versus the Intel's 4 cores and 8 threads. Geekbench multi-core also favors AMD by 133.3%, reinforcing that the Threadripper PRO is the choice for rendering, compilation, simulation, or any workload that scales with parallel execution. The 128 MB of L3 cache, against Intel's 12 MB, likely aids in keeping data close to the cores during these heavy workloads. The eight-channel memory bus, offering 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth, further supports data-hungry tasks, whereas the Intel part uses dual-channel memory with no listed bandwidth figure.

The Intel Core i3-12100F wins in Geekbench single-core, with an 18.7% margin. This indicates a clear advantage in lightly-threaded tasks such as legacy application logic, certain game engines that rely on a primary thread, or responsive UI interactions. The Intel part's 4.30 GHz boost clock, higher than AMD's 4.20 GHz, aligns with this result. The Intel part also uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, while AMD uses Zen 2 on a 7 nm process, and the newer architecture appears to extract more instructions per clock in single-threaded code. For users whose primary applications are single-threaded, the Core i3 is the faster choice, despite its vastly smaller core count.

The data shows that the AMD part also holds the overall average benchmark score, 13,786 vs 13,494, but the margin is small relative to the per-test deltas. This occurs because the Intel part has a larger benchmark suite in the fact pack, including 3DMark and PassMark tests not run on the AMD part, which may dilute the comparison. The percentile ranking for both parts is identical at 68th percentile, but that measure compares each against all CPUs, not against each other directly.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX scores 52,895 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i3-12100F scores 11,860. The AMD part leads by 346%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-12100F win any benchmark against the Threadripper PRO?

A: Yes, the Intel part wins Geekbench single-core, scoring 1,932 against the AMD's 1,570, an 18.7% advantage. This is the only head-to-head test the Intel part wins.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX has 32 cores and 64 threads. The Intel Core i3-12100F has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the clock speed difference between the two?

A: The AMD part has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Intel part has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX has an average benchmark score of 13,786. The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13,494.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i3-12100F does not.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX uses 32 cores and 64 threads, while the Intel Core i3-12100F uses 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are close, with AMD at 3.50 GHz and Intel at 3.30 GHz, but boost clocks favor Intel slightly, 4.30 GHz vs 4.20 GHz. The AMD part has a 280 W TDP, whereas the Intel part is rated at 58 W, a substantial difference in power envelope. Sockets differ: AMD uses Socket WRX8, Intel uses Socket 1700. Memory support also splits: AMD supports DDR4 only with an eight-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth; Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and no listed bandwidth. ECC memory is supported by AMD but not by Intel. PCIe lanes differ drastically, with AMD offering Gen 4 with 128 lanes and Intel offering Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $2749; the Intel part has a launch MSRP of $97.

Cache configurations also diverge. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The AMD part uses four 74 mm² dies, while the Intel part uses a single 163 mm² die. Transistor counts are listed only for AMD, at 15,200 million.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is generational. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is built on Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Castle Peak, from the 3000 series, on a 7 nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core i3-12100F uses Alder Lake architecture, codenamed Alder Lake-S, from Core 12th Gen, on a 10 nm process from Intel. The process node difference favors AMD, but the Intel architecture is newer, which may explain the single-core win. The AMD part is a multi-die design with four 74 mm² chips, while the Intel part is a monolithic 163 mm² die. The AMD part's 128 MB L3 cache dwarfs the Intel's 12 MB, which helps multi-threaded throughput. The Intel part has larger L1 and L2 caches per core, 80 KB and 1.25 MB respectively, versus AMD's 64 KB and 512 KB, which may contribute to its single-core efficiency. The AMD part supports eight-channel memory and ECC, features absent on the Intel part. The PCIe implementation also differs: AMD uses Gen 4 with 128 lanes, Intel uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes, indicating a design for high I/O throughput versus a more modest consumer interface. Both parts have locked multipliers, and neither includes integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on workload. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is the superior processor for multi-threaded tasks, with a 346% lead in all Cinebench multi-core tests and a 133.3% lead in Geekbench multi-core. Its 32 cores, 64 threads, 128 MB L3 cache, and eight-channel memory make it suited for rendering, scientific computing, or heavy parallel workloads. The Intel Core i3-12100F is the better option for single-threaded performance, winning Geekbench single-core by 18.7%, and it does so with a far lower TDP of 58 W versus 280 W. The Intel part also supports DDR5 memory, which the AMD part does not, though the AMD part's memory bandwidth is listed at 204.8 GB/s while Intel's is not specified. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, 13,786 vs 13,494, but that parity masks the extreme divergence in test types. Users seeking raw multi-threaded throughput should select the AMD part, while those prioritizing single-threaded response and lower power draw should choose the Intel part. The launch MSRP difference, $2749 vs $97, reflects the positioning, but the performance data alone dictates the use case.