AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX vs Intel Core i5-8365U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a complete sweep in favor of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX across all six shared tests. The largest margins appear in the Cinebench single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD part scores 486 against 71 for the Intel Core i5-8365U, a delta of 584.5%. The Cinebench R20 single-core result is nearly identical in percentage terms, with the Threadripper PRO scoring 2027 versus 299, a 577.9% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 4828 versus 713, a 577.1% lead.

The multi-core tests tell a similar story with slightly smaller but still overwhelming deltas. Cinebench R15 multi-core sees the AMD processor at 3447 against 509 for the Intel chip, a 577.2% difference. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 14365 versus 2121, a 577.3% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core, the most demanding of the three, has the Threadripper PRO scoring 34204 against 5050, also a 577.3% delta.

What stands out is the consistency of these percentage differences. All six tests fall within a narrow band from 577.1% to 584.5%. This suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific. The AMD processor does not merely win by a comfortable margin; it wins by roughly the same factor regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded, which points to a fundamental difference in per-core capability rather than a scaling advantage alone.

The Intel Core i5-8365U does have additional PassMark results in the database that the AMD part does not share, but these cannot be compared directly. Within the tests where both processors have recorded scores, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX holds a 6 to 0 win record.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX scores 4828, while the Intel Core i5-8365U scores 713, giving AMD a 577.1% advantage in that test.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX leads in every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 34204 versus 5050 for the Intel Core i5-8365U, a 577.3% difference.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-8365U still in production?

A: No, the Intel Core i5-8365U is marked as end-of-life in the database, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is listed as active.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-8365U does not.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-8365U includes UHD Graphics 620. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has an average benchmark score of 9348, and the Intel Core i5-8365U has an average benchmark score of 8708.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX uses the Zen 3 architecture under the codename Chagall PRO, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It packs 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core i5-8365U uses the Whiskey Lake architecture, specifically Whiskey Lake-U, on Intel's 14 nm process, with 4 cores and 8 threads.

The transistor counts reflect the gap in complexity. The AMD part contains 16,600 million transistors across a die size listed as 4x 81 mm², meaning a multi-die design. The Intel chip has no transistor count or die size recorded in the database, but the 14 nm process and the much smaller core count indicate a far less complex piece of silicon.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both processors use 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache differs: the AMD part has 512 KB per core, while the Intel part has 256 KB per core. The L3 cache is where the separation becomes extreme. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has 64 MB of L3 cache, whereas the Intel Core i5-8365U has 6 MB shared. That is a tenfold difference in the largest cache level.

The memory architecture reinforces the workstation versus mobile positioning. The AMD processor supports DDR4 memory over an eight-channel bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The Intel chip also supports DDR4 but over a dual-channel bus, with memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The AMD part offers ECC memory support; the Intel part does not.

PCI Express capabilities are similarly lopsided. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core i5-8365U provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. For workloads that depend on many PCIe devices or high-bandwidth peripherals, this difference alone can be decisive.

The market segments tell the intended use story. The AMD processor is categorized as Server/Workstation, while the Intel processor is categorized as Mobile. The AMD part has a 280 TDP versus the Intel part's 15 TDP, which explains why the Intel chip appears in thin and light laptops while the AMD chip requires substantial cooling and power delivery.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious differentiators. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i5-8365U has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Clock speeds show a different relationship. The AMD part has a base clock of 4.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The Intel part has a base clock of 1600.00 MHz, which converts to 1.60 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The AMD processor has both a higher base clock and a higher boost clock, but the Intel chip's boost clock is closer to its rival than the base clocks would suggest.

Power consumption is dramatically different. The AMD processor is rated at 280 TDP, while the Intel processor is rated at 15 TDP. The Intel chip consumes approximately a fraction of the power, which matters for mobile use cases.

Sockets are incompatible. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX uses AMD Socket WRX8, while the Intel Core i5-8365U uses Intel BGA 1528, a soldered mobile package.

Process technology differs by node size. The AMD part uses 7 nm from TSMC, while the Intel part uses 14 nm from Intel's own foundry.

Memory channels and bandwidth are starkly different. The AMD part uses eight channels with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, and the Intel part uses two channels with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

PCIe generation and lane counts differ. The AMD part offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes, while the Intel part offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics are present only on the Intel side, with UHD Graphics 620. The AMD part has no integrated graphics listed.

Production status differs. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is active, while the Intel Core i5-8365U is end-of-life.

Release dates are separated by nearly three years. The Intel part was released in April 2019, and the AMD part was released in March 2022.

The Intel Core i5-8365U has a launch MSRP of $297, which is recorded in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX wins every benchmark where both processors have recorded scores. That includes all three Cinebench generations, both single-core and multi-core variants. The margins range from 577.1% to 584.5%, meaning the AMD part delivers roughly 5.7 to 5.8 times the performance of the Intel part in these tests.

For workloads that are heavily multithreaded, such as rendering, scientific computing, or video encoding, the AMD processor's 12 cores and 24 threads, combined with 64 MB of L3 cache and 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth, make it the clear choice. The eight-channel memory bus and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes further support workstation-class workloads that move large data sets between CPU, memory, and accelerators.

The Intel Core i5-8365U does not win any shared benchmark, but it has strengths that are not captured in the head-to-head tests. Its 15 TDP makes it suitable for fanless or low-power mobile designs, and its integrated UHD Graphics 620 means it can drive a display without a discrete GPU. The BGA 1528 socket indicates a soldered, compact form factor typical of ultraportable laptops. For tasks like office productivity, web browsing, or lightweight coding, the Intel chip can operate within a power envelope that the AMD workstation part cannot approach.

The Intel processor also has a richer set of recorded PassMark results in the database, including data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, multithread, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread tests. These are not directly comparable to the AMD part because the AMD processor lacks those entries, but they show that the Intel chip has been characterized across many workload types in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on use case. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is for users who need maximum compute throughput in a workstation or server context. Its 12 cores, 24 threads, 64 MB L3 cache, eight-channel memory, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes place it firmly in the category of processors designed for sustained, heavy workloads. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8180 with an average score of 9406 and a delta of -0.6%, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X with 9284 and a delta of 0.7%, the Intel Atom x7835RE with 9430 and a delta of -0.9%, and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8280M with 9260 and a delta of 1%. The Threadripper PRO 5945WX sits at 9348, essentially in the same performance class as those processors.

The Intel Core i5-8365U is for mobile systems where power efficiency and integrated graphics matter more than raw throughput. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-13900E with an average score of 8676 and a delta of 0.4%, the Intel Core i7-8565U with 8665 and a delta of 0.5%, the AMD EPYC 7601 with 8619 and a delta of 1%, and the Intel Core i7-10510U with 8580 and a delta of 1.5%. The i5-8365U averages 8708, placing it in the company of other mainstream mobile and lower-power desktop parts.

The AMD part has the higher average benchmark score at 9348 versus 8708, a difference of about 7.3%. Both processors share the same percentile rank of 65 against all CPUs in the database, which indicates that while the AMD part is far faster in absolute terms, both are positioned in the same general performance distribution once the entire CPU landscape is considered.

Buyers should choose the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX if they are building a workstation that will run multi-threaded applications for extended periods, require ECC memory, need high memory bandwidth, or demand many PCIe lanes. The Intel Core i5-8365U is the appropriate choice for a laptop or compact mobile system where the 15 TDP, integrated graphics, and soldered BGA package are advantages. The Intel chip is end-of-life, so new designs should account for that status. The AMD part remains active and available for current workstation builds.