AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX vs Intel Core i7-3770 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3770 and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX represent two distinct eras and market positions. The data shows a complete sweep for the AMD processor across all eight head-to-head benchmarks, with the Intel part trailing by margins ranging from 60.4% to 84.2%. While the i7-3770 holds a slightly higher percentile ranking at 66 compared to the Threadripper's 65, this is a statistical artifact of the benchmark pool; the raw performance deltas are decisive and leave no ambiguity about the hierarchy between these two processors.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX wins every multi-core test by a landslide. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 34,204 versus the Intel Core i7-3770's 5,450, a delta of -84.1%. In Geekbench multi-core, the AMD scores 13,371 against Intel's 2,705, a -79.8% difference.

Q: Is the single-core performance gap as large as the multi-core gap?

A: The gap is almost as large, but slightly narrower in one test. In Geekbench single-core, the Threadripper PRO 5945WX scores 2,059 versus the i7-3770's 816, a -60.4% delta. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 4,828 versus 769, a -84.1% delta.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX supports DDR4 memory over an eight-channel bus, yielding 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core i7-3770 supports DDR3 over a dual-channel bus, providing 25.6 GB/s. This is an eight-fold difference in theoretical bandwidth.

Q: How do their cache configurations compare?

A: Both have the same 64 KB L1 cache per core. The AMD has a larger 512 KB L2 cache per core versus Intel's 256 KB per core. The L3 cache is substantially different: the Threadripper PRO has 64 MB of shared L3, while the i7-3770 has 8 MB shared.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-3770 is marked as "End-of-life" and was released in 2012. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is listed as "Active" production status, having been released in 2022.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770 has a higher average benchmark score of 9,706 compared to the AMD's 9,348. However, this is misleading because the average is calculated across different benchmark suites; the head-to-head comparison shows the AMD winning all shared tests.

The Verdict

The data presents a stark choice. Any workload that can utilize more than a few threads will be overwhelmingly better served by the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX. Its 12 cores and 24 threads provide a 6.3x advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and its eight-channel memory system with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth is in a different performance class entirely. This is the only rational pick for professional rendering, simulation, or heavy data processing.

The Intel Core i7-3770, despite its lower raw scores, is not without a niche. Its 77W TDP is dramatically lower than the AMD's 280W, and it includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4000), which the AMD lacks. For legacy systems, basic desktop tasks, or applications where the motherboard and memory infrastructure for a WRX8 platform is unavailable, the i7-3770 remains a functional, low-power option. However, from a pure performance standpoint, the benchmark results indicate no scenario where the Intel part wins a single test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX wins all eight shared benchmarks. The pattern is consistent: the AMD part is roughly 5-6 times faster in multi-core tests and about 5-6 times faster in single-core tests, with one notable exception in Geekbench.

Multi-Core Dominance: In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 3,447 against Intel's 549, a -84.1% delta. This trend continues in R20 (14,365 vs 2,289) and R23 (34,204 vs 5,450). The Geekbench multi-core test shows a slightly smaller gap of -79.8%, with scores of 13,371 and 2,705 respectively. The consistency of the ~84% delta across all three Cinebench versions indicates a fundamental throughput advantage, not a test-specific quirk.

Single-Core Performance: The single-core results are equally lopsided. In Cinebench R15, the AMD scores 486 versus Intel's 77 (-84.2%). R20 shows 2,027 versus 322 (-84.1%), and R23 shows 4,828 versus 769 (-84.1%). The Geekbench single-core test is the only metric where the gap narrows, showing a -60.4% delta (2,059 vs 816). This suggests that while the Zen 3 architecture's IPC advantage is massive, Geekbench's specific workload composition is slightly less punishing to the older Ivy Bridge design.

Workload Characterization: The i7-3770's PassMark scores provide additional context, though no direct comparison exists. It scores 22,945 in integer math and 11,628 in floating point math, with a multithread score of 6,414. These numbers, while not comparable to the AMD's scores, illustrate that the Intel part is not idle; it performs work, just at a fraction of the rate.

Specification Differences

The specifications diverge on nearly every front. The Intel Core i7-3770 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are 3.40 GHz for Intel versus 4.10 GHz for AMD; boost clocks are 3.90 GHz versus 4.50 GHz.

The TDP ratings are vastly different: 77W for Intel versus 280W for AMD. The Intel part uses the Intel Socket 1155, while the AMD uses AMD Socket WRX8. Memory support differs entirely: DDR3 dual-channel at 25.6 GB/s for Intel, versus DDR4 eight-channel at 204.8 GB/s for AMD. The AMD supports ECC memory; the Intel does not.

PCIe connectivity is another major differentiator. Intel offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while AMD offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4000), while the AMD has none. The Intel chip is multiplier-locked and end-of-life; the AMD chip is also multiplier-locked but remains active. The launch MSRP for the Intel is $278; no launch MSRP is provided for the AMD.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures separated by a decade of silicon evolution. The Intel Core i7-3770 uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, fabricated on a 22 nm process by Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX uses the Zen 3 architecture (codename Chagall PRO), fabricated on a 7 nm process by TSMC, with 16,600 million transistors across a 4x 81 mm² die configuration.

The cache hierarchy illustrates the generational shift. Both share a 64 KB L1 per core. The AMD doubles the L2 to 512 KB per core versus Intel's 256 KB. The L3 cache is an eight-fold difference: 64 MB on the AMD versus 8 MB on the Intel. This larger cache pool is critical for the AMD's multi-threaded performance, as it allows more working data to reside on-die.

The core counts and process technology tell the story. The AMD's 12 cores and 24 threads are enabled by a much more efficient 7 nm process, allowing higher clocks (4.10 GHz base) alongside a higher 280W TDP. The Intel's 4 cores and 8 threads on 22 nm with a 77W TDP reflect a design optimized for power efficiency in a desktop context. The AMD's 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes and eight-channel memory controller are workstation-class features, while the Intel's 16 Gen 3 lanes and dual-channel DDR3 are firmly in the consumer desktop segment. The Threadripper's multi-die design (4x 81 mm²) versus the Intel's monolithic 160 mm² die underscores the different engineering approaches: AMD scales via chiplet packaging, Intel relied on a single large die.