AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX vs Intel Core i7-7700HQ Comparison

The data presents a stark generational and segment divide. The Intel Core i7-7700HQ is a 2017 mobile processor, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is a 2022 workstation-class part. The benchmark results show a complete and decisive victory for the AMD processor across every single test, with the Intel chip failing to secure a single win in the eight head-to-head comparisons.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant margin of victory appears in the multi-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX scores 34,204 points, which is 28,352 points higher than the Intel Core i7-7700HQ’s score of 5,852. This translates to an 82.9% delta, meaning the AMD processor delivers roughly 5.8 times the multi-threaded performance of the Intel chip in this workload. The pattern is identical in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the AMD scores 14,365 versus the Intel’s 2,457, again an 82.9% delta. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the same trend, with the AMD at 3,447 and the Intel at 589, maintaining that consistent 82.9% performance gap.

Single-core performance tells a similar story, though the delta is slightly less extreme in some tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX scores 4,828, while the Intel Core i7-7700HQ scores 826. This is still an 82.9% delta, indicating the AMD’s newer Zen 3 architecture provides a massive advantage even on a per-core basis. The Geekbench results show a marginally smaller but still dominant gap. In Geekbench single-core, the AMD scores 2,059 against the Intel’s 1,082, a 47.5% delta. In Geekbench multi-core, the AMD scores 13,371 against the Intel’s 3,601, a 73.1% delta. While the single-core Geekbench gap is smaller than the Cinebench gap, it still represents the AMD processor being nearly twice as fast.

The data shows that the AMD processor wins all eight head-to-head benchmarks. The deltas range from 47.5% in Geekbench single-core to a consistent 82.9% across all three Cinebench versions for both multi-core and single-core tests. This uniformity in the Cinebench deltas suggests that the performance difference is largely a function of architectural and clock-speed advantages rather than workload-specific optimization. The Intel i7-7700HQ’s best relative showing is in Geekbench single-core, but even there it trails by a significant margin. The results are unambiguous: the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is in a completely different performance class.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX wins in every measured category. There is no benchmark in the provided set where the Intel Core i7-7700HQ comes out ahead. The AMD processor demonstrates superior performance in all rendering workloads, as evidenced by its higher scores across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core tests. Its multi-core advantage is particularly pronounced, which is critical for rendering, video encoding, and other heavily threaded tasks.

The AMD processor also wins in general-purpose computing tasks as measured by Geekbench. Its multi-core score of 13,371 is over three and a half times the Intel’s 3,601, indicating a massive advantage in multi-threaded application performance. The single-core Geekbench score of 2,059 versus 1,082 also shows the AMD chip is significantly faster in lightly threaded applications, such as legacy software or user interface responsiveness. Data from the Passmark suite is only available for the Intel processor, so no direct comparison can be made for those specific tests, but the Cinebench and Geekbench results provide a comprehensive picture of overall performance.

The use-case split is therefore not about which processor wins specific workloads; it is about the scale of the AMD’s victory. For any task that leverages multi-threading, the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is exponentially faster. For single-threaded tasks, it still holds a commanding lead. The Intel Core i7-7700HQ does not have a single scenario in this data where it is the better performer. Its only potential advantage is qualitative, such as its mobile form factor and lower power consumption, but in terms of raw benchmark scores, it loses every single comparison.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is clear: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is the superior processor in every measurable way. Anyone seeking maximum processing power should choose the AMD part. Its 12 cores and 24 threads, combined with a 4.50 GHz boost clock and 64 MB of L3 cache, allow it to dominate the Intel Core i7-7700HQ, which has 4 cores, 8 threads, a 3.80 GHz boost clock, and 6 MB of L3 cache. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX delivers over 5.8 times the multi-core performance in Cinebench R23, a difference that will be transformative for any professional workload.

The Intel Core i7-7700HQ is an end-of-life mobile processor with a launch MSRP of $378. Its performance, while adequate for its time, is now vastly outdated. The data shows that it trails the AMD part by 82.9% in most Cinebench tests and by 73.1% in Geekbench multi-core. There is no benchmark-driven reason to select the Intel chip if performance is the primary criterion. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is also the better choice for single-threaded performance, as shown by its 47.5% lead in Geekbench single-core.

The only scenario where the Intel Core i7-7700HQ might be considered is if the system requirements demand a mobile processor with integrated graphics, as the AMD part has no integrated GPU. However, from a pure performance standpoint, the verdict is unanimous. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is the definitive winner in this comparison. Its active production status and workstation-class feature set, including eight-channel memory and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, further cement its position as the high-performance choice.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is significantly faster. It scores 34,204 in Cinebench R23 multi-core compared to the Intel Core i7-7700HQ’s 5,852, an 82.9% delta in favor of the AMD.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX wins in single-core tests as well. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 2,059 versus the Intel’s 1,082, a 47.5% delta. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 4,828 versus the Intel’s 826, an 82.9% delta.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-7700HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has a higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-7700HQ has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel processor have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-7700HQ includes Intel HD Graphics 630. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX does not have integrated graphics.

Q: What is the performance percentile for each processor?

A: Both processors have a percentile rank of 65 when compared to all CPUs, despite the AMD’s vastly superior benchmark scores. The average benchmark score for the Intel is 9,493, and for the AMD, it is 9,348.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent entirely different design philosophies and technological eras. The Intel Core i7-7700HQ uses the Kaby Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 14 nm process node, with a die size of 126 mm². It is a monolithic design for the mobile market, fitting into an Intel BGA 1440 socket. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX, in contrast, uses the Zen 3 architecture under the Chagall PRO codename, built on TSMC’s 7 nm process node. It has a complex design with 16,600 million transistors spread across 4x 81 mm² dies, and it uses the AMD Socket WRX8.

The memory subsystems are also vastly different. The Intel chip supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus. The AMD processor supports DDR4 memory over an eight-channel bus, which provides a theoretical memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not. The PCIe capabilities differ significantly as well: the Intel Core i7-7700HQ provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX provides 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes.

Cache hierarchies show a major difference in capacity. The Intel Core i7-7700HQ has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX also has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but it has 512 KB of L2 cache per core and a substantially larger 64 MB of L3 cache. This larger cache, combined with the higher core count and newer architecture, contributes to the AMD’s overwhelming performance advantage. The Intel chip is a quad-core mobile part with a 45 W TDP, while the AMD part is a 12-core workstation/server processor with a 280 W TDP, reflecting its focus on sustained high-performance workloads rather than power efficiency.