AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX vs Intel Core i9-13900E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results for these two processors create an unusual split. The Intel Core i9-13900E wins six of the eight recorded head-to-head tests, but the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX wins the two that matter most for certain workloads, and it wins them by a massive margin.

Looking at the Cinebench suite first, the Intel part takes every single test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel scores 3451 against AMD's 3447, a delta of only -0.1%. That is effectively a tie, but the database records the win for Intel. The single-core R15 test is similarly close: Intel scores 487, AMD scores 486, a -0.2% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, Intel repeats the pattern with 14382 versus 14365 in multicore (-0.1%) and 2030 versus 2027 in single-core (-0.1%). In Cinebench R23, the largest Cinebench workload in the data, Intel scores 34244 and AMD scores 34204, again just -0.1% apart. The single-core R23 result shows 4834 for Intel and 4828 for AMD, a -0.1% delta.

These Cinebench numbers tell a clear story: the two CPUs are within statistical noise of each other in every rendering test. The Intel chip wins by fractions of a percent, not by any meaningful margin. A builder looking at these scores alone would see two essentially equal processors for Cinebench-class workloads.

The Geekbench results flip the narrative completely. In Geekbench multicore, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX scores 13371 while the Intel Core i9-13900E scores 8337. That is a 60.4% advantage for AMD, the single largest delta in the entire head-to-head set. The single-core Geekbench test shows AMD at 2059 versus Intel's 1646, a 25.1% lead. These are not marginal differences; they indicate a fundamental divergence in how the two chips handle the Geekbench workload mix.

The avgBenchmarkScore field in the database confirms the overall picture. The AMD part averages 9348 across all recorded benchmarks, while the Intel part averages 8676. That puts AMD roughly 7.7% higher on average, entirely driven by the Geekbench results. Both chips sit at the 65th percentile against all CPUs tracked in the database, so they are peer-class performers overall.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is clean and easy to describe. The Intel Core i9-13900E wins every Cinebench iteration recorded: R15 multicore and single-core, R20 multicore and single-core, R23 multicore and single-core. If a workload is built around Cinebench-style rendering, which typically means Cinema 4D or similar CPU rendering engines, the Intel chip edges out the AMD part in every single recorded test. The margins are small, never exceeding -0.2%, but they are consistent. A builder optimizing purely for those rendering benchmarks should pick Intel.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX wins both Geekbench tests, and it wins them decisively. In Geekbench multicore, the 60.4% lead is enormous. In Geekbench single-core, the 25.1% lead is still substantial. Geekbench exercises a broader mix of real-world tasks, including encryption, image processing, and compression, so these results suggest the AMD chip handles general-purpose compute workloads with significantly more headroom. For software developers, data analysts, or anyone running diverse integer and floating-point tasks, the AMD part is the clear winner.

The database also shows that the AMD part sits with different rivals than the Intel part. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8180 (avgScore 9406, delta -0.6%), the Intel Atom x7835RE (avgScore 9430, delta -0.9%), the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X (avgScore 9284, delta +0.7%), and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8280M (avgScore 9260, delta +1.0%). These are workstation and server-class chips. The Intel Core i9-13900E, by contrast, has nearest rivals like the Intel Core i7-8565U (avgScore 8665, delta +0.1%), the Intel Core i5-8365U (avgScore 8708, delta -0.4%), the AMD EPYC 7601 (avgScore 8619, delta +0.7%), and the Intel Core i7-10510U (avgScore 8580, delta +1.1%). Those are mostly mobile and low-power parts, which says something about where the i9-13900E's performance profile actually lands.

The Verdict

The verdict depends entirely on the workload. If the target is Cinebench-style rendering, the Intel Core i9-13900E is the pick. It wins all six Cinebench tests in the database, even if the margins are tiny. The highest delta in its favor is -0.2% in R15 single-core, so it is not a dominant victory, but it is a consistent one. No rendering test goes to AMD.

If the target is general-purpose compute as measured by Geekbench, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is the pick without hesitation. A 60.4% multicore lead and a 25.1% single-core lead are not subtle. The AMD part is in a different performance class for those tasks.

The average benchmark score favors AMD at 9348 versus 8676, so on balance the database shows the AMD chip as the stronger overall performer. Its nearest rivals are server and workstation processors, while Intel's nearest rivals include mobile chips. That context suggests the AMD part belongs in a higher performance tier despite the Cinebench losses.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in the head-to-head data?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900E wins 6 of the 8 recorded head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX wins the remaining 2.

Q: How large is the AMD lead in Geekbench multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX scores 13371 versus the Intel Core i9-13900E's 8337, a 60.4% advantage.

Q: Are the Cinebench results close between the two chips?

A: Yes. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Intel part wins by deltas of only -0.1% or -0.2%. The largest single Cinebench margin is -0.2% in R15 single-core.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has an average benchmark score of 9348. The Intel Core i9-13900E has an average benchmark score of 8676.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900E has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes. Both the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX and the Intel Core i9-13900E support ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally 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 16,600 million transistors across a die size of 4x 81 mm². The Intel Core i9-13900E uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-S, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry, with a die size of 257 mm².

Cache structures differ significantly. The AMD part provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a large 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip's larger L3 pool likely contributes to its strong Geekbench performance, while Intel's higher per-core L2 might help in other scenarios.

Memory architecture is another major divergence. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX supports DDR4 memory over an eight-channel bus with a recorded memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The Intel Core i9-13900E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, but the database does not record a memory bandwidth figure for it. The eight-channel configuration on the AMD part is a workstation-class feature that the dual-channel Intel part cannot match.

PCIe connectivity also splits along market lines. The AMD chip offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), which is an extreme amount of I/O bandwidth for multi-GPU or storage-heavy systems. The Intel chip offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), which is faster per lane but far fewer total lanes. The AMD part also includes no integrated graphics, while the Intel part includes UHD Graphics 770.

The production status for both is Active. The AMD part released on 2022-03-07, and the Intel part released on 2023-01-03. Neither processor has a multiplier unlocked, so both are locked for overclocking.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ sharply. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core i9-13900E has 24 cores and 32 threads. Despite having half the cores, the AMD chip keeps pace in Cinebench and dominates in Geekbench, which points to strong per-core efficiency in the Zen 3 design.

Base clocks differ dramatically. The AMD part runs at 4.10 GHz base, while the Intel part runs at 1.80 GHz base. The boost clocks are closer, with AMD at 4.50 GHz and Intel at 5.20 GHz. The Intel chip's low base clock and high boost clock suggest a design that relies on short bursts of high frequency, while the AMD part maintains a higher sustained baseline.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has a TDP of 280 watts, while the Intel Core i9-13900E has a TDP of 65 watts. That is a 215-watt gap, which has direct implications for cooling and power delivery requirements. The AMD chip needs serious cooling and a robust motherboard VRM, while the Intel chip can run in far more modest systems.

Sockets are not interchangeable. The AMD part uses AMD Socket WRX8, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700. Memory channels also differ: the AMD part supports eight-channel DDR4, and the Intel part supports dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5. The AMD part's memory bus is a workstation feature, while the Intel part's dual-channel bus is typical for desktop.

Market segments reflect the design intent. The AMD part is classified as Server/Workstation, while the Intel part is classified as Desktop. The part numbers are 100-000000448 for AMD and SRMG2 for Intel.