AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 occupy different corners of the processor market, yet their benchmark records show a surprisingly close contest in several workloads. The Threadripper PRO is a 16-core workstation part built for memory bandwidth and sustained throughput, while the Core Ultra 7 is a 20-core desktop processor with a higher boost clock and newer process node. The database records 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the Intel part winning 10 and the AMD part winning 7, but the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX dominates in tasks that rely on massive memory bandwidth and high core-count scaling. Its most decisive victory comes in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where it scores 17,571 against the Intel’s 6,268, a 180.3% advantage. The single-core R20 result follows the same pattern: 2,480 versus 884, again a 180.5% lead. These are not close margins; they represent a fundamental difference in how each chip handles sustained all-core rendering loads. The Threadripper also wins heavily in integer math, scoring 185,168 against 134,773, a 37.4% lead, and in data compression with 690,994 versus 522,983, a 32.1% advantage. It also takes data encryption by 5.1%, extended instructions by 13.2%, and random string sorting by 9.5%.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 wins in single-threaded and latency-sensitive workloads. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4,689 versus 3,324 represents a 29.1% lead, and it wins PassMark find prime numbers by 40.7% (418 versus 248). Floating-point math heavily favors Intel as well: 172,776 versus 104,377, a 39.6% margin. The Cinebench R15 and R23 tests are nearly dead heats, with Intel winning multi-core R15 by 0.9%, single-core R15 by 0.8%, R23 multi-core by 0.9%, and R23 single-core by 0.9%. PassMark multi-thread goes to Intel by 0.9%, and physics by 0.3%. The pattern is clear: AMD wins when the workload saturates memory channels or scales across all cores, while Intel wins when clock speed and per-core efficiency matter.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures separated by several generations of design philosophy. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX uses Zen 3 on a 7 nm TSMC process, with the codename Chagall PRO. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a 64 MB L3 cache. The chip is built from four chiplets, each 81 mm² in size, totaling 16,600 million transistors. It supports DDR4 memory across an eight-channel bus, yielding 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth, and it includes ECC memory support. PCIe connectivity is Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 uses Arrow Lake architecture on a 3 nm TSMC process, codenamed Arrow Lake-S. It has 20 cores but only 20 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading. Its base clock is 2.40 GHz, but the boost clock reaches 5.30 GHz. The cache configuration is notably different: 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and a shared 30 MB L3. The die size is 243 mm², with 17,800 million transistors. Memory support is DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, providing 102.4 GB/s, roughly half the bandwidth of the AMD part. It does not support ECC memory, and PCIe is Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Intel also includes integrated graphics, an Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 32EU unit, while the Threadripper has none.

The most consequential differences are memory bandwidth, thread count, and process node. The AMD part’s eight-channel DDR4 interface provides double the theoretical bandwidth of Intel’s dual-channel DDR5, which explains its dominance in memory-intensive benchmarks. Intel’s 3 nm node and 5.30 GHz boost clock explain its single-thread superiority. The lack of SMT on Intel means 20 threads versus 32 on AMD, yet Intel still manages to match or slightly beat AMD in several multi-threaded tests, evidence of its higher per-core IPC and clock speed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX has 32 threads from 16 cores, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has 20 threads from 20 cores, as the Intel part does not support simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Why does the AMD chip win Cinebench R20 by such a large margin?

A: The R20 multi-core score for AMD is 17,571 versus 6,268 for Intel, a 180.3% difference. This is attributed to the AMD part’s eight-channel memory bus providing 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, which is double the Intel’s 102.4 GB/s, allowing better scaling in this specific rendering workload.

Q: In which benchmark does Intel have its largest single win?

A: The largest Intel victory is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 418 versus AMD’s 248, a 40.7% lead. This workload is heavily dependent on integer throughput and clock speed.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Threadripper PRO supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 does not.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD part has 204.8 GB/s over eight channels of DDR4, while the Intel part has 102.4 GB/s over two channels of DDR5. The AMD chip has exactly double the rated bandwidth.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 includes integrated graphics, specifically an Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 32EU unit. The AMD Threadripper PRO has no integrated graphics.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The AMD part offers 16 cores and 32 threads, while Intel offers 20 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks are 4.00 GHz for AMD versus 2.40 GHz for Intel, but boost clocks reverse the order: 4.50 GHz for AMD versus 5.30 GHz for Intel. Thermal design power differs substantially, with AMD rated at 280 watts and Intel at 65 watts. Sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket WRX8, Intel uses Socket 1851.

The process nodes differ by generation: AMD is on 7 nm, Intel on 3 nm, both fabricated by TSMC. Transistor counts are similar but not identical, 16,600 million for AMD and 17,800 million for Intel. Die size is dramatically different: AMD uses four chiplets of 81 mm² each, while Intel uses a single 243 mm² die. Cache configurations are fundamentally different: AMD provides 64 KB L1, 512 KB L2, and 64 MB L3 per chip, while Intel provides 192 KB L1, 3 MB L2, and 30 MB shared L3.

Memory support is another major split: AMD uses DDR4 on an eight-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support, while Intel uses DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s and no ECC. PCIe capabilities also differ, with AMD offering Gen 4 across 128 lanes and Intel offering Gen 5 across 20 lanes. The AMD part is a server/workstation segment product released in March 2022, while the Intel part is a desktop product released in January 2025. Intel lists a launch MSRP of $394; AMD has no listed launch MSRP in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most extreme result in the database is the Cinebench R20 multi-core test, where the AMD Threadripper PRO 5955WX scores 17,571 against Intel’s 6,268, a 180.3% delta. The single-core R20 test shows the same pattern: 2,480 versus 884, a 180.5% lead for AMD. These are the largest gaps in either direction and highlight a workload where the AMD platform’s memory subsystem and 32 threads produce an overwhelming advantage.

Intel’s largest wins come in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 418 versus 248, a 40.7% margin, and PassMark floating-point math, where it scores 172,776 versus 104,377, a 39.6% lead. The single-thread PassMark test also favors Intel heavily: 4,689 versus 3,324, a 29.1% advantage. These results show Intel’s per-core strength in arithmetic and scalar workloads.

The Cinebench R23 results are remarkably close. Intel wins multi-core with 42,216 versus 41,837, a 0.9% margin, and single-core with 5,960 versus 5,906, also 0.9%. Cinebench R15 follows the same pattern: Intel wins multi-core 4,255 versus 4,217 (0.9%) and single-core 600 versus 595 (0.8%). PassMark multi-thread goes to Intel by 0.9% (49,682 versus 49,220), and physics goes to Intel by 0.3% (2,923 versus 2,913).

AMD’s other wins are in integer math: 185,168 versus 134,773, a 37.4% lead; data compression: 690,994 versus 522,983, a 32.1% lead; extended instructions: 46,952 versus 41,478, a 13.2% lead; random string sorting: 69,879 versus 63,833, a 9.5% lead; and data encryption: 42,524 versus 40,456, a 5.1% lead. These results indicate that AMD’s advantage is concentrated in workloads that benefit from high memory bandwidth and many threads, while Intel’s wins come from clock speed and architectural efficiency on lighter loads. The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split: AMD sits at 67,868 with a 94th percentile ranking, while Intel sits at 64,640 with a 93rd percentile ranking.