AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX vs Intel Xeon 6511P Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between these two 16-core, 32-thread workstation processors. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX takes the majority of head-to-head victories, winning 13 of the 17 benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Xeon 6511P counters with four decisive wins in specialized workloads.

In rendering workloads, the AMD part leads consistently but narrowly. Across the Cinebench suite, the Threadripper PRO 5955WX posts a 1.5% advantage in every test: R15 multicore scores 4217 versus 4152, R20 multicore scores 17571 versus 17302, and R23 multicore scores 41837 versus 41196. The single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern, with the AMD chip ahead by 1.5% in R15 (595 versus 586), R20 (2480 versus 2442), and R23 (5906 versus 5815). These margins are small enough to suggest run-to-run variance, but the consistency across all six Cinebench tests points to a genuine, if modest, performance edge for the Zen 3 part.

The gap widens substantially in several PassMark sub-tests. The most dramatic difference appears in data encryption, where the AMD processor scores 42524 against the Intel part's 31429, a 26.1% advantage. Integer math also favors AMD heavily: 185168 versus 162524, a 12.2% lead. The Threadripper PRO 5955WX further wins in data compression (690994 versus 640808, 7.3% ahead), multithreaded throughput (49220 versus 45687, 7.2% ahead), and random string sorting (69879 versus 67809, 3% ahead). Most strikingly, the AMD chip's single-thread PassMark score of 3324 crushes the Intel Xeon's 2545, a 23.4% margin that reflects the significant clock speed difference between the two.

The Intel Xeon 6511P, however, dominates in four specific areas. Its PassMark physics score of 4678 is 60.6% higher than the AMD part's 2913, the largest single-benchmark gap in either direction. Floating-point math also goes clearly to Intel: 127307 versus 104377, a 22% win. The Xeon's extended instructions score of 50730 beats the Threadripper's 46952 by 8%, and prime number finding shows Intel ahead at 308 versus 248, a 24.2% margin. These results indicate that Intel's newer architecture handles certain computational patterns, particularly physics simulation and floating-point-heavy code, with notably greater efficiency.

Despite the benchmark split, both processors land in the 94th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Xeon 6511P carries an average benchmark score of 71051, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX averages 67868. The Intel part's nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, scores 70879 with a delta of 0.2%, while the AMD part's closest competitor, the AMD EPYC 4484PX, scores 67822 with a delta of 0.1%. Both processors sit within 1.2% of their nearest rivals, indicating tight competition at this performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon 6511P uses Granite Rapids architecture built on a 5 nm process from Intel's own foundry, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX uses Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Chagall PRO) fabricated on a 7 nm process by TSMC. The Intel part is part of the Xeon 6 generation (Granite Rapids-SP), released on February 23, 2025, while the AMD chip belongs to the Ryzen Threadripper 5000 series (Zen 3 Chagall), released on March 7, 2022.

Cache structures differ substantially. The Intel Xeon 6511P allocates 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 72 MB L3 cache. The AMD chip uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. While the Intel part has more total cache, the AMD chip's smaller per-core L2 reflects the older Zen 3 design. The AMD processor's physical die layout consists of 4x 81 mm² chiplets containing 16,600 million transistors, whereas the Intel database entry does not list transistor count or die size.

Memory architecture represents another major divergence. The Intel Xeon 6511P supports DDR5 memory over an eight-channel bus with a peak bandwidth of 409.6 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX supports DDR4 over the same eight-channel configuration but achieves 204.8 GB/s, exactly half the Intel part's bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. PCIe capabilities also differ: the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 136 CPU-only lanes, while the AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 128 CPU-only lanes.

Clock speeds favor AMD significantly. The Threadripper PRO 5955WX runs at 4.00 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost, compared to the Xeon 6511P's 2.30 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost. Power consumption tells the opposite story: the Intel part has a TDP of 150 watts, while the AMD part draws 280 watts. The AMD chip's higher clocks and higher TDP explain its single-thread dominance, while the Intel chip's lower power envelope suggests better efficiency per watt despite the architectural generation gap.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data supports a clear use-case separation. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX excels in everyday workstation tasks that rely on high clock speeds and strong integer performance. Its 23.4% single-thread advantage makes it the better choice for lightly threaded applications, legacy software, and interactive workloads where per-core speed matters more than total throughput. The 12.2% lead in integer math and 26.1% lead in data encryption further point to productivity applications, database operations, and security-related workloads. The multithreaded PassMark score advantage of 7.2% also suggests better general multitasking behavior.

The Intel Xeon 6511P wins in computationally specialized areas. Its 60.6% physics benchmark advantage makes it the stronger candidate for simulation workloads, physics engines, and scientific computing that stress floating-point operations. The 22% lead in floating-point math reinforces this positioning, as does the 24.2% edge in prime number finding, which indicates stronger algorithmic throughput for certain mathematical tasks. The 8% extended instructions win suggests the Intel architecture handles modern instruction set extensions more efficiently. For users running scientific simulations, rendering physics, or workloads with heavy floating-point characteristics, the Xeon 6511P's four benchmark wins carry outsized weight despite losing the overall count.

The memory bandwidth difference also tilts certain workloads. The Intel Xeon 6511P's 409.6 GB/s of DDR5 bandwidth versus the AMD part's 204.8 GB/s of DDR4 bandwidth gives Intel a clear advantage in memory-bound applications, even though no specific bandwidth benchmark appears in the head-to-head data. The PCIe Gen 5 interface with 136 lanes versus Gen 4 with 128 lanes further favors the Intel platform for multi-GPU or high-throughput I/O configurations.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. Clock speeds: Intel runs at 2.30 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, while AMD runs at 4.00 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost. TDP: Intel consumes 150 watts, AMD consumes 280 watts. Process node: Intel uses 5 nm from its own foundry, AMD uses 7 nm from TSMC. The AMD chip lists 16,600 million transistors across 4x 81 mm² dies, while the Intel entry has no transistor or die size data.

Cache configurations diverge at every level. L1: Intel provides 112 KB per core, AMD provides 64 KB per core. L2: Intel provides 2 MB per core, AMD provides 512 KB per core. L3: Intel provides 72 MB shared, AMD provides 64 MB. Memory support: Intel uses DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, AMD uses DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. Both use eight-channel memory buses and both support ECC.

PCIe generations and lane counts differ: Intel offers Gen 5 with 136 CPU-only lanes, AMD offers Gen 4 with 128 CPU-only lanes. Sockets are incompatible: Intel uses Socket 4710, AMD uses Socket WRX8. Release dates span nearly three years: Intel launched on February 23, 2025, AMD on March 7, 2022. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $815; the AMD database entry has no launch MSRP record. Both are active production parts, both lack integrated graphics, both are multiplier-locked, and both target the server/workstation market segment.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the Intel Xeon 6511P boosts to 4.20 GHz.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: In PassMark single-thread testing, the AMD chip scores 3324 versus the Intel chip's 2545, a 23.4% advantage for AMD. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap narrows to 1.5% (5906 versus 5815).

Q: Which processor wins in floating-point workloads?

A: The Intel Xeon 6511P leads in PassMark floating-point math with a score of 127307 against the AMD part's 104377, a 22% advantage. The Intel chip also wins the physics test by 60.6% (4678 versus 2913).

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The Intel Xeon 6511P supports DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s peak bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX supports DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s. Both use eight-channel memory buses and support ECC.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Xeon 6511P provides Gen 5 with 136 CPU-only lanes, while the AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 128 CPU-only lanes.

Q: How do the power requirements compare?

A: The Intel Xeon 6511P has a TDP of 150 watts, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX has a TDP of 280 watts. The AMD part draws 130 watts more despite having the same 16-core, 32-thread configuration.