AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX vs Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX is lopsided. The AMD processor wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel part manages three wins, all in PassMark workloads. The magnitude of AMD's victories is substantial, often exceeding 30%.

Starting with Cinebench, the AMD Threadripper PRO 5955WX dominates every iteration. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 4217 against Intel's 2878, a 31.8% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows the same 31.8% delta, with AMD at 595 and Intel at 406. Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds: AMD posts 17571 multi-core versus 11995 for Intel, a 31.7% gap. The single-core R20 result is 2480 versus 1693, again 31.7% in AMD's favor. Cinebench R23 repeats the story: AMD reaches 41837 multi-core, Intel 28561, and AMD hits 5906 single-core versus Intel's 4032, both at 31.7% deltas.

The PassMark suite shows a more nuanced picture. The AMD chip wins the majority of these tests, but Intel claims three specific victories. Intel wins data compression with a score of 728144 against AMD's 690994, a 5.4% edge. Intel also takes extended instructions at 51191 versus 46952, a 9% lead. The third Intel win is random string sorting, where Intel scores 80208 and AMD scores 69879, a 14.8% margin.

AMD's PassMark wins are often decisive. In data encryption, AMD scores 42524 versus Intel's 8798, a staggering 79.3% difference. The find prime numbers test shows AMD at 248 versus Intel's 84, a 66.1% gap. Physics results are similarly one-sided: AMD scores 2913, Intel 903, a 69% delta. The multithread test gives AMD 49220 against Intel's 29986, a 39.1% advantage. Floating point math is closer, with AMD at 104377 and Intel at 99432, only a 4.7% difference. Integer math shows AMD at 185168 versus Intel's 160322, a 13.4% lead. Single-thread PassMark results put AMD at 3324 versus Intel's 2325, a 30.1% gap.

The overall benchmark data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The AMD Threadripper PRO 5955WX is faster in nearly every measured category. The Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 retains specific strengths in compression, extended instruction throughput, and string sorting, but these are isolated victories in a broader landscape of AMD dominance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 is built on Cascade Lake-SP architecture, using a 14 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. It packs 26 cores and 52 threads. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX uses Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Chagall PRO, manufactured on a 7 nm node by TSMC. It has 16 cores and 32 threads.

Transistor counts reflect the process differences. Intel's chip contains 8,000 million transistors, while AMD's chip contains 16,600 million, more than double. AMD's die size is listed as 4x 81 mm², while Intel's die size is not recorded. The smaller process node and higher transistor count give AMD a density advantage.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core. Intel has 1 MB of L2 per core, while AMD has 512 KB per core. The L3 cache is where the gap widens: Intel provides 35.75 MB shared, while AMD offers 64 MB total. This larger L3 pool benefits AMD in workloads that repeatedly access the same data.

Clock speeds also separate the two. Intel runs at a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. AMD runs at a base of 4.00 GHz and a boost of 4.50 GHz. The higher clocks contribute directly to AMD's single-thread and lightly threaded advantages.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the channel configuration differs. Intel's memory bus is not recorded, while AMD has an eight-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. PCIe capabilities are only listed for AMD: Gen 4 with 128 lanes from the CPU.

Socket and platform requirements are entirely different. Intel uses Socket 3647, while AMD uses Socket WRX8. This means motherboard compatibility is mutually exclusive. The power envelopes also differ: Intel is rated at 205 W TDP, AMD at 280 W TDP. AMD's higher power draw aligns with its higher clocks and performance output.

Release dates are far apart. Intel launched on 2018-12-10, while AMD arrived on 2022-03-07. The three-year gap explains the architectural leap: Zen 3's 7 nm process and IPC improvements over Cascade Lake are visible throughout the benchmark scores. The Intel part's production status is not recorded, while AMD's is listed as active.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX is the clear choice for most compute-heavy tasks. Its Cinebench wins across R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core, indicate strong performance in rendering, 3D modeling, and video encoding. The PassMark multithread score of 49220 versus 29986 reinforces this: threaded workloads such as compilation, simulation, and batch processing will run faster on AMD.

AMD also dominates in encryption workloads. The data encryption score of 42524 versus Intel's 8798 shows a 79.3% advantage, making AMD the better option for cryptographic operations, secure communications, and filesystem encryption. The find prime numbers result, 248 versus 84, suggests AMD is stronger in integer-heavy algorithmic workloads. Physics simulation also favors AMD heavily, with 2913 versus 903.

The Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 has specific niches where it outperforms. In data compression, Intel scores 728144 against AMD's 690994, a 5.4% win. This makes Intel preferable for compression-heavy tasks such as archiving, backup systems, and database storage optimization. The extended instructions test, 51191 versus 46952, shows Intel has an edge in workloads that leverage specialized instruction sets. Random string sorting, 80208 versus 69879, indicates Intel is faster in sorting algorithms that are common in data processing pipelines.

For users running mixed workloads, the decision depends on the balance of these tasks. If encryption, physics, rendering, and general multithreaded compute are the priority, AMD wins outright. If compression, sorting, and extended instruction throughput dominate the daily workload, Intel retains value despite its overall deficit.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 has 26 cores and 52 threads. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX has 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: Why does the AMD chip win so many benchmarks despite having fewer cores?

A: The AMD part has a higher base clock (4.00 GHz versus 2.70 GHz), a higher boost clock (4.50 GHz versus 4.00 GHz), a newer 7 nm Zen 3 architecture, and a larger 64 MB L3 cache. These factors compensate for the core count difference.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark data encryption, where AMD scores 42524 versus Intel's 8798, a 79.3% difference in AMD's favor.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where Intel wins?

A: Yes. Intel wins PassMark data compression by 5.4%, extended instructions by 9%, and random string sorting by 14.8%.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX have ECC memory support.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 is rated at 205 W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX is rated at 280 W TDP.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 | AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 26 | 16 |

| Threads | 52 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 205 W | 280 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 3647 | AMD Socket WRX8 |

| Architecture | Cascade Lake | Zen 3 |

| Codename | Cascade Lake-SP | Chagall PRO |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | 8,000 million | 16,600 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 4x 81 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 Cache | 35.75 MB shared | 64 MB |

| Memory Bus | Not recorded | Eight-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 204.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not recorded | Gen 4, 128 Lanes |

| Release Date | 2018-12-10 | 2022-03-07 |

| Production Status | Not recorded | Active |

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX is the faster processor in the vast majority of tests. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench test and most PassMark workloads. The deltas are frequently large: 31.7% to 31.8% in Cinebench, 39.1% in multithread, 69% in physics, and 79.3% in encryption. For anyone prioritizing rendering, simulation, encryption, or general multithreaded compute, the AMD chip is the correct selection.

The Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 is not without merit. Its three wins in data compression, extended instructions, and random string sorting show that it retains strengths in specific data-processing tasks. Its lower TDP of 205 W versus AMD's 280 W may appeal to environments where power is a constraint. The 26-core count also provides more raw threads for highly parallel workloads that scale perfectly, though the benchmark results show AMD's 16 cores outperforming Intel's 26 in practice.

The decision comes down to workload composition. Users who run compression-heavy pipelines, sorting tasks, or specialized instruction workloads may prefer Intel. Users who run rendering, physics, encryption, or mixed productivity workloads should choose AMD. The overall average benchmark score for Intel is 71370, while AMD's is 67868, but this average is skewed by Intel's three large wins in specific PassMark tests. The head-to-head data, which compares the same tests directly, is the more reliable guide, and it favors AMD decisively.