AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX vs Intel Xeon w5-3525 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX and the Intel Xeon w5-3525 are both 16-core, 32-thread workstation processors, but the benchmark data reveals they are not equal in performance distribution. The AMD part wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel part takes only 5. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—67868 for the AMD and 67673 for the Intel, a delta of just 0.3%—yet the underlying workload characteristics diverge sharply, with the AMD chip dominating integer and encryption tasks while the Intel chip pulls ahead in floating-point and extended instruction workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head results is the consistency of the AMD processor’s victories in rendering and multithreaded workloads. Across every Cinebench test—R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core—the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX wins by exactly 7.4% over the Xeon w5-3525. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 41837 versus 38964 for the Intel, a gap that holds steady across all six Cinebench variants. This uniformity suggests a fundamental architectural advantage in the AMD’s core design rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The AMD processor’s lead extends to several PassMark tests with even larger margins. In integer math, the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX scores 185168 against 155282 for the Xeon, a 19.2% advantage. Data encryption shows the biggest single delta: 42524 versus 30507, a 39.4% gap in favor of AMD. Data compression also favors AMD by 13.8% (690994 versus 607435), as does prime number finding (248 versus 218, also 13.8%). The multithreaded PassMark score follows the Cinebench pattern at 7.4% (49220 versus 45841), and random string sorting gives AMD a 9.9% edge (69879 versus 63579).

The Intel Xeon w5-3525, however, claims the floating-point math crown decisively. Its PassMark floating-point score of 121050 beats the AMD’s 104377 by 13.8%. Extended instructions also favor Intel, with a 49242 score versus 46952, a 4.7% margin. The physics test is a narrow Intel win at 3002 versus 2913, just 3% ahead. In single-threaded PassMark, the Intel chip edges out the AMD by a hair: 3330 versus 3324, a 0.2% difference that is nearly a tie. Notably, the AMD’s Cinebench single-core wins at 7.4% do not translate to PassMark single-thread, where the two are essentially equal—a divergence that points to different instruction mixes between the two benchmark suites.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC, using the Zen 3 architecture under the codename Chagall PRO. Its die is composed of 4x 81 mm² chiplets, totaling 16,600 million transistors. The Intel Xeon w5-3525, by contrast, uses a 10 nm process at Intel’s own foundry, with the Sapphire Rapids codename and a larger 4x 477 mm² die size—though the fact pack does not list its transistor count.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The AMD processor provides 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel chip has larger per-core caches: 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, but a smaller 45 MB L3. This means the Intel part holds more data closer to each core, while the AMD part offers a larger shared pool of last-level cache. Memory support also diverges: the AMD uses DDR4 with eight-channel access and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel uses DDR5 with eight-channel access and 307.2 GB/s bandwidth—a 50% peak bandwidth advantage for the Intel part.

PCIe capabilities are another major differentiator. The AMD provides 128 lanes of PCIe Gen 4, while the Intel offers 112 lanes of PCIe Gen 5. The Intel’s Gen 5 interface doubles the per-lane bandwidth, but the AMD has more total lanes. Both support ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD is listed as having no integrated graphics, while the Intel is explicitly marked as “N/A” for integrated graphics, meaning both require a discrete GPU. The release dates are far apart: the AMD launched on 2022-03-07, while the Intel arrived on 2024-08-23. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $1339; the AMD has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX is the clear choice for rendering and heavily multithreaded integer workloads. Its 7.4% sweep across all Cinebench versions indicates a consistent advantage in CPU-bound 3D rendering tasks, which are often used as a proxy for general workstation performance. The 19.2% lead in integer math and 39.4% lead in data encryption make it particularly strong for code compilation, scientific simulations that rely on integer operations, and security-related workloads like cryptographic hashing. The 13.8% advantage in data compression and prime number finding reinforces the profile of a processor that excels at algorithmic, non-floating-point tasks. With 64 MB of L3 cache, the AMD also has a larger shared cache pool, which can benefit workloads with large working sets.

The Xeon w5-3525 wins where floating-point throughput matters most. Its 13.8% advantage in floating-point math suggests it is better suited for scientific computing, financial modeling, and engineering simulations that rely heavily on FPU operations. The 4.7% edge in extended instructions hints at better support for specialized instruction sets like AVX-512, though the fact pack does not specify exact instruction extensions. The physics test win, though narrow at 3%, aligns with this floating-point strength. The Intel part also has a massive memory bandwidth advantage—307.2 GB/s versus 204.8 GB/s—which could benefit memory-bound workloads that stream large datasets. The larger per-core L2 cache (2 MB versus 512 KB) may help with latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks, even though the single-thread PassMark scores are nearly identical.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture: for most workstation users, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX is the superior processor. It wins 12 of 17 benchmarks, including every rendering test, and its wins are often larger than the Intel’s. The 7.4% Cinebench lead across the board is a decisive factor for any professional working in 3D animation, video editing, or architectural visualization. The 19.2% integer math and 39.4% encryption advantages make it a strong choice for software development and data security tasks. The higher 4.00 GHz base clock (versus 3.20 GHz) and 7 nm process node contribute to its efficiency, though the fact pack does not provide direct power consumption figures beyond the 280 W TDP for AMD and 290 W TDP for Intel.

The Intel Xeon w5-3525 is the pick only for workloads that specifically demand floating-point performance or maximum memory bandwidth. Its 13.8% floating-point math advantage and 307.2 GB/s bandwidth could justify its selection for high-performance computing clusters or large-scale data analytics. The 10 nm process and newer 2024 release date do not translate into a performance lead in most tests, though the Intel part does have a slightly higher boost clock at 4.80 GHz versus 4.50 GHz for the AMD. Given that the AMD is both older and faster in the majority of tests, the data suggests the Intel processor competes best in a narrow niche rather than as a general-purpose workstation champion.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX scores 41837, which is 7.4% higher than the Intel Xeon w5-3525’s 38964.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon w5-3525 win any benchmark by a large margin?

A: Yes, the Intel wins PassMark floating-point math by 13.8% (121050 versus 104377) and also leads in extended instructions by 4.7%.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark data encryption, where the AMD wins by 39.4% (42524 versus 30507).

Q: How do their memory bandwidths compare?

A: The Intel Xeon w5-3525 has 307.2 GB/s bandwidth with DDR5, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX has 204.8 GB/s with DDR4, giving Intel a 50% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD and Intel chips list ECC memory support as true.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD provides 128 lanes of PCIe Gen 4, while the Intel offers 112 lanes of PCIe Gen 5, so AMD has more lanes but Intel has a newer PCIe generation.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX | Intel Xeon w5-3525 |

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

| Process Node | 7 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| Die Size | 4x 81 mm² | 4x 477 mm² |

| Transistors | 16,600 million | Not listed |

| Base Clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 45 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 204.8 GB/s | 307.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 128 Lanes | Gen 5, 112 Lanes |

| Socket | AMD Socket WRX8 | Intel Socket 4677 |

| TDP | 280 W | 290 W |

| Release Date | 2022-03-07 | 2024-08-23 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $1339 |