AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX vs Intel Core i5-11600K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX and the Intel Core i5-11600K occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, yet their average benchmark scores sit within 0.7% of each other. The Threadripper PRO 5995WX posts an average benchmark score of 19928, while the i5-11600K lands at 19786. This near-parity in aggregate scores masks dramatically different performance profiles: the AMD part wins 7 of 8 head-to-head tests, but the Intel chip claims the single-core crown. The data shows two processors built for entirely different workloads, and the benchmark results make that split unmistakable.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the sheer magnitude of the Threadripper PRO 5995WX's multi-core victories. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD processor scores 8182 against the Intel's 1668, a delta of 390.5%. That same gap repeats across every Cinebench iteration: R20 multi-core shows 34093 versus 6951 (390.5% delta), and R23 multi-core shows 81175 versus 16552 (390.4% delta). These are not incremental leads; the Threadripper PRO 5995WX is delivering roughly five times the multi-threaded rendering performance of the i5-11600K in every Cinebench test.

The single-core Cinebench results follow the same lopsided pattern, which is unexpected for a workstation part. The Threadripper PRO 5995WX scores 1155 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus the Intel's 235, a 391.5% delta. R20 single-core shows 4813 versus 981 (390.6% delta), and R23 single-core shows 11460 versus 2336 (390.6% delta). The AMD part is ahead by roughly 390% in every single-threaded Cinebench test, which suggests these specific benchmark runs are measuring something beyond raw clock speed — likely memory bandwidth or cache architecture advantages that scale even with one thread.

Geekbench tells a different story. In Geekbench multi-core, the Threadripper PRO 5995WX scores 16598 versus the i5-11600K's 9238, a 79.7% delta. That is a commanding lead, but far smaller than the Cinebench margins. In Geekbench single-core, the Intel i5-11600K actually wins: 1973 versus 1947, a -1.3% delta in favor of the Intel part. This is the only head-to-head test the i5-11600K wins, and it is a narrow one — a 26-point difference that falls well within normal run-to-run variance. Still, it is the one benchmark where the 6-core desktop chip outpaces the 64-core workstation monster.

The average benchmark scores put both processors in the same percentile band: the Threadripper PRO 5995WX sits at the 74th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-11600K sits at the 73rd. Their nearest rivals reinforce this closeness. The Threadripper PRO 5995WX's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-11600H at 19921 (0% delta), followed by the i7-11800H at 19998 (-0.3%), the AMD EPYC 7713P at 20024 (-0.5%), and the i5-11600K at 19786 (0.7%). The i5-11600K's nearest rival list includes the i5-11600KF at 19723 (0.3%), the i5-12500 at 19668 (0.6%), the i7-11600H at 19921 (-0.7%), and the Threadripper PRO 5995WX at 19928 (-0.7%). Both processors are clustered within a 300-point range, but that aggregate similarity hides the fact that they achieve those scores through completely different means.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split: choose the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX for any workload that scales across cores, and choose the Intel Core i5-11600K only if single-threaded performance in Geekbench is your absolute priority. The Threadripper PRO 5995WX wins 7 of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, with margins ranging from 79.7% to 390.6%. The i5-11600K's sole victory is a 1.3% edge in Geekbench single-core, which is negligible in real-world terms.

The production status tells you which one is built for longevity: the Threadripper PRO 5995WX is Active, while the i5-11600K is End-of-life. The AMD part is also the only one with ECC memory support, which matters for data integrity in workstation environments. If you are building a system for rendering, compilation, or any heavily threaded workload, the Threadripper PRO 5995WX is the only rational choice based on the benchmark data. If you are building a gaming or light desktop system where a single core's Geekbench score is the deciding factor, the i5-11600K has a narrow edge — but the data does not support calling it a winner anywhere else.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX uses Zen 3 architecture on a 7 nm TSMC process, with a codename of Chagall PRO. The Intel Core i5-11600K uses Rocket Lake architecture on a 14 nm Intel process. The process node difference is stark: 7 nm versus 14 nm, which explains how AMD packs 64 cores into a 280 W TDP while Intel manages only 6 cores in a 125 W TDP.

The cache layouts diverge completely. The Threadripper PRO 5995WX has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a massive 256 MB of L3 cache. The i5-11600K has 80 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and only 12 MB of shared L3. That 256 MB versus 12 MB L3 difference is a 20-fold advantage for the AMD part, and it shows up in the Cinebench results where the Threadripper PRO 5995WX maintains a consistent 390% lead even in single-threaded tests.

The transistor counts and die sizes tell the same story. The Threadripper PRO 5995WX packs 33,200 million transistors across 8 dies of 81 mm² each. The i5-11600K has a single 276 mm² die, and the fact pack does not list a transistor count for it. The AMD part is a multi-die design built for massive parallelism, while the Intel part is a monolithic desktop chip.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious differentiators: the Threadripper PRO 5995WX has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the i5-11600K has 6 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds tell a different story — the Intel part has a higher base clock at 3.90 GHz versus 2.70 GHz, and a higher boost clock at 4.90 GHz versus 4.50 GHz. Despite the lower clocks, the AMD part wins nearly every benchmark, which points to the enormous core count and cache advantage overcoming clock speed deficits.

Memory support differs significantly. Both support DDR4, but the Threadripper PRO 5995WX runs eight-channel memory with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth, while the i5-11600K runs dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s. The AMD part supports ECC memory; the Intel part does not. PCIe lanes also diverge: the Threadripper PRO 5995WX offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes, while the i5-11600K offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes.

The integrated graphics situation is one-sided. The i5-11600K includes UHD Graphics 750, while the Threadripper PRO 5995WX has no integrated graphics. The market segments reflect their intended uses: the AMD part is classified as Server/Workstation, while the Intel part is Desktop. The Threadripper PRO 5995WX has a locked multiplier, while the i5-11600K is multiplier-unlocked for overclocking. Sockets differ as well — AMD Socket WRX8 for the Threadripper PRO 5995WX versus Intel Socket 1200 for the i5-11600K.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the Intel Core i5-11600K has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-11600K ever beat the Threadripper PRO 5995WX in benchmarks?

A: Yes, in Geekbench single-core, the i5-11600K scores 1973 versus the Threadripper PRO 5995WX's 1947, a 1.3% delta in favor of Intel.

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

A: The largest deltas are in Cinebench tests, where the Threadripper PRO 5995WX leads by 390.4% to 390.6% across R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core runs.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX supports ECC memory; the Intel Core i5-11600K does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Threadripper PRO 5995WX provides 204.8 GB/s over eight channels, while the i5-11600K provides 51.2 GB/s over dual channels.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600K includes UHD Graphics 750, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX has no integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX wins in every Cinebench test, both single-core and multi-core, by margins of roughly 390%. It also wins Geekbench multi-core by 79.7%. This makes it the clear choice for rendering, video encoding, scientific computing, and any workload that can use more than a handful of threads. The 256 MB of L3 cache and 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth provide the data throughput those workloads demand. The 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes and eight-channel memory support make it suitable for workstation configurations with multiple GPUs and high-capacity storage arrays.

The Intel Core i5-11600K wins exactly one benchmark: Geekbench single-core, by 1.3%. That narrow margin does not translate into a meaningful advantage in any real-world workload. However, the i5-11600K does have a higher base clock (3.90 GHz versus 2.70 GHz), a higher boost clock (4.90 GHz versus 4.50 GHz), an unlocked multiplier, and integrated graphics. For a desktop build where overclocking and a simple single-GPU setup are the priorities, those features matter. The 125 W TDP also makes it far easier to cool than the 280 W Threadripper PRO 5995WX, though the fact pack does not specify cooler requirements. The i5-11600K is end-of-life, but for a light desktop or gaming system, its single-core Geekbench win and integrated graphics give it a narrow edge that the data supports.