AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX vs Intel Core i5-12500 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between these two processors is decisively lopsided, with the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX taking 7 of the 8 shared tests. The most striking results come from the Cinebench suite, where the Threadripper PRO demonstrates overwhelming multi-core dominance. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD part scores 81,175 against the Intel Core i5-12500's 16,759, a 384.4% advantage. This pattern repeats across the entire Cinebench lineup: R15 multicore shows 8,182 versus 1,689 (384.4% delta), R20 multicore shows 34,093 versus 7,038 (384.4% delta), and the single-core variants tell a similar story with deltas of 385.3% in R15 and 384.7% in R20.

The single-core results are particularly noteworthy because they defy the usual expectation that a lower-core-count desktop chip would win those tests. The Threadripper PRO 5995WX wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 11,460 points against the i5-12500's 2,366 points, a 384.4% margin. The R15 single-core result is 1,155 versus 238 (385.3%), and R20 single-core is 4,813 versus 993 (384.7%). These aren't narrow wins; they are systematic advantages exceeding 384% across every Cinebench metric.

Geekbench reveals a more nuanced picture. In Geekbench multicore, the Threadripper PRO scores 16,598 versus the i5-12500's 9,374, a 77.1% advantage. However, the Intel part wins Geekbench single-core with 1,969 points against 1,947, a slim 1.1% margin. This is the only test where the i5-12500 comes out ahead, and the margin is small enough to suggest near-parity in lightly threaded Geekbench workloads.

The deltaPct values tell a consistent story: in every Cinebench test, the AMD part holds an identical or near-identical 384-385% lead, indicating that the benchmark's scaling is proportional across single and multi-core tests. The Geekbench multicore delta of 77.1% is smaller than Cinebench's margins, suggesting that Geekbench's workload does not scale as aggressively with the AMD processor's massive thread count.

Architecture Differences

The foundational architectural split is stark. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX is built on TSMC's 7 nm process and uses the Zen 3 architecture under the codename Chagall PRO, while the Intel Core i5-12500 uses Intel's 10 nm process with Alder Lake architecture (Alder Lake-S). The process node difference is significant, though both are active production parts from 2022.

Core counts diverge dramatically: the Threadripper PRO offers 64 cores and 128 threads, while the i5-12500 provides 6 cores and 12 threads. This 10.67x core advantage explains the multi-core benchmark deltas, though the Cinebench margins of 384.4% are lower than the raw core ratio, indicating some scaling inefficiency. The Threadripper PRO's die size is listed as 8x 81 mm² with 33,200 million transistors, whereas the i5-12500 is a single 163 mm² die with no transistor count listed.

Cache hierarchies are fundamentally different in scale. The AMD part features 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus a massive 256 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 18 MB of shared L3. The Threadripper PRO's 256 MB L3 is over 14 times larger than the i5-12500's 18 MB, which directly supports its server/workstation positioning.

Memory architecture also separates the two. The Threadripper PRO supports DDR4 over an eight-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory support. The i5-12500 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with no ECC support and no bandwidth figure listed. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the AMD part provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

The Intel part includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the AMD part has none listed. The Threadripper PRO's socket is AMD Socket WRX8, and the i5-12500 uses Intel Socket 1700. Production status is "Active" for both, with the Intel part releasing on 2022-01-03 and the AMD part on 2022-03-07.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX wins decisively in any heavily threaded workload. The Cinebench results, all showing 384.4% or higher deltas, indicate that the 64-core/128-thread configuration excels in render workloads. The Geekbench multicore win of 77.1% extends this to general-purpose multithreaded computing, though by a smaller margin. The 256 MB L3 cache and 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth position it for data-intensive workstation tasks.

The Intel Core i5-12500 wins exactly one shared benchmark: Geekbench single-core with 1,969 versus 1,947, a 1.1% margin. This is a narrow victory, but it demonstrates that for lightly threaded tasks in Geekbench, the Alder Lake architecture's higher per-core efficiency (boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus 4.50 GHz) can edge out the Zen 3 part. The i5-12500's base clock of 3.00 GHz also exceeds the Threadripper PRO's 2.70 GHz base clock.

The i5-12500's additional benchmark suite (not shared with the AMD part) shows its strengths in specific workloads. PassMark results include data compression at 238,753, data encryption at 12,033, extended instructions at 16,090, floating point math at 48,004, and integer math at 61,626. The multithread score is 19,893, and single-thread is 3,666. These numbers, while not directly comparable to the AMD part's scores, illustrate that the i5-12500 is a capable general-purpose desktop processor.

The Threadripper PRO's average benchmark score of 19,928 places it at the 74th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-12500's average of 19,668 places it at the 73rd percentile. Despite the massive core count difference, the average scores are remarkably close, suggesting that the i5-12500's efficiency in lighter tasks compensates for its lack of raw core count in the aggregate metric.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX wins 7 of 8 shared benchmarks, with the Intel Core i5-12500 winning only Geekbench single-core by 1.1%.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Threadripper PRO scores 81,175 versus 16,759 for the i5-12500, a 384.4% advantage. The Geekbench multicore gap is 77.1%.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any single-core tests?

A: Yes, the i5-12500 wins Geekbench single-core with 1,969 points versus 1,947 for the Threadripper PRO, though the margin is just 1.1%.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The AMD part has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the Intel part has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Threadripper PRO supports ECC memory, while the i5-12500 does not.

Q: What is the L3 cache capacity difference?

A: The Threadripper PRO has 256 MB of L3 cache, while the i5-12500 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The data clearly indicates that the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX is the superior processor for multi-threaded workstation and server workloads. Every Cinebench test shows a 384%+ advantage, and the Geekbench multicore test shows a 77.1% lead. The 64-core/128-thread configuration, combined with 256 MB of L3 cache, 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth, and ECC support, makes it the appropriate choice for rendering, simulation, and data-intensive professional applications.

The Intel Core i5-12500 wins exactly one shared benchmark, Geekbench single-core, by a 1.1% margin. Its 6-core/12-thread configuration is suited for desktop use cases where the workload is primarily single-threaded or lightly threaded. The inclusion of integrated graphics and a 65 W TDP (versus 280 W for the AMD part) makes it a practical choice for standard desktop computing, though the benchmark data shows it is decisively outmatched in multi-core performance.

The percentile rankings (74th for AMD, 73rd for Intel) and average benchmark scores (19,928 versus 19,668) suggest that in aggregate, the two processors are close in overall benchmark averages. However, the head-to-head data shows that the Threadripper PRO's wins are massive while the i5-12500's single win is marginal. For users who need maximum multi-core throughput, the Threadripper PRO is the clear choice. For users who prioritize single-core performance and require integrated graphics, the i5-12500 is the data-supported option, though its single-core win is minimal.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX | Intel Core i5-12500 |

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

| Cores | 64 | 6 |

| Threads | 128 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 280 W | 65 W |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 8x 81 mm² | 163 mm² |

| Transistors | 33,200 million | Not listed |

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

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 256 MB | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Dual-channel |

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

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 128 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Socket | AMD Socket WRX8 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2022-03-07 | 2022-01-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $6499 | $212 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | 100-000000444 | SRL5V |