AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX vs Intel Core i7-11600H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX and the Intel Core i7-11600H occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, yet their aggregate benchmark averages are nearly identical—a statistical curiosity that belies their fundamentally different designs. The Threadripper PRO is a 64-core workstation monster, while the i7-11600H is a 6-core mobile processor. The data reveals a complete rout in raw performance, but the real story lies in what each chip represents for its intended use case.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are decisively one-sided, with the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX winning all eight benchmark comparisons. The most staggering margins appear in the Cinebench suite, where the Threadripper PRO's multi-core scores dwarf the Intel part by over 500% in every test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 81,175 against Intel's 13,286, a delta of 511%. The pattern holds across R15 and R20 multi-core tests, with deltas of 511.1% and 511% respectively. These are not incremental gains; they represent a six-fold performance advantage in heavily threaded workloads.

Even more surprising is the single-core performance gap, where the Threadripper PRO's advantages are proportionally even larger. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD scores 1,155 versus Intel's 188, a delta of 514.4%. The R20 and R23 single-core tests show similar margins—511.6% and 511.2% respectively. This suggests that the Zen 3 architecture's single-threaded efficiency, combined with the Threadripper's higher 4.50 GHz boost clock, completely overwhelms the Tiger Lake-H's single-thread capabilities in these specific workloads, despite the Intel chip's nominally higher 4.60 GHz boost.

Geekbench paints a slightly different picture. The multi-core test shows a 152.9% advantage for the AMD (16,598 vs 6,563), which is substantial but far smaller than the Cinebench margins. However, the Geekbench single-core test is remarkably close: the AMD scores 1,947 versus Intel's 1,924, a mere 1.2% difference. This near-parity in Geekbench single-core suggests that the Intel core, despite its lower TDP and mobile positioning, can compete in certain single-threaded scenarios when the workload doesn't stress the memory subsystem or cache hierarchy as heavily as Cinebench does.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX wins in every benchmark category where data exists, but the magnitude of those wins varies dramatically by workload type. The Cinebench suite, which heavily rewards multi-core throughput, is the Threadripper's home turf—the 511%+ deltas in both single and multi-core tests indicate that the 64-core, 128-thread configuration with 256 MB of L3 cache is in a completely different performance class. The Geekbench multi-core result, while still a decisive win at 152.9%, shows that some workloads scale less perfectly with core count, possibly due to memory bandwidth constraints or thread scheduling overhead.

The Intel Core i7-11600H wins in the sense of efficiency and practicality, though not in any performance metric. Its 35W TDP versus the AMD's 280W TDP means it can operate in thin-and-light laptops where the Threadripper PRO, with its 8x 81 mm² die configuration, would be physically impossible to cool. The Intel chip also includes integrated UHD Graphics 750, providing a complete platform solution without a discrete GPU—something the AMD lacks entirely. For mobile users needing modest multi-threaded performance (the i7-11600H still manages 13,286 in Cinebench R23 multi-core), the Intel part offers a workable solution.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX uses TSMC's 7nm process with 33,200 million transistors spread across eight chiplets, each measuring 81 mm². This "Zen 3" architecture, codenamed Chagall PRO, features 64 cores and 128 threads with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and boost of 4.50 GHz. The cache hierarchy is massive: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a staggering 256 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support includes eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC memory is supported—critical for workstation reliability. The platform uses AMD Socket WRX8 with 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, enabling extensive I/O expansion.

The Intel Core i7-11600H, in contrast, is a monolithic 10nm design from Intel's own foundry, with a single 190 mm² die. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads, running at 2.50 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost. The cache layout differs substantially: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and just 18 MB of shared L3. Memory support is dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC is not supported. The Intel chip is a mobile part on BGA 1787, with only 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. Its integrated UHD Graphics 750 provides display output and basic acceleration, a feature entirely absent from the server-class AMD part.

FAQ

Q: Why is the AMD's single-core Cinebench score so much higher than Intel's, despite similar boost clocks?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX scores 1,155 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus Intel's 188, a 514.4% difference. This is likely due to the Zen 3 architecture's superior instruction-level parallelism and the massive 256 MB L3 cache, which reduces memory latency in single-threaded workloads. The Intel chip's 35W TDP may also cause power limiting that reduces sustained single-core performance.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-11600H competitive in any benchmark?

A: In Geekbench single-core, the Intel scores 1,924 versus AMD's 1,947, a gap of only 1.2%. This is the closest result in the entire dataset and suggests that in certain lightweight, latency-sensitive workloads, the Tiger Lake-H core can nearly match the Zen 3 core. However, the Intel loses all other comparisons by wide margins.

Q: What does the 74th percentile ranking for the AMD processor indicate?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX ranks in the 74th percentile of all CPUs, meaning it outperforms 74% of processors in the database. This is surprisingly low for a flagship workstation part, likely because the benchmark average includes results from the much slower Intel mobile chip, which drags down the aggregate score. The Intel i7-11600H ranks at the 73rd percentile, nearly identical despite vastly different performance profiles.

Q: How do the memory systems differ between the two processors?

A: The AMD supports eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory, while the Intel uses dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s and no ECC support. This four-fold bandwidth advantage is critical for the AMD's 64-core configuration, as memory throughput must scale to feed all cores. The Intel's smaller core count can operate adequately with less bandwidth.

Q: Why is the AMD's average benchmark score so close to the Intel's?

A: The AMD's average benchmark score is 19,928 while the Intel's is 19,921, a difference of 0.03%. The AMD's nearestRivals list shows the Intel at a 0% deltaPct, meaning their aggregate scores are statistically identical. This is an artifact of the benchmark averaging methodology—the AMD's single-core Geekbench score is nearly equal to Intel's, and the multi-core Cinebench results are weighted differently across the average.

Q: Can the Intel Core i7-11600H be used in a workstation context?

A: The data suggests limited viability. While it scores 13,286 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is respectable for a mobile chip, it lacks ECC memory support and has only 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. Its 18 MB L3 cache and dual-channel memory would bottleneck memory-intensive workstation tasks. The AMD's 128 PCIe lanes and eight-channel memory make it significantly more suitable for professional workloads.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX outperforms the Intel Core i7-11600H in every measured benchmark, with margins ranging from 1.2% in Geekbench single-core to 514.4% in Cinebench R15 single-core. For anyone requiring maximum multi-threaded throughput, the AMD is the only choice—its 64 cores and 128 threads deliver 511% more performance in Cinebench R23 multi-core than the Intel's 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD's 256 MB L3 cache and eight-channel memory bandwidth provide the infrastructure needed to sustain these workloads.

However, the Intel Core i7-11600H has its place. Its 35W TDP makes it suitable for mobile computing, and its integrated graphics provide a complete solution. For users who need a capable processor in a laptop without discrete graphics, the i7-11600H offers reasonable performance—it still achieves 13,286 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The AMD's 280W TDP and server-class socket preclude any mobile use. The choice depends entirely on the form factor and workload requirements. The data shows a workstation-class processor that dominates in performance and a mobile processor that prioritizes efficiency and integration.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX | Intel Core i7-11600H |

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

| Cores | 64 | 6 |

| Threads | 128 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 280W | 35W |

| Socket | AMD Socket WRX8 | Intel BGA 1787 |

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

| Die Size | 8x 81 mm² | 190 mm² |

| 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 Bus | Eight-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 204.8 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 4, 128 lanes | Gen 4, 20 lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 750 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Launch MSRP | $6499 | $395 |

| Transistors | 33,200 million | Not specified |