AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX vs Intel Core i7-11800H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11800H and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX occupy opposite ends of the processor spectrum, a fact made clear by the benchmark data. The Threadripper PRO 5995WX wins all eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the largest margins in multi-threaded workloads, while the Core i7-11800H holds a marginal edge in average aggregate score across its broader benchmark suite. The data indicates that the Threadripper PRO 5995WX is the definitive choice for heavily parallel, multi-core workstation tasks, whereas the Core i7-11800H, despite its lower absolute scores, presents a compelling option for mobile platforms where its significantly lower power draw and integrated graphics are critical factors.

The Verdict

From the data, the choice between these two processors is starkly defined by workload and platform constraints. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX is the clear winner for any task that scales with core count. Its 64 cores and 128 threads deliver a 387% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core (81175 vs 16663) and a 108% lead in Geekbench multi-core (16598 vs 7986). This processor is for professionals running rendering, simulation, or code compilation workloads that can utilize all available threads, where its 280 W TDP and server/workstation market segment are acceptable trade-offs.

Conversely, the Intel Core i7-11800H is the logical choice for mobile workstations and gaming laptops. Its 35 W TDP is a fraction of the Threadripper's power requirement, making it suitable for battery-powered systems. While it loses every head-to-head benchmark, its average benchmark score of 19998 is nearly identical to the Threadripper's 19928, a 0.4% difference, because the Intel part's benchmark suite includes a wider range of tests. The data suggests that for single-threaded responsiveness in a portable package, the Core i7-11800H, with its 4.60 GHz boost clock and integrated UHD Graphics 750, is the more practical option, despite the Threadripper PRO 5995WX still winning the single-core head-to-head tests.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is fundamental, starting with the manufacturing process. The Intel Core i7-11800H is built on Intel's 10 nm process node, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX utilizes TSMC's 7 nm node. This difference in process technology is paired with distinct core architectures: the Intel part uses Tiger Lake-H, while the AMD part uses Zen 3 under the codename Chagall PRO.

Core counts present the most significant divergence. The Intel chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD chip has 64 cores and 128 threads, an 8x increase in both metrics. Cache hierarchies are also structured differently. The Intel Core i7-11800H features 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with a 24 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD Threadripper PRO 5995WX has 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, but its L3 cache is a massive 256 MB, over ten times larger than the Intel part's total.

Platform features further differentiate the two. The Intel processor supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth, while the AMD processor supports eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Intel chip. PCIe connectivity shows a similar gap: the Intel part offers 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU, whereas the AMD part provides 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The Intel chip includes integrated UHD Graphics 750, while the AMD Threadripper PRO 5995WX has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU. The physical packages differ as well, with the Intel using Intel BGA 1787 and the AMD using AMD Socket WRX8, and the AMD chip is composed of 8 dies at 81 mm² each, versus the Intel's single 190 mm² die.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the Intel Core i7-11800H has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX has 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth from an eight-channel memory bus, while the Intel Core i7-11800H has 51.2 GB/s from a dual-channel bus.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-11800H have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD Graphics 750. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX does not have any integrated graphics.

Q: In which benchmark does the AMD processor show its smallest winning margin?

A: The smallest margin is in Geekbench single-core, where the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX scores 1947 versus the Intel's 1666, a 14.4% difference.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-11800H has an average benchmark score of 19998, which is 0.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX's score of 19928.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i7-11800H has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, which is slightly higher than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX's 4.50 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-11800H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX has 64 cores and 128 threads. Base clocks are 1900 MHz for the Intel and 2700 MHz for the AMD, while boost clocks are 4.60 GHz and 4.50 GHz respectively. The TDP figures are dramatically different: 35 W for the Intel and 280 W for the AMD.

Cache configurations diverge completely. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 24 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 256 MB of L3. Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the memory bus is dual-channel on the Intel and eight-channel on the AMD, resulting in bandwidths of 51.2 GB/s and 204.8 GB/s, respectively. ECC memory support is only present on the AMD. PCIe lanes are 20 on the Intel versus 128 on the AMD, both Gen 4. The Intel includes integrated UHD Graphics 750, while the AMD has none.

The manufacturing details also differ: the Intel uses a 10 nm process from its own foundry, while the AMD uses TSMC's 7 nm process. The AMD chip uses 33,200 million transistors across 8x 81 mm² dies, while the Intel chip has a single 190 mm² die. Their sockets are incompatible (Intel BGA 1787 vs AMD Socket WRX8), and the market segments are mobile versus server/workstation. The release dates are also distinct, with the Intel launching on 2021-05-10 and the AMD on 2022-03-07.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous, with the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX winning all eight recorded comparisons. The most decisive wins come in multi-threaded Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 81175 against the Intel's 16663, a 79.5% difference. Similarly, Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the AMD at 34093 versus the Intel's 6998, also a 79.5% gap. The pattern holds for Cinebench R15 multi-core, with scores of 8182 and 1679, respectively.

The AMD processor also dominates in single-core Cinebench tests, which is notable given the Intel's higher boost clock. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 11460 versus the Intel's 2352, a 79.5% difference. Cinebench R20 single-core shows a similar gap: 4813 for AMD versus 987 for Intel. The AMD wins in Geekbench tests as well, though by smaller margins. Geekbench multi-core yields 16598 for AMD versus 7986 for Intel, a 51.9% difference, while Geekbench single-core is the closest contest at 1947 for AMD versus 1666 for Intel, a 14.4% difference.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX is the outright winner in every head-to-head benchmark recorded, making it the superior part for raw computational throughput. Its 79.5% leads in all Cinebench tests, both single and multi-core, indicate a fundamental performance advantage that extends across rendering workloads. The 51.9% lead in Geekbench multi-core confirms its strength in parallel processing, while the 14.4% lead in Geekbench single-core shows it is not solely a multi-threaded specialist. This processor is for workstations where maximum compute density in a single socket is required, leveraging its 64 cores, 128 threads, 256 MB of L3 cache, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes.

The Intel Core i7-11800H does not win any head-to-head benchmark, but its utility emerges from the broader benchmark data and platform characteristics. Its average benchmark score of 19998 is effectively tied with the Threadripper's 19928, and it outperforms the AMD part in the average score comparison by 0.4%. The Intel chip's wins come in its wider benchmark suite, which includes PassMark tests where it scores 71423 in integer math and 42423 in floating-point math, plus a single-thread score of 3043. These results, combined with its 35 W TDP, integrated UHD Graphics 750, and mobile market segment, position the Core i7-11800H as the winner for portable computing. It fits in laptops where the Threadripper PRO 5995WX physically cannot, offering a balance of performance and power efficiency that the data shows is absent from the AMD workstation part.