AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX vs Intel Core i7-9700K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX is the definitive performance winner in this comparison, taking all eight shared benchmark tests and often by an order of magnitude. The Intel Core i7-9700K is a legacy desktop part with a high single-core clock, but it cannot compete with the Threadripper’s 64-core/128-thread configuration. The data shows a complete sweep: 8 wins for the AMD processor, 0 for Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Threadripper PRO 5995WX scores 81,175 against the i7-9700K’s 12,238. That is a 84.9% advantage for AMD, meaning the Threadripper delivers roughly 6.6 times the multi-threaded rendering performance. This is the largest gap in the entire head-to-head set, and it reflects the fundamental difference in core count: 64 cores versus 8.

Single-core results tell a different story, but the winner remains the same. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Threadripper scores 11,460 versus 1,727 for the i7-9700K, again an 84.9% delta. The same pattern repeats in Cinebench R15 and R20: the AMD part wins both multi-core and single-core by the identical 84.9% margin. For example, R20 multi-core shows 34,093 for AMD against 5,139 for Intel, while R20 single-core shows 4,813 versus 725.

The Geekbench results are closer, though still a clean sweep. In Geekbench multi-core, the Threadripper scores 16,598 against 7,799 for the i7-9700K, a 53% delta. In Geekbench single-core, the margin narrows to 15.8%: 1,947 for AMD versus 1,639 for Intel. This single-core gap is the smallest of any test, suggesting that the i7-9700K’s 4.90 GHz boost clock helps it remain relatively competitive in lightly threaded workloads, but it still loses.

Across all eight benchmarks, the deltaPct is negative from Intel’s perspective, ranging from -15.8% (Geekbench single-core) to -84.9% (all Cinebench tests). The average benchmark score for the Threadripper is 19,928, which is nearly identical to the i7-9700K’s 20,271 — a counterintuitive result given the head-to-head data. This occurs because the average includes a broader set of PassMark tests for the Intel part, which are not present in the Threadripper’s benchmark list, and the two processors occupy the same 74th percentile among all CPUs.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. No test favors the Intel Core i7-9700K. If you are choosing based on raw performance, the Threadripper is the only option. However, the context matters. The i7-9700K is a desktop part from 2018 with 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Threadripper is a 2022 workstation/server processor with 64 cores and 128 threads. They target different markets, and the benchmark results reflect that.

Who should pick the Intel Core i7-9700K? Strictly from the data, almost no one for compute-heavy tasks. It loses every single-core and multi-core test. Its only redeeming feature is a higher boost clock (4.90 GHz versus 4.50 GHz), but that does not translate into a single benchmark win. The i7-9700K is end-of-life, so it is a legacy purchase at best. Its integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630) are a feature the Threadripper lacks, but that is not a performance metric in this comparison.

Who should pick the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX? Anyone who needs extreme multi-threaded throughput. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 81,175 is in a different class from the i7-9700K’s 12,238. The Threadripper also leads in single-core, though by a smaller margin (15.8% in Geekbench). For workstation workloads like rendering, simulation, or data processing, the Threadripper is the clear choice. The data shows no scenario where the i7-9700K outperforms it.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX scores 81,175, which is 84.9% higher than the Intel Core i7-9700K’s 12,238.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-9700K faster in any benchmark?

A: No. The data shows the AMD processor wins all eight head-to-head tests, including both single-core and multi-core variants of Cinebench and Geekbench.

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

A: The smallest gap is in Geekbench single-core, where the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX leads by 15.8% (1,947 versus 1,639).

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700K has an average benchmark score of 20,271, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX has an average of 19,928. They are nearly identical, and both sit at the 74th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Does the Intel processor have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-9700K includes UHD Graphics 630. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700K has 8 cores and 8 threads. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX has 64 cores and 128 threads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification except memory type. Both support DDR4 memory, but the memory bus and bandwidth are vastly different. The Intel Core i7-9700K uses a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX uses an eight-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The Threadripper also supports ECC memory, while the i7-9700K does not.

The core and thread counts are the most obvious difference: 8 cores and 8 threads for Intel, versus 64 cores and 128 threads for AMD. Base clocks are 3.60 GHz for Intel and 2.70 GHz for AMD, but the Intel part boosts to 4.90 GHz versus 4.50 GHz for AMD. Thermal design power (TDP) is 95 W for Intel and 280 W for AMD, reflecting the Threadripper’s much larger core count.

Socket and platform differ entirely: Intel uses Socket 1151, while AMD uses Socket WRX8. PCIe support also differs: the Intel part has Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part has Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). The Intel processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD processor does not. Release dates are 2018-10-18 for Intel and 2022-03-07 for AMD. The Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part is active. Launch MSRP is $385 for the i7-9700K and $6499 for the Threadripper PRO 5995WX.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The Intel Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake architecture (codename Coffee Lake) on a 14 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX uses the Zen 3 architecture (codename Chagall PRO) on a 7 nm process node, fabricated by TSMC. The AMD part has 33,200 million transistors across 8 dies, each 81 mm², while the Intel part uses a single 180.3 mm² die with no transistor count listed.

Cache hierarchies are also different. Both have 64 KB L1 per core, but the Intel part has 256 KB L2 per core, while the AMD part has 512 KB L2 per core. L3 cache is the biggest gap: the Intel part has 12 MB shared, while the AMD part has 256 MB. This 244 MB difference is a direct result of the Threadripper’s 8-core chiplet design versus the Intel monolithic die.

The Intel part has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), which the AMD part lacks entirely. The AMD part is marked for the Server/Workstation segment, while the Intel part is a Desktop part. The AMD processor is not multiplier-unlocked, unlike the Intel processor. The transistor count for the AMD part is listed as 33,200 million; the Intel part has no listed transistor count.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on benchmark results, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX wins everywhere. It takes all eight head-to-head tests, including single-core and multi-core workloads. There is no benchmark category where the Intel Core i7-9700K comes out ahead. The use-case split is therefore not about performance wins but about workload suitability.

The Intel Core i7-9700K is suited for legacy desktop builds where the integrated GPU (UHD Graphics 630) is needed for basic display output, or where the 95 W TDP and smaller footprint are constraints. Its 4.90 GHz boost clock is the highest of the two, which helps in lightly threaded applications, but the data shows it still loses in single-core tests. Its launch MSRP of $385 is far lower than the AMD part, though pricing is not a focus here.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX is the choice for heavy multi-threaded workloads that can use 64 cores and 128 threads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 81,175 versus 12,238 for Intel makes it ideal for rendering, encoding, and scientific computing. The eight-channel memory bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support targets server and workstation environments. The 256 MB L3 cache is another clear advantage for data-heavy tasks. The Threadripper’s 4.50 GHz boost clock is lower than Intel’s, but that does not prevent it from winning single-core tests either. In short, the Threadripper PRO 5995WX is the superior processor in every measured benchmark, and the i7-9700K is a distant, legacy alternative.