AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX vs Intel Core 5 211E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX across all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 5 211E does not register a single win in any test, with the margins ranging from narrow to overwhelming.

The closest contest appears in single-threaded PassMark testing. The AMD part scores 4,530 against Intel's 4,006, a 13.1% advantage. This is the only benchmark where the two processors operate in a similar performance class. Every other test shows a gap of at least 135%, with several exceeding 400%.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD processor scores 5,996 versus 2,055, a 191.8% lead. The single-core variant shows 846 versus 289, a 192.7% margin. These ratios remain remarkably consistent across Cinebench R20 and R23. The R20 multicore run produces 24,987 against 8,563, while R23 multicore delivers 59,494 versus 20,389. Both translate to roughly 191.8% deltas, indicating a stable architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

PassMark's extended instruction test reveals the largest relative disparity aside from prime number computation. AMD scores 76,363 against Intel's 21,592, a 253.7% difference. This suggests substantial SIMD and vector processing capability in the AMD design. The find prime numbers test shows an even starker contrast: 337 for AMD versus 43 for Intel, a 683.7% delta. This workload is highly sensitive to memory latency and cache hierarchy, areas where the AMD platform's design provides a pronounced edge.

Floating-point math performance favors AMD at 156,215 versus 66,402, a 135.3% lead. Integer math shows 236,120 versus 88,117, a 168% advantage. Data compression yields 920,954 versus 346,757 (165.6%), while random string sorting records 99,813 versus 34,308 (190.9%). The physics test produces one of the largest gaps at 492%, with AMD scoring 4,156 against Intel's 702.

The average benchmark score for the AMD processor sits at 101,041, placing it in the 97th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Intel's average of 37,829 lands in the 86th percentile. The nearest rivals for AMD include the AMD EPYC 7513 at 102,244 (1.2% higher), the AMD EPYC 4585PX at 99,324 (1.7% lower), and the AMD EPYC 8324P at 103,329 (2.2% higher). The Intel Core 5 211E's nearest competitors are all within a fraction of its average: the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 at 37,804 (0.1% higher), the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 at 37,762 (0.2% higher), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 at 37,904 (0.2% lower), and the Intel Core i9-14901E at 37,911 (0.2% lower). This clustering indicates the Intel chip sits at the upper boundary of its immediate performance tier, while the AMD Threadripper operates in a much higher absolute performance band.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies and market positions. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm process from TSMC. It carries the Shimada Peak codename and belongs to the 9000 series. The package contains 16,630 million transistors across two 70.6 mm² dies. In contrast, the Intel Core 5 211E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, a 10 nm Intel process, and a single 257 mm² die. Intel's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. AMD provides 16 cores and 32 threads, while Intel offers 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD base clock runs at 4.50 GHz with a boost of 5.40 GHz. Intel starts at 2.70 GHz and boosts to 4.90 GHz. These clock differences alone explain part of the single-thread gap, but the architectural efficiency of Zen 5 amplifies the effect.

Cache hierarchies differ in structure and scale. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. While Intel's per-core L1 and L2 allocations are larger, AMD's total L3 capacity triples Intel's, which benefits multi-threaded workloads and data-heavy applications. The memory subsystem reinforces this split. AMD supports DDR5 across an eight-channel bus with 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but only on a dual-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s. That represents a 5.3x bandwidth advantage for AMD.

Both platforms support ECC memory. AMD provides 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while Intel provides 16 Gen 5 lanes. This difference affects expansion capability for GPUs, NVMe storage, and network adapters. AMD's socket is sTR5, Intel's is Socket 1700. AMD has an unlocked multiplier; Intel does not. AMD includes no integrated graphics, while Intel ships UHD Graphics 730.

The TDP figures reflect the performance gap: AMD draws 350 W, Intel draws 65 W. The production status for both is active. AMD released on 2025-07-22, Intel on 2025-01-12. The AMD part number is 100-000000725; Intel's is SRQERQ65F.

The Verdict

The data points to two different processors for two different workloads. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX dominates every benchmark in the comparison, often by margins exceeding 190%. Its 97th percentile ranking and average score of 101,041 place it among the fastest desktop CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 5 211E, with an 86th percentile and an average score of 37,829, operates in a completely different performance tier.

The one area where Intel comes close is PassMark single-thread performance, where the 13.1% gap is the smallest recorded. That is still a decisive AMD win, but it suggests that for lightly threaded, short-duration tasks, the Intel chip is not entirely outclassed. However, the Cinebench single-core tests tell a different story. There, AMD leads by 191.8% to 192.7%. The discrepancy between PassMark single-thread and Cinebench single-core likely reflects different instruction mixes and benchmark methodologies, but the overall trend is unmistakable.

The AMD processor's nearest rivals are all EPYC server chips, not desktop parts. This indicates it competes in a server-class performance envelope despite its desktop market segment designation. Intel's nearest rivals are embedded and mobile processors, positioning it as a mid-range desktop or entry-level workstation chip.

For users whose workloads involve rendering, scientific computation, data compression, encryption, or any parallelizable task, the AMD processor delivers between 135% and 683% more throughput depending on the specific operation. For users with modest power budgets, thermal constraints, or single-task workloads, the Intel chip uses 65 W versus 350 W and still provides a functional desktop experience, but the performance sacrifice is substantial across the board.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX wins every single-thread benchmark. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4,530 against Intel's 4,006, a 13.1% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 8,399 versus 2,878, a 191.8% advantage.

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

A: The gap ranges from 135.3% in PassMark floating-point math to 683.7% in PassMark find prime numbers. Cinebench R23 multicore shows AMD at 59,494 versus Intel's 20,389, a 191.8% delta.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX and the Intel Core 5 211E support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: AMD supports eight-channel DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does each CPU provide?

A: AMD provides 128 Gen 5 lanes from the CPU. Intel provides 16 Gen 5 lanes from the CPU.

Q: What are the launch MSRPs?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has a launch MSRP of $1649. The Intel Core 5 211E has a launch MSRP of $221.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. Its largest margins appear in prime number finding (683.7%), physics simulation (492%), and extended instruction processing (253.7%). These workloads rely heavily on raw core count, memory bandwidth, and cache capacity. The AMD chip's 16 cores, 32 threads, 64 MB L3 cache, and 409.6 GB/s memory bandwidth provide the resources needed to sustain these intensive computations.

The Intel Core 5 211E's only competitive result is in PassMark single-thread scoring, where the 13.1% margin represents its best relative showing. This suggests that for very short, single-threaded bursts, the Intel chip can approach the AMD processor's efficiency per clock, though it still loses outright. The Intel chip's 65 W TDP makes it suitable for systems with strict power or cooling limits, and its integrated UHD Graphics 730 eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic display configurations. Its dual-channel memory support and 16 PCIe lanes fit simpler system designs.

Workloads favor AMD in data compression (165.6%), data encryption (147.5%), integer math (168%), floating-point math (135.3%), and random string sorting (190.9%). All of these involve parallelizable operations that scale with core count and memory throughput. The Cinebench suite, which tests rendering and ray tracing, shows consistent 191.8% to 192.7% advantages for AMD across all versions and thread counts.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in every major specification category. AMD uses 16 cores and 32 threads; Intel uses 10 cores and 16 threads. AMD clocks run from 4.50 GHz base to 5.40 GHz boost. Intel runs from 2.70 GHz base to 4.90 GHz boost. AMD's TDP is 350 W; Intel's is 65 W.

AMD uses AMD Socket sTR5 with Zen 5 architecture and the Shimada Peak codename. Intel uses Intel Socket 1700 with the Bartlett Lake codename. AMD's process node is 4 nm from TSMC, containing 16,630 million transistors across two 70.6 mm² dies. Intel uses a 10 nm process from Intel with a 257 mm² die and no recorded transistor count.

Cache configurations differ per level. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3. Intel provides 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3. Memory support: AMD uses DDR5 only on an eight-channel bus with 409.6 GB/s. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s.

Both support ECC. AMD provides 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes; Intel provides 16. AMD has no integrated graphics; Intel includes UHD Graphics 730. AMD has an unlocked multiplier; Intel does not. AMD's release date is 2025-07-22; Intel's is 2025-01-12. AMD's launch MSRP is $1649; Intel's is $221. AMD's part number is 100-000000725; Intel's is SRQERQ65F.