AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX and the Intel Core 5 315 occupy opposite ends of the processor spectrum. The former is a 16-core, 32-thread desktop powerhouse built for sustained heavy workloads, while the latter is a 6-core, 6-thread mobile chip designed for efficiency. The recorded benchmark data shows a complete sweep: the AMD part wins all 17 head-to-head tests, but the margins reveal a nuanced story about what each processor is optimized for.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the database is the sheer scale of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX’s dominance in multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 59,494 against the Intel Core 5 315’s 12,981, a delta of 358.3%. That pattern repeats across every Cinebench iteration: R20 multi-core shows 24,987 versus 5,452 (358.3% delta), and R15 multi-core shows 5,996 versus 1,308 (358.4% delta). The consistency of these percentages indicates the performance gap scales uniformly with thread count, not with any specific architectural advantage in a particular test.

Single-core Cinebench results tell a similar story, though with slightly higher deltas. The AMD chip leads by 359.8% in R15 single-core (846 vs 184), 358.6% in R20 single-core (3,527 vs 769), and 358.5% in R23 single-core (8,399 vs 1,832). These near-identical percentages across all three Cinebench versions suggest the AMD processor’s clock speed advantage, 5.40 GHz boost versus 4.40 GHz, translates directly into a fixed performance ratio rather than a workload-specific edge.

PassMark results show even wider disparities in certain workloads. The integer math test delivers the largest gap: 236,120 for the AMD chip versus 31,690 for the Intel chip, a 645.1% delta. Data compression shows a 530.2% delta (920,954 vs 146,143), and extended instructions a 481% delta (76,363 vs 13,143). Random string sorting follows at 468.7% (99,813 vs 17,551). These tests stress memory bandwidth and parallel execution units, areas where the AMD chip’s eight-channel memory interface and 64 MB L3 cache provide massive headroom.

Smaller margins appear in floating-point math (268.1% delta, 156,215 vs 42,441), physics (257.4% delta, 4,156 vs 1,163), and data encryption (299.2% delta, 44,389 vs 11,119). The narrowest gap is in PassMark single-thread tests: 4,530 versus 4,021, a 12.7% delta. This is the only test where the Intel chip comes close, and it reflects the fact that both processors have modern high-clocked cores. The AMD chip still wins, but the 12.7% margin is far smaller than the multi-core deltas, indicating that the Intel Core 5 315’s single-core efficiency is competitive relative to its power envelope.

The average benchmark score in the database is 101,041 for the AMD chip and 18,188 for the Intel chip. The AMD processor sits at the 97th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel chip sits at the 72nd percentile. The AMD chip’s nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7513 (average score 102,244, delta -1.2%), the AMD EPYC 8324P (103,329, delta -2.2%), and the AMD EPYC 4585PX (99,324, delta 1.7%). The Intel chip’s nearest rivals are much closer in score: the AMD EPYC 9274F (18,189, delta 0%), Intel Core i7-9700 (18,180, delta 0%), and Intel Core i7-1365U (18,177, delta 0.1%). This shows the Intel Core 5 315 is positioned in a dense cluster of mid-range processors, whereas the Threadripper PRO 9955WX competes with server-class EPYC parts.

Architecture Differences

The two processors could not be more different in their underlying design. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with a codename of Shimada Peak. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 4.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Intel Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm Intel process, with 6 cores and 6 threads, a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The Intel chip lacks simultaneous multithreading, which explains its thread count equaling its core count.

Cache hierarchies diverge sharply. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel chip has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip’s 64 MB L3 is more than ten times larger, which directly supports its 530.2% advantage in data compression tests. The transistor count for the AMD chip is 16,630 million across a die size of 2x 70.6 mm², while the Intel chip’s transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Memory support is another fundamental split. The AMD chip uses DDR5 with an eight-channel memory bus and a bandwidth of 409.6 GB/s, plus ECC memory support. The Intel chip uses DDR5 and LPDDR5X but with a single-channel memory bus and a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, and no ECC support. The memory bandwidth difference is roughly 6.9 times in favor of the AMD chip, which explains the large deltas in memory-sensitive PassMark tests. PCIe connectivity also differs: the AMD chip offers Gen 5 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The AMD chip has no integrated graphics, while the Intel chip includes Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe). The AMD chip is socketed (AMD Socket sTR5) and has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is soldered (Intel BGA 1516) with a locked multiplier.

The power envelope tells the efficiency story. The AMD chip has a TDP of 350 watts, while the Intel chip has a TDP of 15 watts. That is a 23.3x difference in thermal design power, yet the AMD chip delivers only 12.7% higher single-thread performance. For workloads that rely on a single core, the Intel chip uses a tiny fraction of the power for nearly comparable results. The AMD chip’s release date is 2025-07-22, and the Intel chip’s release date is 2026-04-15, so the Intel part is newer in the database.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is a workstation and server-class processor that dominates every benchmark in the database. Its 97th percentile ranking and average score of 101,041 place it among EPYC-class parts, with deltas under 3% to those rivals. The Intel Core 5 315, with its 72nd percentile ranking and average score of 18,188, sits in a cluster where its nearest rivals have essentially identical scores (deltas of 0% to 0.1%). The AMD chip wins all 17 head-to-head tests, but the magnitude of the win varies from 12.7% in single-thread PassMark to 645.1% in integer math.

The verdict depends on workload. For multi-threaded rendering, data compression, encryption, or any parallel compute task, the AMD chip is in a different performance class. The 358.3% to 358.6% deltas in Cinebench multi-core tests show that the AMD chip is roughly 4.6 times faster in those scenarios. For single-threaded tasks, the AMD chip still leads, but the 12.7% margin is modest. The Intel chip’s strength is not raw performance but efficiency: 15 watts versus 350 watts, with integrated graphics and a mobile form factor. The database shows no benchmark where the Intel chip wins, so the choice is not about performance superiority but about performance per watt and platform requirements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

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

A: The largest delta is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD chip scores 236,120 versus 31,690 for the Intel chip, a 645.1% difference.

Q: How close are they in single-threaded performance?

A: In PassMark single-thread tests, the AMD chip scores 4,530 and the Intel chip scores 4,021, a 12.7% delta. This is the smallest gap in the head-to-head data.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has ECC memory support, while the Intel Core 5 315 does not.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications?

A: The AMD chip has an eight-channel memory bus with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel chip has a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe). The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has no integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX wins every single recorded benchmark. That includes all Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23) in both multi-core and single-core modes, and all PassMark tests covering data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime numbers, floating-point math, integer math, multithread, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread. The largest wins are in integer math (645.1% delta), data compression (530.2%), and extended instructions (481%). These tests benefit from the AMD chip’s 64 MB L3 cache, eight-channel memory, and 32 threads.

The Intel Core 5 315 has no recorded wins, but its closest performance comes in single-threaded PassMark tests, where the delta shrinks to 12.7%. That result indicates the Intel chip’s cores are capable of competitive single-core performance when the workload does not require high memory bandwidth or many threads. The Intel chip also offers integrated graphics, which the AMD chip lacks, and a 15-watt TDP that allows for fanless or passively cooled designs in thin laptops. The AMD chip’s 350-watt TDP requires substantial cooling and a desktop or workstation chassis.

For use-case separation: the AMD chip suits rendering, simulation, code compilation, data analysis, and any task that can use 32 threads and high memory bandwidth. The Intel chip suits mobile productivity, light content creation, and tasks where battery life and low heat are priorities. The database does not include any test where the Intel chip outperforms the AMD chip, so the Intel part’s advantages are purely in power consumption, size, and integrated graphics, not in measured performance.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences are as follows. The AMD chip has 16 cores and 32 threads; the Intel chip has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 4.50 GHz versus 1.50 GHz, and boost clocks are 5.40 GHz versus 4.40 GHz. TDP is 350 watts versus 15 watts. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket sTR5, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1516. The AMD chip is on a 4 nm TSMC process with Zen 5 architecture; the Intel chip is on a 3 nm Intel process with Wildcat Lake architecture. Cache: the AMD chip has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3; the Intel chip has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory: the AMD chip supports DDR5 with an eight-channel bus and 409.6 GB/s bandwidth; the Intel chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. ECC: yes for AMD, no for Intel. PCIe: the AMD chip has Gen 5 with 128 lanes; the Intel chip has Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Integrated graphics: none for AMD, Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) for Intel. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip does not. The AMD chip’s launch MSRP is $1649, and the Intel chip’s launch MSRP is $340. The AMD chip’s part number is 100-000000725, and the Intel chip’s is SAEFC.