AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX vs Intel Core 7 251TE 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, with zero wins for the Intel Core 7 251TE. The margins are substantial in every category, though the size of the gap varies considerably by workload type.

In Cinebench testing, the AMD part delivers consistently dominant results. The R15 multicore test shows the Threadripper scoring 5996 against Intel's 2572, a 133.1% advantage. The R15 singlecore result is similar: 846 versus 362, a 133.7% delta. Moving to R20, the multicore score of 24987 versus 10717 represents a 133.2% lead, while the singlecore figure of 3527 versus 1512 is 133.3% ahead. The R23 results follow the same pattern, with the AMD processor hitting 59494 in multicore versus 25518 for Intel (133.1% delta) and 8399 versus 3602 in singlecore (133.2% delta). These near-identical percentage gaps across all six Cinebench variants suggest the performance difference scales uniformly with clock speed and architecture efficiency rather than being workload-specific.

PassMark testing reveals a more varied landscape. The extended instructions test shows the widest margin in the entire comparison: AMD scores 76363, Intel scores 16974, and the delta reaches 349.9%. This indicates a massive advantage in SIMD and specialized instruction throughput. Data compression shows a 175.4% lead (920954 versus 334399), and random string sorting comes in at 151.8% (99813 versus 39643). Prime number finding shows 140.7% (337 versus 140), while physics simulation shows 114.4% (4156 versus 1938). The multithread test delivers 123.3% (67035 versus 30022).

The smallest margins appear in single-threaded PassMark work. The single_thread and singlethread tests both show AMD at 4530 versus Intel at 3568, a 27% advantage. Data encryption shows a 100.2% delta (44389 versus 22176), and floating point math sits at 82.5% (156215 versus 85607). Integer math shows 87.8% (236120 versus 125739). These narrower gaps in encryption and floating point, alongside the very narrow single-thread margin, suggest the Intel part is comparatively stronger in latency-bound scalar work, even though it still loses decisively.

The data compression result deserves attention. The 175.4% delta is the second-largest margin after extended instructions, and it reflects not just raw core count but also memory bandwidth. The AMD platform's eight-channel memory configuration provides 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth, which directly feeds compression workloads that depend on rapid data movement. The Intel part's dual-channel bus delivers 89.6 GB/s, a gap that shows up clearly in this test.

The Verdict

Benchmark results indicate the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is the superior processor for every measured workload. With 17 wins and zero losses in the head-to-head comparison, the data leaves no ambiguity. The AMD part also holds a 97th percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database, while the Intel Core 7 251TE sits at the 88th percentile. The average benchmark score for AMD is 101041, versus 41650 for Intel, a difference that places the two processors in entirely different performance classes.

The AMD part's nearest rivals in the database are all server or workstation processors: the AMD EPYC 7513 (102244 average score, 1.2% ahead), the AMD EPYC 8324P (103329, 2.2% ahead), the AMD EPYC 4585PX (99324, 1.7% behind), and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX (98504, 2.6% behind). This positioning confirms that the 9955WX competes in the workstation and enterprise tier, not against mainstream desktop parts.

The Intel Core 7 251TE's nearest rivals are mobile and low-power desktop chips: the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H (41621, 0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i7-14650HX (41576, 0.2% ahead), the Intel Core i7-12850HX (41779, 0.3% behind), and the Intel Core i7-14700T (41914, 0.6% behind). The tight clustering of these scores, all within 0.6% of the 251TE, shows the Intel part is firmly in the mid-range efficiency segment.

The data supports choosing the AMD processor for any application where compute throughput is the priority. The Intel processor makes sense only in scenarios where its 45-watt TDP and integrated graphics are the deciding factors, since no benchmark in the recorded data favors it.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX wins everywhere in the measured data, but the magnitude of its advantage varies by workload type, which reveals where each processor is best suited.

The AMD part excels in heavily parallel, bandwidth-intensive workloads. Its extended instructions score of 76363, a 349.9% lead over Intel, points to strong SIMD throughput for scientific computing, media encoding, and other vectorized code. The data compression score of 920954 with a 175.4% delta indicates superiority in archiving, database operations, and any task that moves large volumes of data. Random string sorting at 99813 (151.8% lead) reinforces the pattern: the AMD platform's eight-channel memory system and large 64 MB L3 cache give it a decisive edge in data movement-heavy tasks.

The Intel Core 7 251TE shows its relative strengths in scalar, latency-sensitive work. The single-thread PassMark score of 3568 versus AMD's 4530 is only a 27% deficit, the smallest margin in the entire comparison. Data encryption at 22176 versus 44389 (100.2% delta) and floating point math at 85607 versus 156215 (82.5% delta) are also among the narrower gaps. These results suggest the Intel architecture, despite its lower clock speeds, handles branch-dependent and serial code more efficiently per clock than the raw core count difference would imply. The Intel part also includes UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics, which the AMD part lacks entirely, making the Intel processor viable for systems that need display output without a discrete GPU.

The Intel part's 24 cores versus AMD's 16 cores does not translate into any multicore advantage in the recorded benchmarks. The AMD part wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test by 133.1%, and the PassMark multithread test by 123.3%. The Intel processor's higher core count is offset by its 1.40 GHz base clock, 10 nm process node, and 36 MB L3 cache, none of which compensate for the AMD part's 4.50 GHz base clock, 4 nm process, and 64 MB L3 cache.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: Both processors share the same 5.40 GHz boost clock. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX and Intel Core 7 251TE both list a maximum boost frequency of 5.40 GHz.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has 16 cores. Both processors support 32 threads.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX provides 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core 7 251TE provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, a difference of 112 lanes.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX and the Intel Core 7 251TE support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD processor supports eight-channel memory with 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel processor supports dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD part delivers approximately 4.6 times the raw memory bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core 7 251TE includes integrated graphics, specifically UHD Graphics 770. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has no integrated graphics capability.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX uses the Zen 5 architecture with the codename Shimada Peak, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It uses 16,630 million transistors across a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core 7 251TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². The Intel part's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Cache hierarchies differ considerably. The AMD part provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part's larger L3 is shared across 16 cores, while Intel's 36 MB is shared across 24 cores, giving AMD more cache per core.

Memory architecture is another major split. The AMD processor uses DDR5 memory exclusively with an eight-channel bus and 409.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5, uses a dual-channel bus, and delivers 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, which is notable for a desktop-class Intel part.

PCIe connectivity differs by an order of magnitude. The AMD processor exposes 128 Gen 5 lanes directly from the CPU, while the Intel processor exposes 16 Gen 5 lanes. This makes the AMD part suitable for multi-GPU configurations, high-speed storage arrays, and network interface cards, while the Intel part is limited to a single GPU and basic expansion.

The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Intel processor has a locked multiplier. The AMD part targets the sTR5 socket, while Intel uses Socket 1700. The AMD part's thermal design power is 350 watts, while the Intel part draws a considerably lower 45 watts. The AMD processor is released later, dated 2025-07-22, versus Intel's 2025-01-12 release.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show several direct differences between the two processors. Core counts differ: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has 16 cores, the Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores. Thread counts are identical at 32 threads each.

Base clock speeds differ substantially: AMD runs at 4.50 GHz, Intel at 1.40 GHz. Boost clocks are identical at 5.40 GHz for both. TDP differs by a factor of nearly eight: AMD draws 350 watts, Intel draws 45 watts.

The AMD processor is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, using 16,630 million transistors across a 2x 70.6 mm² die. The Intel processor uses a 10 nm process at Intel with a 215 mm² die and no recorded transistor count. Cache sizes differ: AMD has 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, plus 64 MB L3. Intel has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, plus 36 MB shared L3.

Memory support differs: AMD uses DDR5 only with an eight-channel bus and 409.6 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC.

PCIe lanes differ: AMD provides 128 Gen 5 lanes, Intel provides 16 Gen 5 lanes. Integrated graphics exist only on Intel, with UHD Graphics 770. The AMD part has no integrated graphics. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, the Intel multiplier is locked. Sockets differ: AMD uses sTR5, Intel uses Socket 1700. Release dates differ: AMD released on 2025-07-22, Intel on 2025-01-12. The launch MSRP for the AMD processor is $1649, while the Intel processor has a launch MSRP of $384.