AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX and Intel Core Ultra 5 225T occupy entirely different performance strata, and the benchmark data confirms a decisive victory for the AMD part across all 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Threadripper PRO 9955WX delivers an average benchmark score of 101041, placing it in the 97th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 225T scores 30468 on average, ranking in the 82nd percentile. The performance gap is not marginal; it is a structural difference in compute capability, with the AMD processor winning every single comparison, often by triple-digit percentage margins.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided results appear in integer-heavy workloads. In PassMark integer math, the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX scores 236120 against 59543 for the Intel part, a delta of 296.6%. Data compression shows a similar trend, with the AMD chip at 920954 versus 233998, a 293.6% advantage. Extended instructions follow at 280.2% ahead, with scores of 76363 and 20083 respectively. These three tests highlight the raw throughput advantage of having more cores, more memory bandwidth, and a larger cache hierarchy.

Cinebench results are uniformly dominant for the AMD processor. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Threadripper PRO 9955WX scores 59494 compared to 21971, a 170.8% lead. Single-core R23 shows the same 170.8% delta, with 8399 versus 3101. This pattern repeats across R15 and R20, where every multi-core and single-core test lands at roughly 170.8% to 171.2% in favor of AMD. The consistency of these deltas suggests a fundamental architectural scaling advantage rather than workload-specific optimization.

The narrowest margin occurs in PassMark single-thread performance. The AMD chip scores 4530 against 4348, a 4.2% lead. This is the only test where the Intel processor comes close, indicating that the Core Ultra 5 225T has respectable per-core efficiency, but it cannot overcome the Threadripper's higher peak clock of 5.40 GHz versus 4.90 GHz. Prime number finding also produces a relatively tight result, with AMD ahead by 18.7% (337 versus 284), showing that even in latency-sensitive integer loops, the Threadripper maintains a clear edge.

Floating-point math and physics tests continue the trend. The AMD chip scores 156215 in floating-point math versus 82751, an 88.8% advantage. PassMark physics shows 4156 against 2053, a 102.4% lead. Random string sorting favors AMD by 246.9%, with scores of 99813 and 28774. Multithread performance, a proxy for heavily parallel workloads, gives AMD a 164.4% lead at 67035 versus 25358. Data encryption completes the sweep with a 142.7% advantage, 44389 versus 18289.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different nodes and different core designs. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX uses TSMC's 4 nm process with 16,630 million transistors across a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses TSMC's 3 nm node with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. Despite the Intel part having more transistors, the AMD processor delivers far higher performance, indicating that core count and memory architecture matter more than raw transistor budget.

Core configuration diverges sharply. The Threadripper PRO 9955WX provides 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225T offers 10 cores and 10 threads. The AMD processor has simultaneous multithreading; the Intel part does not. Base clocks are 4.50 GHz for AMD and 2.50 GHz for Intel, with boost clocks of 5.40 GHz and 4.90 GHz respectively. The Threadripper's higher clocks, combined with double the core count and triple the thread count, explain the consistent performance deltas.

Cache layouts reflect different design philosophies. The AMD chip allocates 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, plus a shared 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel chip uses 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 20 MB L3. While Intel's per-core L1 and L2 are larger, the Threadripper's 64 MB L3 pool is more than three times the Intel part's total, reducing memory latency for large working sets.

Memory and I/O capabilities are also radically different. The Threadripper PRO 9955WX supports eight-channel DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth and ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 225T uses dual-channel DDR5 with 102.4 GB/s and no ECC support. PCIe connectivity favors AMD with 128 Gen 5 lanes, whereas Intel offers 20 Gen 5 lanes. The Threadripper has no integrated graphics, while the Intel part includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. It wins all 17 head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 4.2% in single-thread performance to 296.6% in integer math. Its average benchmark score of 101041 places it near the top of the database's 97th percentile, while the Core Ultra 5 225T sits at the 82nd percentile with 30468. The nearest rivals to the Threadripper include the AMD EPYC 7513 at 102244 (-1.2%) and the AMD EPYC 4585PX at 99324 (1.7%), confirming that it competes in workstation and server territory. The Core Ultra 5 225T, by contrast, sits alongside mobile and mainstream desktop parts like the Intel Core i9-11980HK at 30422 (0.2%) and the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS at 30390 (0.3%).

For users who need maximum multi-threaded throughput, memory bandwidth, and PCIe connectivity, the Threadripper PRO 9955WX is the clear choice. Its 350 W TDP requires substantial cooling, but it delivers workstation-class performance. The Core Ultra 5 225T, with a 65 W TDP and integrated graphics, is suited to compact or power-constrained builds, but it cannot match the AMD part in any compute-heavy scenario. The Threadripper's unlockable multiplier and active production status also indicate a longer-term platform investment for high-end desktop systems.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads. Base clock is 4.50 GHz versus 2.50 GHz, and boost clock is 5.40 GHz versus 4.90 GHz. TDP is 350 W versus 65 W. The AMD part uses AMD Socket sTR5, while Intel uses Socket 1851. Architecture is Zen 5 (codename Shimada Peak) for AMD and Arrow Lake (codename Arrow Lake-S) for Intel. Process node is 4 nm versus 3 nm, both from TSMC. Transistor count is 16,630 million versus 17,800 million, with die sizes of 2x 70.6 mm² versus 243 mm².

Cache configurations differ: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3; Intel has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR5 for both, but AMD uses an eight-channel bus with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support, while Intel uses dual-channel with 102.4 GB/s and no ECC. PCIe is Gen 5 for both, with AMD providing 128 lanes and Intel 20 lanes. AMD has no integrated graphics; Intel includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $1649; the Intel part is locked and has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads.

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

A: In PassMark multithread, the AMD chip scores 67035 versus 25358, a 164.4% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 170.8% advantage, with scores of 59494 and 21971.

Q: Does the Intel processor have any benchmark wins?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The smallest margin is 4.2% in PassMark single-thread performance.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each support?

A: The AMD chip supports eight-channel DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. The Intel chip supports dual-channel DDR5 with 102.4 GB/s and no ECC.

Q: Do either of these processors include integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD processor has an average benchmark score of 101041 and ranks in the 97th percentile. The Intel processor averages 30468 and ranks in the 82nd percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX wins every benchmark category recorded in the database. Its largest advantages are in integer math (296.6% ahead), data compression (293.6%), and extended instructions (280.2%). These results point to workloads involving heavy number crunching, compression algorithms, and SIMD-style operations. The 409.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and 64 MB L3 cache make it suitable for large in-memory datasets, and its 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes support extensive expansion, though the database does not record specific GPU or storage tests. The 350 W TDP and eight-channel memory design indicate a platform aimed at sustained high-throughput tasks rather than energy efficiency.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has no benchmark wins, but its closest result, a 4.2% deficit in PassMark single-thread, suggests it remains competitive in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive tasks that rely on per-core cache. Its 65 W TDP and integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU make it a lower-power option for systems where discrete graphics are unnecessary. The 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes and dual-channel memory limit its bandwidth ceiling, but the 3 nm process and 17,800 million transistors indicate a modern, efficient design. For users constrained by power or chassis size, the Intel part offers a functional desktop experience, but the recorded data shows no scenario where it outperforms the Threadripper PRO 9955WX.