AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX vs Intel Core Ultra 9 386H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX dominates the comparison with 16 benchmark wins out of 17 recorded tests. The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H manages a single victory, and that margin is razor-thin. This is a use-case split defined by scale: the Threadripper is built for sustained, heavy multi-threaded workloads, while the Core Ultra 9 is a mobile part focused on efficiency within a constrained power envelope.

The AMD processor wins decisively in every Cinebench test, which stresses all cores equally. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Threadripper scores 59,494 against the Intel chip's 20,547, a 189.6% advantage. That gap widens further in single-core Cinebench R23, where the AMD part leads by 305.5%. This indicates that the Zen 5 architecture delivers both higher per-thread performance and vastly superior scaling across all 16 cores.

In PassMark workloads, the AMD chip wins in data compression (161.4% ahead), extended instructions (162.1% ahead), integer math (170.5% ahead), and random string sorting (136.9% ahead). These are tasks that benefit from large caches, high memory bandwidth, and many threads. The data encryption test shows a 63.5% lead, while floating point math sits at 43.9% ahead. The smallest AMD victory in the entire set is PassMark single-thread, where the Threadripper leads by just 7.4%, a modest edge compared to the multi-thread deltas.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H wins exactly one test: PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 341 versus 337, a 1.2% margin. This is a narrow, workload-specific result. Prime number finding often involves tight loops with specific branch patterns, and the Intel chip's higher per-core L1 cache of 192 KB per core may contribute. Still, this is a marginal win, not a trend.

For users running rendering, compilation, encryption, or data processing, the Threadripper is the clear choice. For a mobile platform where the Intel chip operates at 25 W TDP, the single win in prime number calculation is the only area where it edges ahead, and even then by less than 2%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Shimada Peak, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 16,630 million transistors across two chiplets, each 70.6 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H uses Panther Lake architecture on Intel's 3 nm process, with no transistor or die size data recorded.

Core counts match at 16, but thread counts diverge: the AMD chip supports 32 threads via simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel chip has 16 threads, meaning no SMT. This difference alone explains much of the multi-threaded performance gap. The AMD part also runs at a 4.50 GHz base clock and 5.40 GHz boost, compared to 2.10 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost on the Intel part.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Threadripper has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3 total. The Core Ultra 9 has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. The Intel chip has more per-core L1 and L2, but the AMD chip's 64 MB L3 is over 3.5 times larger, which helps in data-heavy workloads.

Memory support is another major split. The Threadripper uses DDR5 with an eight-channel memory bus and 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC support. The Intel chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a dual-channel bus and 115.2 GB/s bandwidth, without ECC. The AMD platform offers 3.5 times the memory bandwidth, a critical factor for multi-threaded server and workstation tasks.

PCIe connectivity also differs: the AMD chip provides Gen 5 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The Threadripper has no integrated graphics, while the Intel chip includes Intel Xe3 Graphics. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not. The Threadripper targets the desktop market on AMD Socket sTR5, while the Intel chip is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2540.

Power envelopes are far apart: the AMD TDP is 350 W versus 25 W for the Intel chip. This 14-fold difference in thermal design power explains the performance gulf, but it also means the Intel chip is designed for laptops where such power is impossible.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single-core gap appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Threadripper scores 8,399 versus 2,071.5 for the Intel chip, a 305.5% lead. This is the biggest delta in the entire head-to-head set. Cinebench R20 single-core shows a 95% lead (3,527 versus 1,809), and Cinebench R15 single-core shows 178.7% (846 versus 303.5).

Multi-core Cinebench results are similarly lopsided. Cinebench R23 multi-core delivers a 189.6% advantage (59,494 versus 20,547). Cinebench R20 multi-core is 94.9% ahead (24,987 versus 12,820), and Cinebench R15 multi-core is 86% ahead (5,996 versus 3,223).

In PassMark multithread, the AMD chip scores 67,035 against 35,399, an 89.4% lead. PassMark integer math shows 236,120 versus 87,284, a 170.5% gap. Data compression on PassMark has the AMD chip at 920,954 versus 352,365, a 161.4% delta. Extended instructions are 76,363 versus 29,138, a 162.1% gap.

The closest multi-threaded result is PassMark physics, where the AMD chip leads 4,156 to 3,028, a 37.3% advantage. Floating point math is 156,215 versus 108,527, a 43.9% lead. Data encryption is 44,389 versus 27,150, a 63.5% advantage. Random string sorting is 99,813 versus 42,135, a 136.9% gap.

The only Intel win, PassMark find prime numbers, is essentially a tie: 341 versus 337, a 1.2% difference. The PassMark single-thread test shows 4,530 versus 4,218, a 7.4% AMD lead, which is the second-closest result.

Aggregate scores reinforce the pattern. The AMD chip has an average benchmark score of 101,041 and sits at the 97th percentile against all CPUs. The Intel chip averages 43,210 and sits at the 88th percentile. The AMD part's nearest rivals are server-class EPYC processors, with the EPYC 7513 at 102,244 (1.2% higher), the EPYC 4585PX at 99,324 (1.7% lower), and the EPYC 8324P at 103,329 (2.2% higher). The Threadripper PRO 5965WX sits 2.6% below. The Intel chip's nearest rivals are mobile and desktop parts, including the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 (0.3% lower), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 (0.5% lower), and the Core i9-12900 (0.7% higher).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has 32 threads from 16 cores, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H has 16 threads from 16 cores. The AMD chip uses simultaneous multithreading; the Intel chip does not.

Q: Does the Intel chip have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H includes Intel Xe3 Graphics. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD chip provides 409.6 GB/s via an eight-channel DDR5 bus. The Intel chip provides 115.2 GB/s via a dual-channel bus supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The AMD platform also supports ECC memory, which the Intel platform does not.

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX scores 59,494 versus 20,547 for the Intel chip, a 189.6% advantage.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel chip wins?

A: Yes, in PassMark find prime numbers, the Intel chip scores 341 versus 337 for the AMD chip, a 1.2% margin. This is the only Intel win across 17 recorded tests.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The AMD chip has a TDP of 350 W. The Intel chip has a TDP of 25 W.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field.

• Threads: AMD has 32 threads; Intel has 16 threads.
• Base clock: AMD at 4.50 GHz; Intel at 2.10 GHz.
• Boost clock: AMD at 5.40 GHz; Intel at 4.90 GHz.
• TDP: AMD at 350 W; Intel at 25 W.
• Socket: AMD Socket sTR5 versus Intel BGA 2540.
• Architecture: Zen 5 versus Panther Lake.
• Process node: 4 nm (TSMC) versus 3 nm (Intel).
• Transistors: 16,630 million for AMD; no data for Intel.
• Die size: 2x 70.6 mm² for AMD; no data for Intel.
• L1 cache: 64 KB per core for AMD; 192 KB per core for Intel.
• L2 cache: 1 MB per core for AMD; 2.5 MB per core for Intel.
• L3 cache: 64 MB for AMD; 18 MB shared for Intel.
• Memory bus: Eight-channel for AMD; dual-channel for Intel.
• Memory bandwidth: 409.6 GB/s for AMD; 115.2 GB/s for Intel.
• ECC memory: Supported for AMD; not supported for Intel.
• PCIe lanes: 128 lanes (Gen 5) for AMD; 12 lanes (Gen 5) for Intel.
• Integrated graphics: None for AMD; Intel Xe3 Graphics for Intel.
• Market segment: Desktop for AMD; Mobile for Intel.
• Multiplier unlocked: Yes for AMD; no for Intel.
• Launch MSRP: $1649 for AMD; no launch MSRP recorded for Intel.
• Release date: 2025-07-22 for AMD; 2026-01-04 for Intel.

Both chips have 16 cores, support DDR5 memory, use Gen 5 PCIe, and are in active production.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX outperforms the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H in 16 of 17 benchmarks, often by margins exceeding 100%. The only Intel win, PassMark find prime numbers, is a 1.2% edge that falls within the range of test noise.

The AMD chip's 32 threads, 64 MB L3 cache, eight-channel memory with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, and 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes make it a workstation-class processor. Its average benchmark score of 101,041 places it at the 97th percentile, competing directly with AMD EPYC server processors. The 350 W TDP reflects the power budget required to sustain this performance.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H is a mobile processor with a 25 W TDP, 16 threads, 18 MB L3 cache, dual-channel memory at 115.2 GB/s, and 12 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. Its average benchmark score of 43,210 places it at the 88th percentile, alongside mobile AI processors and desktop Core i9-12900 parts. It includes integrated graphics and supports LPDDR5X, which make it suitable for compact systems.

The specification differences align directly with the benchmark results. The AMD chip has higher clocks, more threads, larger L3 cache, wider memory bus, and more PCIe lanes. The Intel chip has more per-core L1 and L2 cache and a smaller process node, but these advantages do not translate into meaningful wins outside the single prime number test.

The verdict from the recorded data: choose the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX for any workload where multi-threaded throughput, memory bandwidth, or PCIe expansion matter. Choose the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H for a mobile platform where the 25 W power envelope and integrated graphics are the defining constraints. The 14-fold TDP difference is the clearest summary: this is a desktop workstation part versus a mobile efficiency part, and the benchmark scores reflect that positioning.