AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX vs Intel Xeon w7-3555 Comparison

The benchmark data splits these two workstation processors into distinct personalities. The Intel Xeon w7-3555 wins the majority of the PassMark workload tests, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX takes every Cinebench rendering test and the single-thread crown. The overall average benchmark score slightly favors Intel, with the Xeon w7-3555 posting 106,192 against AMD’s 101,041, but the margin is thin and the story is more about workload fit than raw dominance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite is a clean sweep for AMD. Across all six tests, the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX wins by a consistent 3.2% margin. The multicore results show 5,996 versus 5,804 in Cinebench R15, 24,987 versus 24,187 in R20, and 59,494 versus 57,590 in R23. Single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern, with AMD ahead by 3.2% in each iteration: 846 versus 819 in R15, 3,527 versus 3,414 in R20, and 8,399 versus 8,130 in R23. This uniformity suggests a fundamental per-clock advantage for the AMD part in rendering workloads, not a fluke of a single test.

The PassMark suite tells a different story. Intel wins 8 of the 11 PassMark tests, and several wins are substantial. The largest gap is in PassMark physics, where the Xeon w7-3555 scores 5,802 against AMD’s 4,156 — a 39.6% advantage. Floating point math also heavily favors Intel: 190,917 versus 156,215, a 22.2% lead. Prime number finding shows an 18.1% edge for Intel (398 versus 337), and data encryption is 8.2% ahead (48,007 versus 44,389). Intel also leads in data compression by 5% (966,970 versus 920,954), integer math by 3.6% (244,642 versus 236,120), extended instructions by 1.6% (77,619 versus 76,363), and multithread by 1.1% (67,754 versus 67,035).

AMD’s PassMark wins are fewer but notable. The single-thread test shows a commanding 21.7% lead for AMD: 4,530 versus 3,549. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 3.7% (99,813 versus 96,112). These two wins, combined with the Cinebench sweep, give AMD 9 total head-to-head wins against Intel’s 8, but the magnitude of Intel’s wins in physics and floating point math outweighs the count in practical terms.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon w7-3555 is the clear choice for compute-heavy scientific and mathematical workloads. The 39.6% lead in PassMark physics and the 22.2% lead in floating point math indicate strong double-precision and simulation performance. Data encryption at 8.2% ahead, data compression at 5% ahead, and prime number finding at 18.1% ahead round out a profile suited to cryptography, compression pipelines, and number-crunching. The 1.1% multithread lead and 3.6% integer math edge, while modest, confirm that Intel’s 28-core configuration holds up in general parallel work.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX excels in rendering and single-thread-sensitive applications. The consistent 3.2% Cinebench advantage across every version and both single- and multi-core tests points to superior per-core IPC and clock scaling. The 21.7% single-thread PassMark lead is decisive for legacy software or lightly threaded tasks. Random string sorting at 3.7% ahead suggests the AMD part handles memory-access-heavy sorting patterns slightly better. For workstation users running Blender, Maya, or similar rendering engines, the AMD part delivers measurable gains.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon w7-3555 has a higher average benchmark score at 106,192, compared to 101,041 for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX.

Q: How much faster is the AMD processor in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX scores 59,494 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 3.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon w7-3555’s 57,590.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark physics, where the Intel Xeon w7-3555 leads by 39.6%, scoring 5,802 versus 4,156.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any single-threaded tests?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX wins the PassMark single-thread test by 21.7% with a score of 4,530 versus 3,549, and also leads all Cinebench single-core tests by 3.2%.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX wins 9 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Xeon w7-3555 wins 8.

Q: Which processor has better data encryption performance?

A: The Intel Xeon w7-3555 is better, scoring 48,007 in PassMark data encryption compared to 44,389 for AMD, an 8.2% advantage.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ substantially. The Intel Xeon w7-3555 has 28 cores and 56 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has 16 cores and 32 threads. Clock speeds favor AMD. The Ryzen part has a base clock of 4.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, against Intel’s 2.70 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. The Intel part has a higher TDP of 325 watts, while AMD is rated at 350 watts.

Cache configurations diverge. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 75 MB of L3 cache. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. Memory bandwidth favors AMD at 409.6 GB/s, compared to Intel’s 307.2 GB/s, though both support DDR5 with eight-channel memory buses. PCIe lanes also favor AMD, with 128 Gen 5 lanes against Intel’s 112.

The sockets are incompatible. Intel uses Socket 4677, while AMD uses Socket sTR5. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not. Launch MSRP differs: the Intel Xeon w7-3555 is $2339, and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is $1649. The Intel part released on 2024-08-23, while AMD released on 2025-07-22.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon w7-3555 is built on a 10 nm process at Intel’s own foundry, with a die size of 4x 477 mm². Its codename is Sapphire Rapids, from the Xeon W generation. AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX uses a 4 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm² and 16,630 million transistors. Its architecture is Zen 5, codenamed Shimada Peak, from the 9000 series.

The cache hierarchy reflects the process and design differences. Intel’s per-core L1 of 80 KB and L2 of 2 MB are larger than AMD’s 64 KB and 1 MB, but AMD’s 64 MB L3 is close to Intel’s 75 MB despite the core count disadvantage. Both support ECC memory and have no integrated graphics. Intel targets the server/workstation segment, while AMD’s market segment is desktop. The AMD part’s smaller 70.6 mm² dies and larger transistor count (16,630 million versus no figure listed for Intel) suggest a denser, more modern process.

The Verdict

Choose the Intel Xeon w7-3555 if your work is dominated by physics simulation, floating-point math, encryption, or data compression. The data shows decisive leads in PassMark physics (39.6%), floating point math (22.2%), and prime number finding (18.1%), plus a higher average benchmark score of 106,192 versus 101,041. The 28-core, 56-thread configuration provides a 1.1% edge in multithread performance and a 3.6% lead in integer math. This is the processor for compute-intensive scientific workloads where raw throughput in non-rendering tasks matters most.

Choose the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX if rendering and single-thread responsiveness are your priorities. The consistent 3.2% Cinebench advantage across all versions, both single- and multi-core, is a strong signal for render farm tasks. The 21.7% single-thread PassMark lead makes it the better choice for older or poorly threaded applications. The higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz, larger memory bandwidth of 409.6 GB/s, and unlocked multiplier add to its appeal for desktop workstation users. It also has a lower launch MSRP of $1649 versus $2339, though both parts sit in the same performance percentile at 97.