AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX vs Intel Xeon 6732P Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX and Intel Xeon 6732P are both 350 W, eight-channel DDR5 workstation processors aimed at the same high-end market segment, but benchmark results reveal starkly different personalities. The AMD part wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, often by massive margins, while the Intel part takes two specific workloads. Both sit at the 98th percentile of all CPUs, yet their average benchmark scores diverge by only 2.5% in favor of AMD, a figure that masks the lopsided nature of individual test results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon 6732P has 32 cores and 64 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX has 24 cores and 48 threads. The Intel part offers 33% more cores and threads.

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX dominates. In the PassMark single-thread test, it scores 4551 against Intel's 2506, a 81.6% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a similar story: 11431 versus 8981, a 27.3% lead.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-threaded rendering workloads?

A: The AMD part wins every Cinebench multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 80976 against Intel's 63621, a 27.3% advantage. The PassMark multithread test shows AMD at 92604 versus 74849, a 23.7% lead.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, two. It wins PassMark floating point math with 261703 against AMD's 229685, a 12.2% advantage, and PassMark physics with 8109 versus 7529, a 7.2% lead.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX has an average benchmark score of 147009, while the Intel Xeon 6732P averages 143444. This puts AMD 2.5% ahead overall, though individual test deltas range from 0.4% to 81.6%.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Xeon 6732P reaches 4.10 GHz. AMD's base clock is also higher at 4.20 GHz versus 3.80 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX uses the Zen 5 architecture under the codename Shimada Peak, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC with 33,260 million transistors across 4x 70.6 mm² dies. The Intel Xeon 6732P uses the Granite Rapids architecture, fabricated on a 5 nm process at Intel with no transistor or die size figures listed in the data.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The AMD part features 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 128 MB L3. The Intel part has larger per-core caches at 112 KB L1 and 2 MB L2, plus a larger shared L3 at 144 MB. This gives Intel a 12.5% L3 advantage and double the L2 per core, though AMD's smaller L3 is still substantial.

Socket and platform requirements diverge completely. AMD uses Socket sTR5 with 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while Intel uses Socket 4710 with 136 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. Both support DDR5 memory with eight-channel buses and 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, and both support ECC memory. Neither has integrated graphics.

The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the Intel part is locked. Release dates show Intel launched on 2025-05-21, two months before AMD on 2025-07-22. The launch MSRP for the AMD is $2899, and for the Intel it is $5295.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in single-threaded performance, where AMD delivers a crushing 81.6% advantage in PassMark single-thread (4551 vs 2506) and PassMark singlethread (4551 vs 2506). This gap is far larger than the 27.3% lead seen in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests, suggesting the PassMark workload particularly favors AMD's higher 5.40 GHz boost clock versus Intel's 4.10 GHz.

Multi-threaded rendering shows consistent 27.3% AMD wins across all three Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 8162 against Intel's 6412. In R20, the gap widens to 34009 versus 26720. In R23, AMD hits 80976 while Intel manages 63621. The PassMark multithread test shows a slightly smaller 23.7% AMD advantage (92604 vs 74849).

Integer and encryption workloads favor AMD by moderate margins. PassMark integer math sees AMD at 349195 versus 334340, a 4.4% win. Data encryption shows AMD at 66155 versus 63848, a 3.6% lead. Data compression is nearly a tie at 1345230 versus 1339480, just 0.4% in AMD's favor. Extended instructions give AMD a 1.9% edge (108753 vs 106697).

Prime number finding and string sorting reveal larger AMD advantages. PassMark find prime numbers shows AMD at 752 versus 628, a 19.7% win. Random string sorting gives AMD 149617 against Intel's 133467, a 12.1% lead.

The Intel Xeon takes two clear victories. PassMark floating point math sees Intel at 261703 versus AMD's 229685, a 12.2% advantage. PassMark physics favors Intel at 8109 versus 7529, a 7.2% lead. These wins suggest Intel's architecture handles certain math and physics simulations more efficiently despite losing most other tests.

Overall, AMD wins 15 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The deltas range from razor-thin 0.4% in data compression to the enormous 81.6% single-thread gap. Intel's two wins are significant but isolated to specific workload types.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ substantially: AMD has 24 cores and 48 threads, while Intel has 32 cores and 64 threads. Clock speeds favor AMD with a 4.20 GHz base and 5.40 GHz boost, versus Intel's 3.80 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost. Both have a 350 W TDP.

Cache layouts differ in size and organization. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 128 MB L3. Intel provides 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 144 MB shared L3. The process node differs, with AMD on 4 nm TSMC and Intel on 5 nm Intel.

The socket and PCIe lane counts are different: AMD uses Socket sTR5 with 128 Gen 5 lanes, while Intel uses Socket 4710 with 136 Gen 5 lanes. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part is locked. Production status is Active for both, and both target the Server/Workstation market segment.

Memory support is identical: DDR5, eight-channel, 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, ECC supported. Neither has integrated graphics. The launch MSRP differs significantly, with AMD at $2899 and Intel at $5295. Release dates are two months apart, with Intel first.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear overall winner for general workstation performance. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX wins 15 of 17 benchmarks and takes every Cinebench test by 27.3%. Its 81.6% single-thread advantage is the largest delta in the comparison, making it the obvious choice for workloads that depend on per-core speed. The 23.7% PassMark multithread win, combined with the consistent Cinebench multi-core leads, shows AMD also handles heavily threaded rendering tasks better despite having 8 fewer cores.

The Intel Xeon 6732P is not without merit. Its 12.2% floating point math win and 7.2% physics win indicate specific computational patterns where Intel's Granite Rapids architecture excels. The 32-core count and larger 144 MB L3 cache suggest headroom for certain parallel workloads, though benchmark results do not translate this into broad multi-threaded victory. The Intel part also has 8 more PCIe lanes, which may matter for I/O-heavy configurations.

For buyers prioritizing raw single-thread performance, rendering throughput, integer math, encryption, and compression, the AMD part is the data-backed choice. Its 2.5% higher average benchmark score, combined with wins in 15 of 17 tests, makes it the more versatile processor. The Intel part should only be selected if the specific floating point or physics workloads it wins are the primary use case, or if the additional PCIe lanes and larger L3 cache are decisive. The AMD's lower launch MSRP of $2899 versus Intel's $5295 further reinforces its position, though pricing should not be the sole deciding factor given the architectural differences. Benchmark results indicate the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX is the stronger overall workstation processor, with the Intel Xeon 6732P serving as a specialized alternative for math-heavy tasks.