AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX vs Intel Xeon w9-3575X Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX and Intel Xeon w9-3575X are both flagship workstation processors aimed at the same high-end server and content-creation market. The data shows a clear overall victor, with the AMD part winning 14 of the 16 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, yet the Intel chip claims two significant performance crowns that matter for specific workloads. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results, architectural choices, and specification differences to determine which processor is suited for which task.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark landscape is dominated by the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX. Its most decisive victory comes in single-threaded performance, where it leads by a massive 23.9% in the Passmark single-thread test, scoring 4551 against Intel's 3672. This advantage is consistent across all Cinebench tests, where the AMD chip is ahead by 14.3% in every single iteration—R15, R20, and R23, for both single-core and multi-core workloads. The pattern is uniform: the AMD 9965WX posts 8162 in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 7140 for the Intel, and 80976 versus 70837 in R23 multi-core.

The AMD processor also demonstrates superiority in integer-heavy tasks, leading the Passmark integer math test by 17.1% (349195 vs 298224). It also wins in multithreaded throughput, posting a score of 92604 versus 83338, an 11.1% advantage. Other wins for AMD include data compression (10.3% ahead), physics (10.1% ahead), and random string sorting (11.1% ahead). The AMD part even edges out the Intel in data encryption, a 6.3% lead, and prime number finding, a 9.5% lead.

The Intel Xeon w9-3575X, despite its 44-core count, only manages to win two tests, but they are critical for certain scientific and engineering applications. Its most substantial victory is in floating-point math, where it scores 273398 against AMD's 229685, a 16% lead. This is a clear indicator of its strength in tasks that rely heavily on FPU performance. The Intel chip also narrowly wins the extended instructions test, scoring 109843 versus 108753, a marginal 1% edge. These two wins show that while the AMD chip is generally faster, the Intel part has a specialized advantage in floating-point throughput.

The average benchmark score confirms the overall trend: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX holds an average score of 147009, which places it 1.9% ahead of the Intel Xeon w9-3575X's 144323 in the database. This is a tight overall margin, but the distribution of wins is not. The AMD chip is consistently faster in most general-purpose and integer-based tasks, while the Intel chip's floating-point advantage makes it a specialist.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX is significantly faster in single-threaded tasks. It leads by 23.9% in the Passmark single-thread test (4551 vs 3672) and by 14.3% in Cinebench R23 single-core (11431 vs the Xeon's score, which is not listed in the head-to-head data but is lower).

Q: Does the Intel Xeon w9-3575X have any benchmark advantage?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon w9-3575X wins two specific tests. It is 16% ahead in the Passmark floating-point math test (273398 vs 229685) and 1% ahead in the extended instructions test (109843 vs 108753).

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX is consistently ahead in multi-core benchmarks. It leads by 14.3% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (80976 vs 70837) and by 11.1% in the Passmark multithread test (92604 vs 83338).

Q: What is the overall performance ranking between these two CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX has an average benchmark score of 147009, which is 1.9% higher than the Intel Xeon w9-3575X's average score of 144323. The AMD part also wins 14 out of 16 head-to-head comparisons.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX has a higher memory bandwidth at 409.6 GB/s, compared to the Intel Xeon w9-3575X's 307.2 GB/s. Both support eight-channel DDR5 memory.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX and the Intel Xeon w9-3575X have an unlocked multiplier, indicating they are both designed for overclocking.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX is based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed "Shimada Peak," and is manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. It utilizes a chiplet design with a die size composed of 4x 70.6 mm², totaling 33,260 million transistors. In contrast, the Intel Xeon w9-3575X is built on the Sapphire Rapids architecture and uses a 10 nm process from Intel, with a much larger die size of 4x 477 mm².

These architectural choices lead to significant differences in core configuration. The AMD processor packs 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Intel chip offers a higher core count with 44 cores and 88 threads. This discrepancy in core count is partially offset by the AMD chip's higher clock speeds: it has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, compared to the Intel's 2.20 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. The cache hierarchies also differ, with the AMD part featuring 1 MB of L2 cache per core and a large 128 MB L3 cache, whereas the Intel part has 2 MB of L2 per core and a smaller 97.5 MB L3 cache. The L1 cache also differs (64 KB per core for AMD vs 80 KB per core for Intel).

Both processors support DDR5 memory, but the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX offers a higher memory bandwidth of 409.6 GB/s over its eight-channel bus, while the Intel Xeon w9-3575X provides 307.2 GB/s over its own eight-channel bus. Both support ECC memory. The AMD processor also has a higher number of PCIe lanes, offering Gen 5 with 128 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 112 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor has integrated graphics.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal clear differences beyond the core architecture. The most obvious is the core and thread count, where the Intel Xeon w9-3575X has 44 cores and 88 threads, compared to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX's 24 cores and 48 threads. Clock speeds also differ substantially, with the AMD chip having a much higher base clock (4.20 GHz vs 2.20 GHz) and boost clock (5.40 GHz vs 4.80 GHz). The TDP is similar, with the AMD part rated at 350 W and the Intel part at 340 W.

The memory bandwidth is another key differentiator, with the AMD processor offering 409.6 GB/s versus Intel's 307.2 GB/s. The PCIe lane count also favors AMD, with 128 lanes versus Intel's 112 lanes. The physical sockets are incompatible, with the AMD part using the AMD Socket sTR5 and the Intel part using the Intel Socket 4677. The manufacturing process is also distinct, with AMD using a 4 nm TSMC process and Intel using a 10 nm process. The release dates are also different, with the AMD processor launching on 2025-07-22 and the Intel processor on 2024-08-23. The launch MSRP for the AMD part is $2899, while the Intel part has a launch MSRP of $3789.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX is the clear winner in most general-purpose workstation tasks. Its superior single-threaded performance (23.9% lead) makes it ideal for applications that rely on high clock speeds and per-core efficiency, such as software compilation, 3D modeling, and typical office productivity. Its wins in integer math (17.1% ahead) and data compression (10.3% ahead) also make it a strong choice for database work, file server operations, and general data processing. The 14.3% lead across all Cinebench tests indicates that it is also excellent for 3D rendering, despite having fewer cores than the Intel part.

The Intel Xeon w9-3575X, on the other hand, is the specialist for floating-point-intensive workloads. Its 16% lead in the Passmark floating-point math test suggests it is better suited for scientific simulations, financial modeling, and engineering analysis that heavily utilize FPU instructions. The small edge in extended instructions also points to a slight advantage in certain vectorized code paths. For users whose primary workload is floating-point computation, the Intel chip offers a tangible performance benefit, even if it loses in most other areas.

The Verdict

The data is clear: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX is the superior all-around processor for workstation use. It wins 14 of 16 benchmarks, holds a higher average score (147009 vs 144323), and offers decisive advantages in single-threaded and multi-threaded performance. Its higher clock speeds and larger L3 cache allow it to outperform the Intel Xeon w9-3575X in nearly every category, making it the recommended choice for most users, from content creators to developers. The Intel Xeon w9-3575X is for a narrow niche. Its 16% lead in floating-point math makes it the better option for a specific set of scientific and engineering applications where that metric is the primary bottleneck. However, given its significant loss in the overall benchmark suite and its higher launch MSRP, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX is the default pick for a balanced, high-performance workstation.