AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX vs Intel Xeon 6980P Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX wins every single head-to-head test against the Intel Xeon 6980P, taking all 17 comparisons with zero wins for the Intel part. This is not a close contest. The AMD processor leads by margins ranging from 26% to a staggering 403.3% across the tested workloads, and its average benchmark score of 412,068 sits far above the Intel's 251,516.

For buyers who prioritize raw performance in threaded and single-threaded applications, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX is the clear choice from this data. It delivers more than double the Cinebench multi-core scores in every version tested, and its single-core lead is equally decisive. The Intel Xeon 6980P, despite having more cores (128 versus 96) and a larger L3 cache (504 MB versus 384 MB), cannot translate those specifications into competitive results in any recorded test.

The Intel Xeon 6980P is not without a role, however. Its twelve-channel memory bus delivers a theoretical memory bandwidth of 614.4 GB/s, which is 50% higher than the AMD's 409.6 GB/s, and its launch MSRP is $12,460. The AMD's launch MSRP is $11,700. But based on the benchmark outcomes, the Xeon's additional memory channels and higher core count do not produce superior scores in any of the 17 recorded workloads. The verdict from the data is straightforward: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX dominates in every measured performance category, while the Intel Xeon 6980P offers a higher theoretical memory ceiling and more PCIe lanes on paper (96 versus 128 for AMD, meaning AMD actually has more CPU PCIe lanes), but no benchmark wins to show for it.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Shimada Peak codename, manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 99,780 million transistors across 12 dies, each measuring 70.6 mm². The Intel Xeon 6980P uses the Granite Rapids architecture, also known as Granite Rapids-AP, built on Intel's 5 nm process, with a die size of 3x 598 mm².

Core counts differ significantly: the AMD provides 96 cores and 192 threads, while the Intel offers 128 cores and 256 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD achieves higher clock speeds: a 2.50 GHz base clock and 5.40 GHz boost, compared to Intel's 2.00 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. The AMD also has an unlocked multiplier, which the Intel lacks, meaning the AMD can be overclocked while the Intel cannot.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The AMD uses a per-core L1 of 64 KB and per-core L2 of 1 MB, with a total L3 of 384 MB. The Intel uses a larger per-core L1 of 112 KB and per-core L2 of 2 MB, with a shared L3 of 504 MB. Memory support is DDR5 for both, but the AMD uses an eight-channel bus while the Intel uses twelve channels, giving the Intel a higher peak memory bandwidth of 614.4 GB/s versus 409.6 GB/s.

PCIe connectivity also differs: the AMD provides 128 Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel provides 96 Gen 5 lanes. Both support ECC memory and have no integrated graphics. The AMD was released on 2025-07-22, while the Intel came earlier on 2024-09-23. The AMD's process node advantage (4 nm versus 5 nm) likely contributes to its higher clock speeds and superior benchmark outcomes, though the data does not directly measure process effects.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon 6980P has 128 cores and 256 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX has 96 cores and 192 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon 6980P win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The recorded data shows 17 wins for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX and 0 wins for the Intel Xeon 6980P across all tested workloads.

Q: How large is the AMD's lead in the most extreme benchmark case?

A: The AMD leads by 403.3% in the PassMark physics test, scoring 16,860 versus Intel's 3,350. This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set.

Q: Which processor supports more memory channels and bandwidth?

A: The Intel Xeon 6980P uses a twelve-channel memory bus with 614.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD uses eight channels with 409.6 GB/s. The Intel has the higher theoretical memory bandwidth.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Xeon 6980P does not.

Q: What is the percentile ranking of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX ranks in the 100th percentile against all CPUs, while the Intel Xeon 6980P ranks in the 99th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX | Intel Xeon 6980P |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 96 | 128 |

| Threads | 192 | 256 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 350 W | 500 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket sTR5 | Intel Socket 7529 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Granite Rapids |

| Codename | Shimada Peak | Granite Rapids |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 5 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 99,780 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 12x 70.6 mm² | 3x 598 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 112 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 384 MB | 504 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Twelve-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 409.6 GB/s | 614.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 128 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 96 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release Date | 2025-07-22 | 2024-09-23 |

| Launch MSRP | $11,700 | $12,460 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are uniformly lopsided. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 14,978 against Intel's 6,367, a 135.2% advantage. Single-core R15 sees the AMD at 2,114 versus 898, a 135.4% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD posts 62,412 multi-core and 8,811 single-core, while the Intel manages 26,533 and 3,745 respectively, again a 135.2% and 135.3% delta. Cinebench R23 shows the same pattern: AMD at 148,601 multi-core and 20,979 single-core, Intel at 63,175 and 8,918, with a 135.2% gap in both.

PassMark workloads reveal a wider spread of margins. The largest win for the AMD is in the physics test, where it scores 16,860 versus Intel's 3,350, a 403.3% difference. Prime number finding also favors the AMD heavily: 1,476 versus 555, a 165.9% lead. Single-thread performance shows a 170.2% advantage for the AMD (4,542 versus 1,681). Multi-thread PassMark gives the AMD 171,200 versus 74,324, a 130.3% lead.

Integer math is a strong AMD showing: 1,203,634 versus 637,476, an 88.8% delta. Data compression shows 3,723,652 versus 2,364,519, a 57.5% lead. Data encryption gives the AMD 206,662 versus 125,246, a 65% advantage. Floating-point math lands at 725,066 versus 501,720, a 44.5% gap. Extended instructions show the closest margin of all at 26%, with 270,647 versus 214,794. Random string sorting concludes the set with 418,973 versus 240,792, a 74% lead.

Every single one of the 17 benchmarks records a win for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX. No test in the database shows the Intel Xeon 6980P ahead.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded data, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX wins in every measured category, so its territory covers all workloads in the benchmark set. The most extreme advantage appears in physics simulation, where the 403.3% lead suggests a massive throughput advantage for computational physics or similar single-thread-sensitive workloads. The 165.9% lead in prime number finding and the 170.2% lead in single-thread PassMark further reinforce that the AMD is superior for tasks that depend on per-core speed, despite the Intel having more physical cores.

The AMD also dominates multi-threaded productivity: Cinebench R23 multi-core at 148,601 versus 63,175 means rendering and content creation workloads will complete in roughly half the time on the AMD. Integer math and data compression, both common in database and file-server tasks, favor the AMD by 88.8% and 57.5% respectively. Data encryption shows a 65% lead, which matters for security and VPN workloads.

The Intel Xeon 6980P has no benchmark wins to claim, but its specification sheet points to areas where it might hold theoretical advantages not captured in these tests. Its twelve-channel memory bus with 614.4 GB/s bandwidth exceeds the AMD's 409.6 GB/s, so memory-bandwidth-bound workloads could potentially favor the Intel, though no recorded benchmark confirms this. Its larger L3 cache of 504 MB versus 384 MB might help in certain cache-resident workloads, and its TDP of 500 W versus 350 W suggests the Intel is designed for sustained heavy loads in a server chassis, though the data does not measure power efficiency.

The AMD's unlocked multiplier gives it an overclocking capability the Intel lacks, and its 4 nm process at TSMC alongside a 5.40 GHz boost clock makes it the clear choice for latency-sensitive or clock-hungry applications. In summary, the AMD wins every benchmark in the database; the Intel's only advantages are theoretical, based on memory channels and cache size, with no recorded performance evidence to support them.