CPU Comparison
AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX vs Intel Xeon 696X
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX is a 64-core, 128-thread Zen 5 workstation processor on the sTR5 platform, designed for heavy multi-threaded workloads such as VFX rendering, scientific simulation, and large-scale AI development, with 8-channel DDR5-6400 and up to 148 PCIe 5.0 lanes.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Exceptional multi-threaded performance for professional applications; competes with or exceeds top Xeon workstation CPUs in many rendering and compilation workloads.
Designed for productivity; expect very high multi‑threaded performance in rendering, compilation, and data processing, but no standardized, verified scores are available yet.
Gaming
Capable of high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p and 4K in CPU-heavy titles, but not its focus; mainstream high-end desktop CPUs often match or beat it in gaming while costing far less.
Not a gaming‑focused CPU; few real‑game benchmarks exist. Single‑thread performance is competitive, but gaming is limited by GPU and platform optimization, and gamers have cheaper, better‑suited options.
Virtualization
Excellent for running many VMs or containers simultaneously, thanks to 128 threads, 8-channel memory, and massive PCIe connectivity.
Excellent candidate for large VM farms and container hosts due to 64 cores and 128 threads, but no official benchmark scores exist; real‑world scaling depends on workload and I/O.
Efficiency
High absolute performance but also high power draw; efficiency per watt is not a strength versus lower-core mainstream or server alternatives.
350W base and up to 420W turbo power means efficiency is not a priority; performance‑per‑watt will trail lower‑core‑count alternatives, especially at idle or light loads.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Good for CPU-based AI inference and model development, especially with 8-channel memory bandwidth.
- Lacks dedicated matrix or AI accelerators found in some newer server and workstation CPUs.
- Best for hybrid workflows combining local CPU inference with remote GPU or cloud acceleration.
- Intel AMX and AVX‑512 FP16 provide strong CPU‑side inference for small to medium models.
- Not a replacement for dedicated GPUs or accelerators on large LLMs.
- Well‑suited for edge inference, batch scoring, and pre‑processing stages of AI pipelines.
Content Creation
Gaming
- Strong single-thread performance thanks to Zen 5 and 5.4 GHz boost.
- More than capable for 1440p/4K gaming with a high-end GPU.
- Significantly more expensive and power-hungry than gaming-focused desktop CPUs.
- Best suited for gaming as a secondary task on a workstation that also does heavy compute.
- High single‑thread clocks help some titles, but core count is largely wasted for gaming.
- Platform is optimized for professional workloads, not game scheduling.
- Cost and power are hard to justify for a gaming‑only use case.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- 64 Zen 5 cores and 128 threads for extreme multi-threaded throughput.
- 8-channel DDR5-6400 with ECC and up to 2 TB capacity for large datasets.
- Up to 148 PCIe 5.0 lanes (128 Gen5) for multi-GPU and NVMe RAID configurations.
- AMD PRO technologies for security, encryption, and remote management.
- Unlocked multiplier for enthusiast tuning.
- Significant IPC uplift over prior Zen 4 Threadripper PRO generation.
Cons
- Very high platform cost (CPU, WRX90/TRX50 motherboard, 8-channel DDR5 RDIMMs).
- 350 W TDP requires robust cooling and a high-quality power supply.
- Efficiency per watt is unremarkable compared to lower-core alternatives.
- No integrated graphics; discrete GPU required for display.
- Overkill for gaming and light productivity workloads.
Pros
- 64 cores and 128 threads for heavily parallel workloads
- 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes for multi‑GPU and fast storage
- 8‑channel DDR5‑6400 / MRDIMM‑8000 memory with 4 TB support
- Modern Redwood Cove P‑cores with AMX and AVX‑512 AI acceleration
- Single‑socket W890 workstation platform with vPro manageability
Cons
- Very high power draw (350W base, up to 420W turbo)
- Expensive CPU and platform (W890 motherboard, 8‑channel DDR5, robust PSU)
- Locked multiplier limits overclocking headroom
- Overkill for gaming and light workloads
- Limited real‑world benchmarks and software optimizations so far
Competitors & Alternatives
AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
- Intel Xeon w9-3495XRival
Workstation
- Intel Xeon w5-3435XRival
Workstation
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WXRival
Workstation
- AMD EPYC 9654Rival
Server/Workstation
- RivalCompare head-to-head
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950XAlt
High-end mainstream desktop CPU with much lower cost and power draw; sufficient if your workload fits within 16 cores and 2 memory channels.
Intel Xeon 696X
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WXRival
Workstation
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WXRival
Workstation
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WXRival
Workstation
- Compare head-to-headIntel Xeon w9‑3595XRival
Workstation
- Compare head-to-headIntel Xeon 698XRival
Workstation
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980XAlt
Non‑PRO Threadripper with 64 cores and more OC headroom if you don’t need PRO manageability features.
- Dual‑socket Xeon server platformAlt
If you need >86 cores or dual‑socket RAS features, a 2S Xeon Granite Rapids‑SP server may be more appropriate.
Our Verdict on Each
An extremely powerful workstation CPU that trades blows with top Xeon parts in multi-threaded workloads while offering substantially more PCIe 5.0 lanes and memory bandwidth, but it comes at a very high price and requires robust cooling and platform investment.
Best for: Building or upgrading a professional workstation for 3D rendering, simulation, AI development, or virtualization where you need 64+ cores, 8-channel memory, and massive PCIe 5.0 expansion.
Read the full reviewA no‑compromise workstation CPU for users who need maximum core count, PCIe lanes, and memory bandwidth in a single socket, provided you can supply sufficient cooling and power.
Best for: Professional workstation for rendering, simulation, or AI where you need maximum cores, PCIe lanes, and memory in a single socket and can justify the high platform cost.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX or Intel Xeon 696X?
Based on our editorial ratings, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX comes out ahead with a score of 9/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX or Intel Xeon 696X?
For gaming, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX leads with a gaming performance score of 70/100 among AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX and Intel Xeon 696X.
Do AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX and Intel Xeon 696X use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX: sTR5, Intel Xeon 696X: FCLGA4710), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX (31,233), Intel Xeon 696X (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.