Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX vs Xeon Gold 5318Y

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX vs Xeon Gold 5318Y Performance Spectrum

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

12 / 24

33,455

+1.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX

Ryzen 9 9950X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Xeon Gold 5318Y

24 / 48

33,139

0.0%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX vs Xeon Gold 5318Y FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX vs Xeon Gold 5318Y: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 64) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (18,500 vs 28,500).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,149 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 5318Y mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌69.7% higher power demand at 280W vs 165W.

Xeon Gold 5318Y

2021

Why buy it

✅+54.1% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Draws 165W instead of 280W, a 115W reduction.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 5318Y better than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is ahead with a 12.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 5318Y pulls ahead with 54.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX also has the bigger cache pool with 77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 5318Y is the stronger fit. You are getting 54.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon Gold 5318Y is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon Gold 5318Y comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,149 MSRP, and it still gives you 54.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. The compromise is that Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 12.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (29.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon Gold 5318Y makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020), more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 48 threads instead of 12/24, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX vs Xeon Gold 5318Y Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 July 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Castle Peak (2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: sWRX8. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 33,455 points. Launch price was $499.

Xeon Gold 5318Y

The Xeon Gold 5318Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 33,139 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5318Y offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon Gold 5318Y has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5318Y — a 23.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX (base: 4 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX uses the Castle Peak (2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5318Y uses Ice Lake-SP (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX scores 33,455 against the Xeon Gold 5318Y's 33,139 — a 0.9% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 18,500 vs 28,500 (42.6% advantage for the Xeon Gold 5318Y). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,652 vs 1,251, a 27.6% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,500 vs 21,846 (62.1% advantage for the Xeon Gold 5318Y). L3 cache: 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX vs 36 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 5318Y.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX	Xeon Gold 5318Y
Cores / Threads	12 / 24	24 / 48+100%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+26%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	4 GHz+90%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB+78%	36 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm, 12 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Castle Peak (2020)	Ice Lake-SP (2021)
PassMark	33,455	33,139
Cinebench R23 Multi	18,500	28,500+54%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,652+32%	1,251
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,500	21,846+90%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX uses the sWRX8 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 5318Y uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX versus DDR4-2933 on the Xeon Gold 5318Y — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX supports 9.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 5318Y supports up to 6144 GB of RAM compared to 2048 GB — 200% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 8-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX) vs 64 (Xeon Gold 5318Y) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX offers 64 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX) and C621A,Ice Lake-SP (Xeon Gold 5318Y).

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX	Xeon Gold 5318Y
Socket	sWRX8	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200+9%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	2048 GB	6144 GB+200%
RAM Channels	8	8
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+100%	64

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 5318Y supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Gold 5318Y). Primary use case: Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX targets Professional Workstation, Xeon Gold 5318Y targets Server / Virtualization. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX rivals Xeon w5-2455X; Xeon Gold 5318Y rivals Xeon Silver 4316.