Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX vs Xeon Gold 5520+

AMD

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

32 Cores64 Thrd280 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2020
Threadripper Pro family
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VS
Intel

Xeon Gold 5520+

28 Cores56 Thrd205 WWMax: 4 GHz2023
Similar parts
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Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX vs Xeon Gold 5520+ Performance Spectrum

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 3975WX vs Xeon Gold 5520+ 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 3975WX vs Xeon Gold 5520+: 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 3975WX

2020

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +24.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • 60% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 80) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 46.6 vs 56.5 PassMark/$ ($1,337 MSRP vs $1,083 MSRP).
  • 36.6% higher power demand at 280W vs 205W.
  • Older platform position on sWRX8 with DDR4, while Xeon Gold 5520+ moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.

Xeon Gold 5520+

2023

Why buy it

  • Costs $254 less on MSRP ($1,083 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
  • Delivers 21.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 56.5 vs 46.6 PassMark/$ ($1,083 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
  • Draws 205W instead of 280W, a 75W reduction.
  • Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (25,000 vs 25,211).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX better than Xeon Gold 5520+?
Yes. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 24.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.8% better Geekbench multi-core, and 1.7% higher PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 24.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests. It also has a clear cache advantage at 128 MB versus 53 MB.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 143.8% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 53 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Gold 5520+ is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX comes in 23.5% more expensive on MSRP at $1,337 MSRP versus $1,083 MSRP, and it still gives you a 24.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon Gold 5520+ is also 21.4% better value on MSRP (56.5 vs 46.6 PassMark/$), 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 5520+ makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA4677 and DDR5 instead of sWRX8, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX vs Xeon Gold 5520+ Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2020-07-14. It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB. L2 cache: 512K (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: 62,261 points. Launch price was $4,499.

Intel

Xeon Gold 5520+

The Xeon Gold 5520+ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Emerald Rapids (2023) architecture. It features 28 cores and 56 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 52.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 61,227 points. Launch price was $1,640.

Processing Power

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX packs 32 cores / 64 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5520+ offers 28 cores / 56 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5520+ — a 4.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5520+ uses Emerald Rapids (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX scores 62,261 against the Xeon Gold 5520+'s 61,227 — a 1.7% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,260 vs 1,600, a 23.8% lead for the Xeon Gold 5520+ that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 25,211 vs 25,000 (0.8% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX). L3 cache: 128 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX vs 52.5 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 5520+.

FeatureRyzen Threadripper PRO 3975WXXeon Gold 5520+
Cores / Threads
32 / 64+14%
28 / 56
Boost Clock
4.2 GHz+5%
4 GHz
Base Clock
3.5 GHz+59%
2.2 GHz
L3 Cache
128 MB+144%
52.5 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512K (per core)+25500%
2 MB (per core)
Process
7 nm, 12 nm-30%
10 nm
Architecture
Matisse (2019−2020)
Emerald Rapids (2023)
PassMark
62,261+2%
61,227
Cinebench R23 Multi
42,986
Geekbench 6 Single
1,260
1,600+27%
Geekbench 6 Multi
25,211
25,000
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX uses the sWRX8 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 5520+ uses LGA4677 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX versus DDR5-4800 on the Xeon Gold 5520+ — the Xeon Gold 5520+ supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 5520+ supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 2048 GB 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 8-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX) vs 80 (Xeon Gold 5520+) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX offers 48 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX) and C741 (Xeon Gold 5520+).

FeatureRyzen Threadripper PRO 3975WXXeon Gold 5520+
Socket
sWRX8
LGA4677
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-3200
DDR5-4800+50%
Max RAM Capacity
2048 GB
4096 GB+100%
RAM Channels
8
8
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
128+60%
80
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 5520+ supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 5520+). Primary use case: Xeon Gold 5520+ targets Enterprise Server. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX rivals Xeon W-3375; Xeon Gold 5520+ rivals EPYC 9354.

FeatureRyzen Threadripper PRO 3975WXXeon Gold 5520+
Integrated GPU
No
No
IGPU Model
None
None
Unlocked
Yes
No
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
true
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Enterprise Server
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX was priced at $1337, while the Xeon Gold 5520+ came in at $1083. On launch pricing ($1337 vs $1083), Xeon Gold 5520+ was $254 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX delivers 46.6 pts/$ vs 56.5 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 5520+ — making the Xeon Gold 5520+ the 19.3% better value option.

FeatureRyzen Threadripper PRO 3975WXXeon Gold 5520+
MSRP
$1337
$1083-19%
Performance per Dollar
46.6
56.5+21%
Release Date
2020
2023

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