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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-14600KF

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $845 less on MSRP ($304 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 266.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.2 vs 34.8 PassMark/$ ($304 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (38,664 vs 39,929).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 34.8 vs 127.2 PassMark/$ ($1,149 MSRP vs $304 MSRP).
❌124% higher power demand at 280W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on sWRX8 with DDR4, while Core i5-14600KF moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-14600KF

2023

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $845 less on MSRP ($304 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 266.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.2 vs 34.8 PassMark/$ ($304 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (38,664 vs 39,929).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 34.8 vs 127.2 PassMark/$ ($1,149 MSRP vs $304 MSRP).
❌124% higher power demand at 280W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on sWRX8 with DDR4, while Core i5-14600KF moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX better than Core i5-14600KF?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-14600KF is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 6.0% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX is the better fit. You are getting 3.3% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-14600KF makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX is 278.0% more expensive on MSRP at $1,149 MSRP versus $304 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-14600KF is also 266.0% better value on MSRP (127.2 vs 34.8 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i5-14600KF is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of sWRX8. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-14600KF Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-14600KF	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
1080p
low	278 FPS	210 FPS
medium	263 FPS	170 FPS
high	219 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	232 FPS	186 FPS
medium	196 FPS	147 FPS
high	157 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	88 FPS
medium	132 FPS	74 FPS
high	102 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i5-14600KF Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-14600KF	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
1080p
low	712 FPS	557 FPS
medium	600 FPS	486 FPS
high	502 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	455 FPS	351 FPS
1440p
low	615 FPS	479 FPS
medium	542 FPS	424 FPS
high	457 FPS	356 FPS
ultra	391 FPS	296 FPS
4K
low	358 FPS	299 FPS
medium	323 FPS	268 FPS
high	305 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	268 FPS	217 FPS

Open Core i5-14600KF Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-14600KF	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
1080p
low	660 FPS	773 FPS
medium	540 FPS	638 FPS
high	475 FPS	569 FPS
ultra	412 FPS	494 FPS
1440p
low	599 FPS	600 FPS
medium	499 FPS	495 FPS
high	433 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	376 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	431 FPS
medium	380 FPS	344 FPS
high	344 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	294 FPS	243 FPS

Open Core i5-14600KF Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-14600KF	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
1080p
low	967 FPS	998 FPS
medium	967 FPS	970 FPS
high	893 FPS	823 FPS
ultra	805 FPS	725 FPS
1440p
low	928 FPS	847 FPS
medium	823 FPS	745 FPS
high	714 FPS	630 FPS
ultra	630 FPS	540 FPS
4K
low	630 FPS	594 FPS
medium	569 FPS	540 FPS
high	511 FPS	468 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	405 FPS

Open Core i5-14600KF Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-14600KF and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Core i5-14600KF

The Core i5-14600KF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 17 October 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,664 points. Launch price was $294.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX 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 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 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: 39,929 points. Launch price was $1,149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-14600KF packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.3 GHz on the Core i5-14600KF versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX — a 20.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-14600KF (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i5-14600KF uses the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX uses Castle Peak (2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-14600KF scores 38,664 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX's 39,929 — a 3.2% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-14600KF vs 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX.

Feature	Core i5-14600KF	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	16 / 32+14%
Boost Clock	5.3 GHz+23%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.9 GHz+11%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	64 MB+167%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)	Castle Peak (2020)
PassMark	38,664	39,929+3%
Cinebench R23 Multi	24,700	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,900	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,000	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-14600KF uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-14600KF versus 3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX supports up to 2048 of RAM compared to 192 GB — 165.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-14600KF) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-14600KF) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 700 Series,Intel 600 Series (Core i5-14600KF) and WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX).

Feature	Core i5-14600KF	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
Socket	LGA1700	sWRX8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	3200+63900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+9830300%	2048
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: Yes (Core i5-14600KF) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX). Primary use case: Core i5-14600KF targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX rivals Xeon Silver 4314.

Feature	Core i5-14600KF	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	Yes	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-14600KF launched at $304 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX debuted at $1149. On MSRP ($304 vs $1149), the Core i5-14600KF is $845 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-14600KF delivers 127.2 pts/$ vs 34.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX — making the Core i5-14600KF the 114.2% better value option.