Core i5-14600K
Raptor Lake Refresh · 14C · 5.3 GHz · $319
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX
12C/24T · 5.4 GHz · 350 W · sTR5 · PassMark #216
Core i5-14600K takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Core i5-14600K lands at 87 and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX at 31. That puts Core i5-14600K ahead by 56 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Core i5-14600K if…
- ✓Strong gaming performance
- ✓Good productivity for price
- ✓DDR4 and DDR5 compatible
Pick Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX if…
- ✓PassMark CPU Mark of 55,939 — solid multi-thread numbers
- ✓Workstation-tier core counts for rendering and compilation
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testValue for money
Core i5-14600KSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Core i5-14600K more score per dollar ($319 vs $4,000).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Core i5-14600K | Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | ▲ 14 (6P+8E) | 12 |
| Threads | 20 | ▲ 24 |
| Boost clock | 5.3 GHz | 5.4 GHz |
| TDP | 125 W | 350 W |
| Socket | LGA1700 | sTR5 |
| Base clock | — | 4.7 GHz |
| L3 cache | — | 64 MB |
| Platform | — | WRX90 or TRX50 |
| Memory | — | 8-channel DDR5-6400 ECC RDIMM, up to 2TB (on WRX90) |
| PCIe | — | 128x PCIe 5.0 + 8x PCIe 4.0 from CPU (on WRX90) |
| PassMark rank | — | #216 of 5,901 |
| PassMark CPU Mark | — | 55,939 |
Core i5-14600K
- +Strong gaming performance
- +Good productivity for price
- +DDR4 and DDR5 compatible
- −Last-gen LGA1700 socket
- −Power hungry under load
- −No AI instructions
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX
- +PassMark CPU Mark of 55,939 — solid multi-thread numbers
- +Workstation-tier core counts for rendering and compilation
- −Workstation platform — overkill for gaming-only builds
- −Newer-generation parts pull ahead in current rankings
FAQ: Core i5-14600K vs Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX
Which is better, Core i5-14600K or Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX? +
Core i5-14600K scores 87 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 56. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Core i5-14600K worth the price? +
At $319, Core i5-14600K delivers a Specdex score of 87 — strongest in gaming.
Is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX worth the price? +
At $4,000, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX delivers a Specdex score of 31 — strongest in passmark.
Does Core i5-14600K or Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is the better value, Core i5-14600K or Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX? +
Core i5-14600K — more score per dollar ($319 vs $4,000). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.