Apple M5 Ultra Beats 96-Core Ryzen Threadripper in Geekbench 7

Apple’s M5 Ultra workstation chip has taken the top spot in Geekbench 7 performance rankings, beating a competitor with more than double the core count. This result matters because it shows Apple’s silicon can outpace traditional x86 desktop processors in raw speed despite using significantly fewer physical cores. Buyers looking for high-performance workstations now have a viable alternative that relies on unified memory architecture rather than sheer core quantity.

Apple chip leads AMD rival in multi-core and single-core tests

The M5 Ultra features a 36-core CPU configuration, which includes 12 super cores designed to handle the heaviest workloads efficiently. It competes directly against the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX, a massive 96-core and 192-thread processor built for extreme multitasking. Apple’s chip finished the single-core Geekbench 7 benchmark with a score of 3,774, while the AMD rival scored 2,578. This single-core lead of 46.4 percent highlights the efficiency of Apple’s core design compared to AMD’s higher clock speeds.

Spec comparison

In multi-core testing, the M5 Ultra outperformed the 96-core Threadripper by 10.8 percent, proving its architectural advantage in parallel processing tasks. The AMD processor reached a stable 5.80GHz clock speed across all 96 cores with liquid nitrogen cooling, requiring 1000W of power to sustain that performance. Apple’s chip maintained its lead without requiring such extreme cooling or power consumption, demonstrating a more efficient performance-per-watt ratio for workstation users.

The M5 Ultra utilizes its unified memory architecture to outpace the AMD competitor in specific creative workloads like Photo Editor, HDR, and Photo Library tests. However, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX retains a significant advantage in other areas, leading in Ray Tracer and Clang tests by up to 58.8 percent. We touched on Framework Laptop 13 Pro Memory Speed in our earlier Apple coverage, noting similar memory bandwidth advantages in other Apple silicon products.

The M5 Ultra’s benchmark results confirm its position as a dominant force in the workstation market, particularly for tasks that benefit from unified memory and high single-core speed. While AMD’s Threadripper still leads in specific rendering and compilation tests, Apple’s ability to beat a 96-core chip with only 36 cores is a notable technical achievement. This performance data provides a clear comparison for professionals choosing between ARM-based and x86-based high-end workstations.