Atom x5-Z8500 vs Ryzen 5 5600X

Atom x5-Z8500 vs Ryzen 5 5600X Performance Spectrum

Atom x5-Z8500

4 / 4

1,242

0.0%

21,845

+1658.9%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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.

Atom x5-Z8500 vs Ryzen 5 5600X 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.

Atom x5-Z8500 vs Ryzen 5 5600X: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Atom x5-Z8500

2015

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail), while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600X across 43 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,242 vs 21,845).

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +597.0% higher average FPS across 43 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅1100% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 2) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $299 MSRP, while Atom x5-Z8500 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Atom x5-Z8500 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600X better than Atom x5-Z8500?

Yes. Ryzen 5 5600X is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 597.0% average FPS lead across 43 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1658.9% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 5600X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 597.0% more average FPS across 43 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600X is the stronger fit. You are getting 1658.9% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 5600X is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 5600X comes in at an unclear MSRP at $299 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 597.0% average FPS lead across 43 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 5600X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2015) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Atom x5-Z8500 vs Ryzen 5 5600X Technical Specifications

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

Atom x5-Z8500

The Atom x5-Z8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Cherry Trail (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.44 GHz, with boost up to 2.24 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: UTFCBGA1380. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,242 points. Launch price was $69.

Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Atom x5-Z8500 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 5600X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.24 GHz on the Atom x5-Z8500 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 69% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 1.44 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Atom x5-Z8500 uses the Cherry Trail (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Atom x5-Z8500 scores 1,242 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 178.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Atom x5-Z8500 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	Atom x5-Z8500	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	2.24 GHz	4.6 GHz+105%
Base Clock	1.44 GHz	3.7 GHz+157%
L3 Cache	0 kB	32 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB	512K (per core)+25500%
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-50%
Architecture	Cherry Trail (2015−2016)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	1,242	21,845+1659%

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Memory & Platform

The Atom x5-Z8500 uses the UTFCBGA1380 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR3-1600 on the Atom x5-Z8500 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X — the Ryzen 5 5600X supports 100% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 5600X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 1500% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 2 (Atom x5-Z8500) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 22 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FC-UTBGA592 (Atom x5-Z8500) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).

Feature	Atom x5-Z8500	Ryzen 5 5600X
Socket	UTFCBGA1380	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR3-1600	DDR4-3200+100%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	128 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	2	24+1100%

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Atom x5-Z8500) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). The Atom x5-Z8500 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail)), while the Ryzen 5 5600X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.