Opteron 246 vs Ryzen 9 5900X

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.

Opteron 246 vs Ryzen 9 5900X 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.

Opteron 246 vs Ryzen 9 5900X: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Opteron 246

2003

Why buy it

✅Draws 89W instead of 105W, a 16W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900X across 46 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (538 vs 38,955).

Ryzen 9 5900X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +2057.4% higher average FPS across 46 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $549 MSRP, while Opteron 246 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18% higher power demand at 105W vs 89W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5900X better than Opteron 246?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Opteron 246 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 5900X is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 5900X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2057.4% more average FPS across 46 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 5900X is the stronger fit. You are getting 7140.7% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads.

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

Ryzen 9 5900X is the better buy right now. Ryzen 9 5900X comes in at an unclear MSRP at $549 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2057.4% average FPS lead across 46 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (71.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 9 5900X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2003) and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 threads instead of 1/1. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Opteron 246 vs Ryzen 9 5900X Technical Specifications

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

Opteron 246

The Opteron 246 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Agosto 2003 (22 years ago). It is based on the SledgeHammer (2003−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 940. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 538 points. Launch price was $109.

Ryzen 9 5900X

The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.

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Processing Power

The Opteron 246 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900X has 11 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Opteron 246 versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 82.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X. The Opteron 246 uses the SledgeHammer (2003−2005) architecture (130 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 246 scores 538 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 194.6% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Opteron 246 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X.

Feature	Opteron 246	Ryzen 9 5900X
Cores / Threads	1 / 1	12 / 24+1100%
Boost Clock	2 GHz	4.8 GHz+140%
Base Clock	—	3.7 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	64 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB	512K (per core)+51100%
Process	130 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-95%
Architecture	SledgeHammer (2003−2005)	Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	538	38,955+7141%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	21,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,174
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	11,888

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Memory & Platform

The Opteron 246 uses the 940 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Opteron 246	Ryzen 9 5900X
Socket	940	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 4.0+100%
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	24

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Opteron 246) / AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.