Ryzen 5 230 vs Xeon W-1290
Ryzen 5 230
Xeon W-1290
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 230
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W-1290
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 230 | Xeon W-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($190) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Hawk Point (2024−2025) / 4 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 230 | Xeon W-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+58%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($190) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 230 and Xeon W-1290
Ryzen 5 230
The Ryzen 5 230 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,186 points. Launch price was $299.
Xeon W-1290
The Xeon W-1290 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 20,112 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 230 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon W-1290 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon W-1290 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 230 versus 5.1 GHz on the Xeon W-1290 — a 4% clock advantage for the Xeon W-1290 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen 5 230 uses the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture (4 nm), while the Xeon W-1290 uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 230 scores 20,186 against the Xeon W-1290's 20,112 — a 0.4% lead for the Ryzen 5 230. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 230 vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon W-1290.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 230 | Xeon W-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 10 / 20+67% |
| Boost Clock | 4.9 GHz | 5.1 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+9% | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 20 MB (total)+25% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 4 nm-71% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Hawk Point (2024−2025) | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 20,186 | 20,112 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 230 uses the FP8 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W-1290 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 230 | Xeon W-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP8 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 230 launched at $200 MSRP, while the Xeon W-1290 debuted at $498. At current prices ($190 vs $300), the Ryzen 5 230 is $110 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 230 delivers 106.2 pts/$ vs 67.0 pts/$ for the Xeon W-1290 — making the Ryzen 5 230 the 45.2% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 230 | Xeon W-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $200-60% | $498 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $190-37% | $300 |
| Performance per Dollar | 106.2+59% | 67.0 |
| Release Date | 2025 | 2020 |
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