Ryzen 5 2500X vs Xeon D-1557

Ryzen 5 2500X vs Xeon D-1557 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 5 2500X

4 / 8

9,388

+1.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX

Xeon D-1557

12 / 24

9,285

0.0%

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.

Ryzen 5 2500X vs Xeon D-1557 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.

Ryzen 5 2500X vs Xeon D-1557: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Ryzen 5 2500X

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+966.7% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 1.5 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon D-1557, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $159 MSRP, while Xeon D-1557 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Xeon D-1557

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads.
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 2500X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (9,285 vs 9,388).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (1.5 MB vs 16 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 2500X better than Xeon D-1557?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon D-1557 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 2500X 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 5 2500X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 2500X is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 966.7% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 1.5 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 2500X is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 2500X comes in at an unclear MSRP at $159 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (59.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 5 2500X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2016), 966.7% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 1.5 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 12/24. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 5 2500X vs Xeon D-1557 Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 5 2500X

The Ryzen 5 2500X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 9,388 points. Launch price was $149.

Xeon D-1557

The Xeon D-1557 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (per core). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1667. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,285 points. Launch price was $694.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 2500X packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon D-1557 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon D-1557 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2500X versus 2.1 GHz on the Xeon D-1557 — a 62.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 2500X (base: 3.6 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Ryzen 5 2500X uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (12 nm), while the Xeon D-1557 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 2500X scores 9,388 against the Xeon D-1557's 9,285 — a 1.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 2500X. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 2500X vs 1.5 MB (per core) on the Xeon D-1557.

Feature	Ryzen 5 2500X	Xeon D-1557
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	12 / 24+200%
Boost Clock	4 GHz+90%	2.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+140%	1.5 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)+967%	1.5 MB (per core)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	12 nm-14%	14 nm
Architecture	Zen+ (2018−2019)	Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark	9,388+1%	9,285

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 2500X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon D-1557 uses FCBGA1667 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.