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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 15 MB).
✅Costs $330 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $529 MSRP).
✅Delivers 150.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 35.5 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $529 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 130W, a 65W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (17,685 vs 18,776).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Xeon w3-2425 moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.

Xeon w3-2425

2023

Why buy it

✅+6.2% higher PassMark.
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (15 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 35.5 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($529 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 130W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Xeon w3-2425

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 15 MB).
✅Costs $330 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $529 MSRP).
✅Delivers 150.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 35.5 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $529 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 130W, a 65W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+6.2% higher PassMark.
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (17,685 vs 18,776).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Xeon w3-2425 moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (15 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 35.5 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($529 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 130W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than Xeon w3-2425?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon w3-2425 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 3600 is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon w3-2425 is the better fit. You are getting 6.2% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 3600 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 3600 is $330 cheaper on MSRP at $199 MSRP versus $529 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon w3-2425 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 6.2% better PassMark. It is also 150.4% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 35.5 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Xeon w3-2425 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2019), a healthier platform with LGA4677 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Ryzen 5 3600 Benchmark Check

Xeon w3-2425 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Xeon w3-2425
1080p
low	200 FPS	184 FPS
medium	161 FPS	152 FPS
high	135 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	154 FPS	149 FPS
medium	119 FPS	120 FPS
high	96 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	80 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	83 FPS
medium	58 FPS	71 FPS
high	46 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	45 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Xeon w3-2425

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Xeon w3-2425
1080p
low	442 FPS	357 FPS
medium	404 FPS	295 FPS
high	332 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	226 FPS
1440p
low	420 FPS	317 FPS
medium	359 FPS	269 FPS
high	303 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	206 FPS
4K
low	297 FPS	248 FPS
medium	259 FPS	215 FPS
high	230 FPS	197 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	166 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Xeon w3-2425

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Xeon w3-2425
1080p
low	442 FPS	469 FPS
medium	442 FPS	469 FPS
high	442 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	469 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	469 FPS
medium	442 FPS	469 FPS
high	442 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	469 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	469 FPS
medium	361 FPS	415 FPS
high	305 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	280 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Xeon w3-2425

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Xeon w3-2425
1080p
low	442 FPS	469 FPS
medium	442 FPS	469 FPS
high	442 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	469 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	469 FPS
medium	442 FPS	469 FPS
high	442 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	469 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	469 FPS
medium	442 FPS	469 FPS
high	413 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	413 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Xeon w3-2425

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 3600 and Xeon w3-2425

Ryzen 5 3600

The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.

Xeon w3-2425

The Xeon w3-2425 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 February 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4400. Passmark benchmark score: 18,776 points. Launch price was $529.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 5 3600 and Xeon w3-2425 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 4.4 GHz on the Xeon w3-2425 — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Xeon w3-2425 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon w3-2425 uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Xeon w3-2425's 18,776 — a 6% lead for the Xeon w3-2425. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 15 MB on the Xeon w3-2425.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Xeon w3-2425
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.4 GHz+5%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+20%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)+113%	15 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	2 MB (per core)+300%
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	17,685	18,776+6%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,295	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon w3-2425 uses LGA4677 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Xeon w3-2425
Socket	AM4	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	24	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: Yes (Ryzen 5 3600) / not specified (Xeon w3-2425). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Xeon w3-2425
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	Yes	—
Target Use	Gaming/Budget Workstation	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 3600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Xeon w3-2425 debuted at $529. On MSRP ($199 vs $529), the Ryzen 5 3600 is $330 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3600 delivers 88.9 pts/$ vs 35.5 pts/$ for the Xeon w3-2425 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 85.8% better value option.