Ryzen 5 5500 vs Xeon E5-2690 v4

Ryzen 5 5500 vs Xeon E5-2690 v4 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 5 5500

6 / 12

19,311

+0.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Xeon E5-2690 v4

14 / 28

19,255

0.0%

Core i7-6800K

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition

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 5500 vs Xeon E5-2690 v4 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 5500 vs Xeon E5-2690 v4: 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 5500

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,931 less on MSRP ($159 MSRP vs $2,090 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1218.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 121.5 vs 9.2 PassMark/$ ($159 MSRP vs $2,090 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 135W, a 70W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 35 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2690 v4, which brings 14 cores / 28 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E5-2690 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅+118.8% larger total L3 cache (35 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 14 cores / 28 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅66.7% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (19,255 vs 19,311).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.2 vs 121.5 PassMark/$ ($2,090 MSRP vs $159 MSRP).
❌107.7% higher power demand at 135W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5500 better than Xeon E5-2690 v4?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2690 v4 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 5500 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 5500 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.8% 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 5500 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 5500 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 5500 comes in $1,931 cheaper on MSRP at $159 MSRP versus $2,090 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 1218.3% better value on MSRP (121.5 vs 9.2 PassMark/$), 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 5500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 14/28. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 5 5500 vs Xeon E5-2690 v4 Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 5 5500

The Ryzen 5 5500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,311 points. Launch price was $159.

Xeon E5-2690 v4

The Xeon E5-2690 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 35 MB. L2 cache: 3.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 19,255 points. Launch price was $2,090.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5500 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2690 v4 offers 14 cores / 28 threads — the Xeon E5-2690 v4 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2690 v4 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5500 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5500 uses the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon E5-2690 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5500 scores 19,311 against the Xeon E5-2690 v4's 19,255 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 5500. L3 cache: 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5500 vs 35 MB on the Xeon E5-2690 v4.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5500	Xeon E5-2690 v4
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	14 / 28+133%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz+20%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+38%	2.6 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB	35 MB+119%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+14529%	3.5 MB
Process	7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Cezanne (2021−2025)	Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark	19,311	19,255

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5500 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2690 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5500 versus DDR4-2400 on the Xeon E5-2690 v4 — the Ryzen 5 5500 supports 33.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2690 v4 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 1100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 5500) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2690 v4). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 5500) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2690 v4) — the Xeon E5-2690 v4 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 5500) and Intel X99,Intel C612 (Xeon E5-2690 v4).

Feature	Ryzen 5 5500	Xeon E5-2690 v4
Socket	AM4	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200+33%	DDR4-2400
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	1536 GB+1100%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	40+67%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5500) / not specified (Xeon E5-2690 v4). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5500 targets Desktop.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5500	Xeon E5-2690 v4
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Ryzen 5 5500 was priced at $159, while the Xeon E5-2690 v4 came in at $2090. On launch pricing ($159 vs $2090), Ryzen 5 5500 was $1931 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5500 delivers 121.5 pts/$ vs 9.2 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2690 v4 — making the Ryzen 5 5500 the 171.8% better value option.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5500	Xeon E5-2690 v4
MSRP	$159-92%	$2090
Performance per Dollar	121.5+1221%	9.2
Release Date	2022	2016

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