Ryzen 5 5500 vs Xeon E5-2690 v4
Ryzen 5 5500
Xeon E5-2690 v4
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 5500
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2690 v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5500 | Xeon E5-2690 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($85) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($389) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cezanne (2021−2025) / 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5500 | Xeon E5-2690 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+359%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($85) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($389) |
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 5500 and Xeon E5-2690 v4
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) | 3.5 MB+600% |
| 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. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2690 v4 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 169.2% 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 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 1536 GB+1100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| 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
The Ryzen 5 5500 launched at $159 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2690 v4 debuted at $2090. At current prices ($85 vs $389), the Ryzen 5 5500 is $304 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5500 delivers 227.2 pts/$ vs 49.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2690 v4 — making the Ryzen 5 5500 the 128.4% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5500 | Xeon E5-2690 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $159-92% | $2090 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $85-78% | $389 |
| Performance per Dollar | 227.2+359% | 49.5 |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2016 |
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