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 5600

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $230 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 350W, a 285W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (11,077 vs 40,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 108.3 vs 157.5 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +40.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Delivers 45.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 157.5 vs 108.3 PassMark/$ ($429 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌
115.6% HIGHER MSRP
$429 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
❌438.5% higher power demand at 350W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Ryzen 5 5600

2022

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $230 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 350W, a 285W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +40.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Delivers 45.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 157.5 vs 108.3 PassMark/$ ($429 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (11,077 vs 40,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 108.3 vs 157.5 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
115.6% HIGHER MSRP
$429 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
❌438.5% higher power demand at 350W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX better than Ryzen 5 5600?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 5600 is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 40.5% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is the better fit. You are getting 261.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is the smarter buy today. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is 115.6% more expensive on MSRP at $429 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 40.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 45.4% better value on MSRP (157.5 vs 108.3 PassMark/$), 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?

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022), a healthier platform with sTR5 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB), more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 6/12, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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 5600 Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
1080p
low	161 FPS	297 FPS
medium	130 FPS	270 FPS
high	112 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	188 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	273 FPS
medium	113 FPS	224 FPS
high	95 FPS	174 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	153 FPS
4K
low	79 FPS	187 FPS
medium	69 FPS	154 FPS
high	55 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	104 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
1080p
low	508 FPS	781 FPS
medium	419 FPS	642 FPS
high	351 FPS	476 FPS
ultra	310 FPS	402 FPS
1440p
low	447 FPS	641 FPS
medium	375 FPS	546 FPS
high	323 FPS	420 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	326 FPS
4K
low	313 FPS	360 FPS
medium	268 FPS	310 FPS
high	243 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	228 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
1080p
low	539 FPS	888 FPS
medium	526 FPS	705 FPS
high	483 FPS	622 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	534 FPS
1440p
low	539 FPS	713 FPS
medium	434 FPS	567 FPS
high	396 FPS	489 FPS
ultra	339 FPS	414 FPS
4K
low	371 FPS	507 FPS
medium	298 FPS	418 FPS
high	255 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	315 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
1080p
low	539 FPS	1106 FPS
medium	539 FPS	991 FPS
high	539 FPS	867 FPS
ultra	539 FPS	781 FPS
1440p
low	539 FPS	860 FPS
medium	539 FPS	759 FPS
high	539 FPS	664 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	576 FPS
4K
low	501 FPS	632 FPS
medium	448 FPS	562 FPS
high	398 FPS	496 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	429 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600 and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Ryzen 5 5600

The Ryzen 5 5600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). 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: 21,550 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Shimada Peak (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 4.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 67,561 points. Launch price was $1,649.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX — a 20.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX (base: 3.5 GHz vs 4.5 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX uses Shimada Peak (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600 scores 21,550 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX's 67,561 — a 103.3% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 11,077 vs 40,000 (113.3% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,052 vs 3,016, a 38% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,600 vs 23,596 (93.2% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600 vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	16 / 32+167%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.4 GHz+23%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	4.5 GHz+29%
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Vermeer (2020−2025)	Shimada Peak (2025)
PassMark	21,550	67,561+214%
Cinebench R23 Multi	11,077	40,000+261%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,052	3,016+47%
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,600	23,596+174%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX uses sTR5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600 versus DDR5-6400 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 5600) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 5600) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B550,X570,B450,X470,A520 (Ryzen 5 5600) and WRX90 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX).

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
Socket	AM4	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-6400+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	128+433%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX rivals Xeon w7-3555.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	true
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 5600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX debuted at $429. On MSRP ($199 vs $429), the Ryzen 5 5600 is $230 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5600 delivers 108.3 pts/$ vs 157.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX — making the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX the 37% better value option.