Ryzen 5 5600 vs Xeon D-1736NT

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

✅Better for gaming: +18.4% higher average FPS across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 15 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 67W, a 2W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Xeon D-1736NT.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon D-1736NT, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Xeon D-1736NT mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon D-1736NT

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600 across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (17,826 vs 21,550).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (15 MB vs 32 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Ryzen 5 5600

2022

Xeon D-1736NT

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.4% higher average FPS across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 15 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 67W, a 2W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Xeon D-1736NT.

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon D-1736NT, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Xeon D-1736NT mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600 across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (17,826 vs 21,550).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (15 MB vs 32 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600 better than Xeon D-1736NT?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon D-1736NT 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 5 5600 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 18.4% more average FPS across 45 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600 is the better fit. You are getting 20.9% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 113.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 15 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 5600 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 5600 is at an unclear MSRP at $199 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 18.4% average FPS lead across 45 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (108.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 D-1736NT is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more overall headroom and a better platform outlook.

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

Xeon D-1736NT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Xeon D-1736NT
1080p
low	161 FPS	179 FPS
medium	130 FPS	147 FPS
high	112 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	145 FPS
medium	113 FPS	116 FPS
high	95 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	79 FPS	68 FPS
medium	69 FPS	58 FPS
high	55 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	36 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Xeon D-1736NT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Xeon D-1736NT
1080p
low	508 FPS	283 FPS
medium	419 FPS	243 FPS
high	351 FPS	212 FPS
ultra	310 FPS	168 FPS
1440p
low	447 FPS	249 FPS
medium	375 FPS	220 FPS
high	323 FPS	194 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	153 FPS
4K
low	313 FPS	179 FPS
medium	268 FPS	164 FPS
high	243 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	109 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Xeon D-1736NT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Xeon D-1736NT
1080p
low	539 FPS	446 FPS
medium	526 FPS	446 FPS
high	483 FPS	446 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	446 FPS
1440p
low	539 FPS	446 FPS
medium	434 FPS	446 FPS
high	396 FPS	425 FPS
ultra	339 FPS	370 FPS
4K
low	371 FPS	424 FPS
medium	298 FPS	330 FPS
high	255 FPS	294 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	236 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Xeon D-1736NT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Xeon D-1736NT
1080p
low	539 FPS	446 FPS
medium	539 FPS	446 FPS
high	539 FPS	446 FPS
ultra	539 FPS	446 FPS
1440p
low	539 FPS	446 FPS
medium	539 FPS	446 FPS
high	539 FPS	446 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	443 FPS
4K
low	501 FPS	446 FPS
medium	448 FPS	417 FPS
high	398 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	326 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Xeon D-1736NT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600 and Xeon D-1736NT

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.

Xeon D-1736NT

The Xeon D-1736NT is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB. Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2227. Thermal design power (TDP): 67 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,826 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon D-1736NT offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon D-1736NT has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon D-1736NT — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600 is built on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600 scores 21,550 against the Xeon D-1736NT's 17,826 — a 18.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600 vs 15 MB on the Xeon D-1736NT.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Xeon D-1736NT
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+26%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+30%	2.7 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)+113%	15 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	—
Process	7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Vermeer (2020−2025)	—
PassMark	21,550+21%	17,826
Cinebench R23 Multi	11,077	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,052	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,600	—

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon D-1736NT uses FCBGA2227 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.