Ryzen 5 5600 vs Xeon E5-2697 v4

Ryzen 5 5600 vs Xeon E5-2697 v4 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 5 5600

6 / 12

21,550

+2.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Xeon E5-2697 v4

18 / 36

20,990

0.0%

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 5600 vs Xeon E5-2697 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 5600 vs Xeon E5-2697 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 5600

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 65W instead of 145W, a 80W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Xeon E5-2697 v4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 45 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2697 v4, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2697 v4 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E5-2697 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅+40.6% larger total L3 cache (45 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 18 cores / 36 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (20,990 vs 21,550).
❌123.1% higher power demand at 145W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600 better than Xeon E5-2697 v4?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2697 v4 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 5600 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 5600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.4% 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 5600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 2.7% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 5600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 5600 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $199 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (108.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 5600 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 18/36. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 5 5600 vs Xeon E5-2697 v4 Technical Specifications

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

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 E5-2697 v4

The Xeon E5-2697 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 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB. L2 cache: 4.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 20,990 points. Launch price was $2,702.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2697 v4 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon E5-2697 v4 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2697 v4 — a 20% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon E5-2697 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600 scores 21,550 against the Xeon E5-2697 v4's 20,990 — a 2.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600 vs 45 MB on the Xeon E5-2697 v4.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Xeon E5-2697 v4
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	18 / 36+200%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+22%	3.6 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+52%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	45 MB+41%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+11278%	4.5 MB
Process	7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Vermeer (2020−2025)	Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark	21,550+3%	20,990
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 E5-2697 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.