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 $2,501 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $2,700 MSRP).
✅Delivers 725.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 108.3 vs 13.1 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $2,700 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 205W, a 140W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Xeon Gold 6248R.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6248R across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,550 vs 35,434).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6248R, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Gold 6248R

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.1 vs 108.3 PassMark/$ ($2,700 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌215.4% higher power demand at 205W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Ryzen 5 5600

2022

Xeon Gold 6248R

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,501 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $2,700 MSRP).
✅Delivers 725.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 108.3 vs 13.1 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $2,700 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 205W, a 140W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Xeon Gold 6248R.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6248R across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,550 vs 35,434).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6248R, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.1 vs 108.3 PassMark/$ ($2,700 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌215.4% higher power demand at 205W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6248R better than Ryzen 5 5600?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 6248R 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, Xeon Gold 6248R is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 5.3% 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, Xeon Gold 6248R is the better fit. You are getting 64.4% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads.

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

Xeon Gold 6248R is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon Gold 6248R is 1256.8% more expensive on MSRP at $2,700 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600 is also 725.2% better value on MSRP (108.3 vs 13.1 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 5 5600 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 Gold 6248R Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Xeon Gold 6248R
1080p
low	161 FPS	199 FPS
medium	130 FPS	160 FPS
high	112 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	101 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	159 FPS
medium	113 FPS	124 FPS
high	95 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	79 FPS	73 FPS
medium	69 FPS	60 FPS
high	55 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	39 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Xeon Gold 6248R

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Xeon Gold 6248R
1080p
low	508 FPS	444 FPS
medium	419 FPS	388 FPS
high	351 FPS	317 FPS
ultra	310 FPS	262 FPS
1440p
low	447 FPS	383 FPS
medium	375 FPS	338 FPS
high	323 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	223 FPS
4K
low	313 FPS	240 FPS
medium	268 FPS	213 FPS
high	243 FPS	189 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	156 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Xeon Gold 6248R

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Xeon Gold 6248R
1080p
low	539 FPS	886 FPS
medium	526 FPS	886 FPS
high	483 FPS	865 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	782 FPS
1440p
low	539 FPS	801 FPS
medium	434 FPS	709 FPS
high	396 FPS	666 FPS
ultra	339 FPS	597 FPS
4K
low	371 FPS	517 FPS
medium	298 FPS	425 FPS
high	255 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	306 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Xeon Gold 6248R

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Xeon Gold 6248R
1080p
low	539 FPS	886 FPS
medium	539 FPS	886 FPS
high	539 FPS	841 FPS
ultra	539 FPS	713 FPS
1440p
low	539 FPS	886 FPS
medium	539 FPS	776 FPS
high	539 FPS	654 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	551 FPS
4K
low	501 FPS	659 FPS
medium	448 FPS	574 FPS
high	398 FPS	495 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	414 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Xeon Gold 6248R

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600 and Xeon Gold 6248R

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 Gold 6248R

The Xeon Gold 6248R is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB. L2 cache: 24 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 35,434 points. Launch price was $2,700.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6248R offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon Gold 6248R has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6248R — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6248R uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600 scores 21,550 against the Xeon Gold 6248R's 35,434 — a 48.7% lead for the Xeon Gold 6248R. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600 vs 35.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6248R.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Xeon Gold 6248R
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	24 / 48+300%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+10%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+17%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	35.75 MB+12%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	24 MB+4700%
Process	7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Vermeer (2020−2025)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	21,550	35,434+64%
Cinebench R23 Multi	11,077	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,052	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,600	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6248R uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600 versus 2933 on the Xeon Gold 6248R — the Xeon Gold 6248R supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6248R supports up to 1024 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 5600) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6248R). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 5600) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6248R) — the Xeon Gold 6248R offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B550,X570,B450,X470,A520 (Ryzen 5 5600) and C621 (Xeon Gold 6248R).

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Xeon Gold 6248R
Socket	AM4	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	2933+73225%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+13107100%	1024
RAM Channels	2	6+200%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	48+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 6248R supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6248R). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6248R rivals EPYC 7402.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Xeon Gold 6248R
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 5600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6248R debuted at $2700. On MSRP ($199 vs $2700), the Ryzen 5 5600 is $2501 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5600 delivers 108.3 pts/$ vs 13.1 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6248R — making the Ryzen 5 5600 the 156.8% better value option.