Ryzen 5 PRO 220 vs Xeon W-1290

Ryzen 5 PRO 220 vs Xeon W-1290 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 5 PRO 220

6 / 12

19,889

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Xeon W-1290

10 / 20

20,112

+1.1%

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 PRO 220 vs Xeon W-1290 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 PRO 220 vs Xeon W-1290: 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 PRO 220

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 6W instead of 80W, a 74W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7/FP7r2 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W-1290 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,889 vs 20,112).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-1290, which brings 10 cores / 20 threads.

Xeon W-1290

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 10 cores / 20 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $498 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 PRO 220 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1233.3% higher power demand at 80W vs 6W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 PRO 220 moves to FP7/FP7r2 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon W-1290 better than Ryzen 5 PRO 220?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon W-1290 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 PRO 220 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon W-1290 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.5% 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 W-1290 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 20 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Xeon W-1290 is the better buy right now. Xeon W-1290 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $498 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (40.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 PRO 220 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with FP7/FP7r2 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Ryzen 5 PRO 220 vs Xeon W-1290 Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 5 PRO 220

The Ryzen 5 PRO 220 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP7r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 19,889 points. Launch price was $299.

Xeon W-1290

The Xeon W-1290 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 20,112 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 PRO 220 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon W-1290 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon W-1290 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 220 versus 5.1 GHz on the Xeon W-1290 — a 4% clock advantage for the Xeon W-1290 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen 5 PRO 220 uses the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) architecture (4 nm), while the Xeon W-1290 uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 PRO 220 scores 19,889 against the Xeon W-1290's 20,112 — a 1.1% lead for the Xeon W-1290. L3 cache: 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 PRO 220 vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon W-1290.

Feature	Ryzen 5 PRO 220	Xeon W-1290
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	10 / 20+67%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5.1 GHz+4%
Base Clock	3.2 GHz	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB	20 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	6 MB	256K (per core)+4167%
Process	4 nm-71%	14 nm
Architecture	Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025)	Comet Lake (2020−2025)
PassMark	19,889	20,112+1%

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 PRO 220 uses the FP7/FP7r2 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W-1290 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Ryzen 5 PRO 220	Xeon W-1290
Socket	FP7/FP7r2	LGA1200
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Ryzen 5 PRO 220 was priced at $0, while the Xeon W-1290 came in at $498. On launch pricing ($0 vs $498), Ryzen 5 PRO 220 was $498 cheaper.

Feature	Ryzen 5 PRO 220	Xeon W-1290
MSRP	$0-100%	$498
Performance per Dollar	—	40.4
Release Date	2025	2020

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