Ryzen 9 5900HS vs Xeon E5-2697 v4

Ryzen 9 5900HS vs Xeon E5-2697 v4 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 9 5900HS

8 / 16

21,214

+1.1%

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 9 5900HS 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 9 5900HS 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 9 5900HS

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 145W, a 110W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 45 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2697 v4, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads.

Xeon E5-2697 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅+181.3% larger total L3 cache (45 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 18 cores / 36 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (20,990 vs 21,214).
❌314.3% higher power demand at 145W vs 35W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5900HS 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 9 5900HS 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 9 5900HS is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.8% 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 9 5900HS is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Ryzen 9 5900HS still makes the most sense overall. Ryzen 9 5900HS comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Ryzen 9 5900HS makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 18/36. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 9 5900HS vs Xeon E5-2697 v4 Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 9 5900HS

The Ryzen 9 5900HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne-HS (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,214 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 9 5900HS packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2697 v4 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon E5-2697 v4 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900HS versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2697 v4 — a 24.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900HS (base: 3 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Ryzen 9 5900HS uses the Cezanne-HS (Zen 3) (2021) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon E5-2697 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 5900HS scores 21,214 against the Xeon E5-2697 v4's 20,990 — a 1.1% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900HS. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 5900HS vs 45 MB on the Xeon E5-2697 v4.

Feature	Ryzen 9 5900HS	Xeon E5-2697 v4
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	18 / 36+125%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+28%	3.6 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+30%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	45 MB+181%
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	4.5 MB+800%
Process	7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Cezanne-HS (Zen 3) (2021)	Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark	21,214+1%	20,990

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 9 5900HS uses the FP6 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2697 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.