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 9 5900X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +27.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $788 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Delivers 52.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 71.0 vs 46.6 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 280W, a 175W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (21,000 vs 42,986).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (64 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

2020

Why buy it

✅+104.7% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 64 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 46.6 vs 71.0 PassMark/$ ($1,337 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
❌166.7% higher power demand at 280W vs 105W.

Ryzen 9 5900X

2020

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +27.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $788 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Delivers 52.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 71.0 vs 46.6 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 280W, a 175W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+104.7% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 64 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (21,000 vs 42,986).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (64 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 46.6 vs 71.0 PassMark/$ ($1,337 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
❌166.7% higher power demand at 280W vs 105W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5900X better than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 5900X is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is the better fit. You are getting 104.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 64 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 5900X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 5900X is $788 cheaper on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $1,337 MSRP, and it gives you a 27.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 104.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. It is also 52.4% better value on MSRP (71.0 vs 46.6 PassMark/$), 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?

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 100% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 64 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 12/24. That extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

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 9 5900X Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	323 FPS	183 FPS
medium	291 FPS	149 FPS
high	243 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	307 FPS	160 FPS
medium	248 FPS	127 FPS
high	192 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	157 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	193 FPS	73 FPS
medium	156 FPS	61 FPS
high	115 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	40 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 5900X Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	772 FPS	579 FPS
medium	647 FPS	499 FPS
high	508 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	450 FPS	327 FPS
1440p
low	619 FPS	485 FPS
medium	536 FPS	425 FPS
high	443 FPS	338 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	274 FPS
4K
low	365 FPS	304 FPS
medium	318 FPS	270 FPS
high	289 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	255 FPS	202 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 5900X Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	832 FPS	681 FPS
medium	645 FPS	564 FPS
high	558 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	459 FPS	425 FPS
1440p
low	721 FPS	570 FPS
medium	565 FPS	479 FPS
high	488 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	407 FPS	364 FPS
4K
low	511 FPS	417 FPS
medium	421 FPS	333 FPS
high	374 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	308 FPS	234 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 5900X Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	974 FPS	1020 FPS
medium	974 FPS	917 FPS
high	934 FPS	765 FPS
ultra	826 FPS	664 FPS
1440p
low	959 FPS	802 FPS
medium	843 FPS	701 FPS
high	726 FPS	584 FPS
ultra	617 FPS	496 FPS
4K
low	694 FPS	559 FPS
medium	621 FPS	504 FPS
high	541 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	373 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 5900X Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 9 5900X and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Ryzen 9 5900X

The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2020-07-14. It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: sWRX8. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 62,261 points. Launch price was $4,499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 9 5900X packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX has 20 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Ryzen 9 5900X uses the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 5900X scores 38,955 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX's 62,261 — a 46.1% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 21,000 vs 42,986 (68.7% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,174 vs 1,260, a 53.2% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,888 vs 25,211 (71.8% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX). L3 cache: 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X vs 128 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX.

Feature	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
Cores / Threads	12 / 24	32 / 64+167%
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+14%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+6%	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB	128 MB+100%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	38,955	62,261+60%
Cinebench R23 Multi	21,000	42,986+105%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,174+73%	1,260
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,888	25,211+112%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 9 5900X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 9 5900X) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 9 5900X) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X) and AMD WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX).

Feature	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
Socket	AM4	sWRX8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	128+433%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX rivals Xeon W-3375.

Feature	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	true
Target Use	Workstation	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 9 5900X launched at $549 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX debuted at $1337. On MSRP ($549 vs $1337), the Ryzen 9 5900X is $788 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 9 5900X delivers 71.0 pts/$ vs 46.6 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX — making the Ryzen 9 5900X the 41.5% better value option.