Ryzen 9 5900X vs Xeon W-10855M

AMD

Ryzen 9 5900X

12 Cores24 Thrd105 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2020
Ryzen family
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VS
Intel

Xeon W-10855M

6 Cores12 Thrd1.5 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2020
Similar parts
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Ryzen 9 5900X vs Xeon W-10855M Performance Spectrum

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 5900X vs Xeon W-10855M 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 5900X vs Xeon W-10855M: 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 5900X

2020

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +51.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 71.0 vs 103.8 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $118 MSRP).
  • 6900% higher power demand at 105W vs 1.5W.

Xeon W-10855M

2020

Why buy it

  • Costs $431 less on MSRP ($118 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
  • Delivers 46.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 103.8 vs 71.0 PassMark/$ ($118 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
  • Draws 2W instead of 105W, a 104W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (12,249 vs 38,955).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5900X better than Xeon W-10855M?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon W-10855M makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 5900X 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 5900X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 51.1% 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 5900X is the stronger fit. You are getting 218% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 9 5900X is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Ryzen 9 5900X comes in 365.3% more expensive on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $118 MSRP, and it still gives you a 51.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon W-10855M only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 51.1% in the shared gaming data.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 9 5900X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 9 5900X vs Xeon W-10855M Technical Specifications

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

AMD

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.

Intel

Xeon W-10855M

The Xeon W-10855M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,249 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 9 5900X packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon W-10855M offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900X has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X versus 4.9 GHz on the Xeon W-10855M — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Xeon W-10855M (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Ryzen 9 5900X uses the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon W-10855M uses Comet Lake-H (2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 5900X scores 38,955 against the Xeon W-10855M's 12,249 — a 104.3% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. L3 cache: 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X vs 12 MB on the Xeon W-10855M.

FeatureRyzen 9 5900XXeon W-10855M
Cores / Threads
12 / 24+100%
6 / 12
Boost Clock
4.8 GHz
4.9 GHz+2%
Base Clock
3.7 GHz+32%
2.8 GHz
L3 Cache
64 MB+433%
12 MB
L2 Cache
512K (per core)+34033%
1.5 MB
Process
7 nm, 12 nm-50%
14 nm
Architecture
Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022)
Comet Lake-H (2020)
PassMark
38,955+218%
12,249
Cinebench R23 Multi
21,000
Geekbench 6 Single
2,174
Geekbench 6 Multi
11,888
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 9 5900X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon W-10855M uses BGA1440 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureRyzen 9 5900XXeon W-10855M
Socket
AM4
BGA1440
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
Yes
PCIe Lanes
24
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X) / not specified (Xeon W-10855M). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.

FeatureRyzen 9 5900XXeon W-10855M
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Workstation
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Ryzen 9 5900X was priced at $549, while the Xeon W-10855M came in at $118. On launch pricing ($549 vs $118), Xeon W-10855M was $431 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 9 5900X delivers 71.0 pts/$ vs 103.8 pts/$ for the Xeon W-10855M — making the Xeon W-10855M the 37.6% better value option.

FeatureRyzen 9 5900XXeon W-10855M
MSRP
$549
$118-79%
Performance per Dollar
71.0
103.8+46%
Release Date
2020
2020

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