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

✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Costs $640 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $1,189 MSRP).
✅Delivers 133.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 71.0 vs 30.4 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $1,189 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 270W, a 165W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon w5-3425, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 112 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Xeon w5-3425 moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon w5-3425

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 112 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅366.7% more PCIe lanes (112 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (36,178 vs 38,955).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 30.4 vs 71.0 PassMark/$ ($1,189 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
❌157.1% higher power demand at 270W vs 105W.

Ryzen 9 5900X

2020

Xeon w5-3425

2023

Why buy it

✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Costs $640 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $1,189 MSRP).
✅Delivers 133.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 71.0 vs 30.4 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $1,189 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 270W, a 165W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 112 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅366.7% more PCIe lanes (112 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon w5-3425, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 112 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Xeon w5-3425 moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (36,178 vs 38,955).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 30.4 vs 71.0 PassMark/$ ($1,189 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
❌157.1% higher power demand at 270W vs 105W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5900X better than Xeon w5-3425?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon w5-3425 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 gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 5900X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 0.7% more average FPS across 4 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 better fit. You are getting 7.7% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 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 $640 cheaper on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $1,189 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 133.2% better value on MSRP (71.0 vs 30.4 PassMark/$), 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?

Xeon w5-3425 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA4677 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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

Xeon w5-3425 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 5900X	Xeon w5-3425
1080p
low	323 FPS	172 FPS
medium	291 FPS	155 FPS
high	243 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	307 FPS	143 FPS
medium	248 FPS	123 FPS
high	192 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	157 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	193 FPS	77 FPS
medium	156 FPS	71 FPS
high	115 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	44 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 5900X Open Xeon w5-3425

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 5900X	Xeon w5-3425
1080p
low	772 FPS	579 FPS
medium	647 FPS	497 FPS
high	508 FPS	417 FPS
ultra	450 FPS	378 FPS
1440p
low	619 FPS	490 FPS
medium	536 FPS	433 FPS
high	443 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	322 FPS
4K
low	365 FPS	303 FPS
medium	318 FPS	269 FPS
high	289 FPS	251 FPS
ultra	255 FPS	219 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 5900X Open Xeon w5-3425

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 9 5900X	Xeon w5-3425
1080p
low	832 FPS	898 FPS
medium	645 FPS	812 FPS
high	558 FPS	775 FPS
ultra	459 FPS	691 FPS
1440p
low	721 FPS	781 FPS
medium	565 FPS	703 FPS
high	488 FPS	667 FPS
ultra	407 FPS	595 FPS
4K
low	511 FPS	523 FPS
medium	421 FPS	440 FPS
high	374 FPS	399 FPS
ultra	308 FPS	332 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 5900X Open Xeon w5-3425

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 9 5900X	Xeon w5-3425
1080p
low	974 FPS	904 FPS
medium	974 FPS	904 FPS
high	934 FPS	884 FPS
ultra	826 FPS	765 FPS
1440p
low	959 FPS	904 FPS
medium	843 FPS	847 FPS
high	726 FPS	727 FPS
ultra	617 FPS	619 FPS
4K
low	694 FPS	683 FPS
medium	621 FPS	604 FPS
high	541 FPS	534 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 5900X Open Xeon w5-3425

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 9 5900X and Xeon w5-3425

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.

Xeon w5-3425

The Xeon w5-3425 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 February 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 270 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 36,178 points. Launch price was $1,189.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 9 5900X and Xeon w5-3425 share an identical 12-core/24-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X versus 4.6 GHz on the Xeon w5-3425 — a 4.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen 9 5900X uses the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon w5-3425 uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 5900X scores 38,955 against the Xeon w5-3425's 36,178 — a 7.4% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. L3 cache: 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X vs 30 MB on the Xeon w5-3425.

Feature	Ryzen 9 5900X	Xeon w5-3425
Cores / Threads	12 / 24	12 / 24
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+4%	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+16%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB+113%	30 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	2 MB (per core)+300%
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	38,955+8%	36,178
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 w5-3425 uses LGA4677 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 5900X versus DDR5-4800 on the Xeon w5-3425 — the Xeon w5-3425 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon w5-3425 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 9 5900X) vs 8 (Xeon w5-3425). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 9 5900X) vs 112 (Xeon w5-3425) — the Xeon w5-3425 offers 88 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X) and W790 (Xeon w5-3425).

Feature	Ryzen 9 5900X	Xeon w5-3425
Socket	AM4	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-4800+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	4096 GB+3100%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	112+367%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 5900X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon w5-3425 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon w5-3425). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.

Feature	Ryzen 9 5900X	Xeon w5-3425
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Workstation	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 9 5900X launched at $549 MSRP, while the Xeon w5-3425 debuted at $1189. On MSRP ($549 vs $1189), the Ryzen 9 5900X is $640 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 9 5900X delivers 71.0 pts/$ vs 30.4 pts/$ for the Xeon w5-3425 — making the Ryzen 9 5900X the 80% better value option.