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 5 5500

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $7,840 less on MSRP ($159 MSRP vs $7,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 529.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 121.5 vs 19.3 PassMark/$ ($159 MSRP vs $7,999 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 350W, a 285W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,311 vs 154,361).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX moves to sTR5 and DDR5.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +47.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.3 vs 121.5 PassMark/$ ($7,999 MSRP vs $159 MSRP).
❌438.5% higher power demand at 350W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 5500

2022

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $7,840 less on MSRP ($159 MSRP vs $7,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 529.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 121.5 vs 19.3 PassMark/$ ($159 MSRP vs $7,999 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 350W, a 285W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +47.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,311 vs 154,361).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX moves to sTR5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.3 vs 121.5 PassMark/$ ($7,999 MSRP vs $159 MSRP).
❌438.5% higher power demand at 350W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX better than Ryzen 5 5500?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 5500 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 Threadripper PRO 9985WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 47.5% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 256 MB vs 16 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX is the better fit. You are getting 699.3% better PassMark, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 1500% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5500 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX is 4930.8% more expensive on MSRP at $7,999 MSRP versus $159 MSRP, and it gives you a 47.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5500 is also 529.4% better value on MSRP (121.5 vs 19.3 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022), a healthier platform with sTR5 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 256 MB L3 cache instead of 16 MB, more multi-core headroom with 64 cores / 128 threads instead of 6/12, 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 5 5500 Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5500	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
1080p
low	181 FPS	303 FPS
medium	150 FPS	281 FPS
high	120 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	195 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	268 FPS
medium	124 FPS	224 FPS
high	98 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	186 FPS
medium	61 FPS	155 FPS
high	48 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	105 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5500 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5500	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
1080p
low	329 FPS	803 FPS
medium	285 FPS	687 FPS
high	254 FPS	538 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	468 FPS
1440p
low	291 FPS	662 FPS
medium	258 FPS	590 FPS
high	233 FPS	477 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	386 FPS
4K
low	229 FPS	370 FPS
medium	206 FPS	334 FPS
high	189 FPS	308 FPS
ultra	162 FPS	269 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5500 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 5500	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
1080p
low	483 FPS	889 FPS
medium	483 FPS	728 FPS
high	483 FPS	654 FPS
ultra	406 FPS	556 FPS
1440p
low	483 FPS	693 FPS
medium	411 FPS	567 FPS
high	361 FPS	498 FPS
ultra	300 FPS	419 FPS
4K
low	340 FPS	490 FPS
medium	285 FPS	407 FPS
high	248 FPS	365 FPS
ultra	192 FPS	303 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5500 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 5500	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
1080p
low	483 FPS	1131 FPS
medium	483 FPS	1014 FPS
high	483 FPS	889 FPS
ultra	483 FPS	802 FPS
1440p
low	483 FPS	890 FPS
medium	483 FPS	783 FPS
high	483 FPS	688 FPS
ultra	425 FPS	599 FPS
4K
low	448 FPS	649 FPS
medium	404 FPS	579 FPS
high	360 FPS	514 FPS
ultra	308 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5500 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5500 and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

Ryzen 5 5500

The Ryzen 5 5500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,311 points. Launch price was $159.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Shimada Peak (2025) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 154,361 points. Launch price was $7,999.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5500 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX offers 64 cores / 128 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX has 58 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500 versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX — a 25% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5500 uses the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX uses Shimada Peak (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5500 scores 19,311 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX's 154,361 — a 155.5% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX. L3 cache: 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5500 vs 256 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5500	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	64 / 128+967%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	5.4 GHz+29%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+12%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB	256 MB (total)+1500%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Cezanne (2021−2025)	Shimada Peak (2025)
PassMark	19,311	154,361+699%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	120,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	3,644
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	37,967

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5500 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX uses sTR5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5500 versus DDR5-6400 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 5500) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 5500) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 5500) and WRX90,TRX50 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX).

Feature	Ryzen 5 5500	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
Socket	AM4	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-6400+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	128+433%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5500) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5500 targets Desktop, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX targets High-end Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX rivals Xeon w9-3475X.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5500	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	true
Target Use	Desktop	High-end Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 5500 launched at $159 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX debuted at $7999. On MSRP ($159 vs $7999), the Ryzen 5 5500 is $7840 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5500 delivers 121.5 pts/$ vs 19.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX — making the Ryzen 5 5500 the 145.2% better value option.