CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-1660 v4
Ryzen 9 5900H
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1660 v4
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1660 v4 | Ryzen 9 5900H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-EP (2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cezanne U (Zen 3) (2021−2022) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1660 v4 | Ryzen 9 5900H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E5-1660 v4 and Ryzen 9 5900H
Xeon E5-1660 v4
The Xeon E5-1660 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-EP (2016) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 13,341 points. Launch price was $1,113.
Ryzen 9 5900H
The Ryzen 9 5900H is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne U (Zen 3) (2021−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 13,510 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5-1660 v4 and Ryzen 9 5900H share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 v4 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900H — a 19% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900H (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Xeon E5-1660 v4 uses the Broadwell-EP (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900H uses Cezanne U (Zen 3) (2021−2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1660 v4 scores 13,341 against the Ryzen 9 5900H's 13,510 — a 1.3% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900H. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1660 v4 vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900H.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1660 v4 | Ryzen 9 5900H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4.6 GHz+21% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.3 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+25% | 16 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Broadwell-EP (2016) | Cezanne U (Zen 3) (2021−2022) |
| PassMark | 13,341 | 13,510+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1660 v4 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900H uses FP6 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1660 v4 | Ryzen 9 5900H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | FP6 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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