Xeon E5-2697A v4 vs Ryzen 9 5900X
Xeon E5-2697A v4
Ryzen 9 5900X
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 E5-2697A v4
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 5900X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($121) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+61%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($121) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
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 E5-2697A v4 and Ryzen 9 5900X
Xeon E5-2697A v4
The Xeon E5-2697A v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 40 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 21,621 points. Launch price was $2,891.
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.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2697A v4 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-2697A v4 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2697A v4 versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Xeon E5-2697A v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2697A v4 scores 21,621 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 57.2% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. L3 cache: 40 MB on the Xeon E5-2697A v4 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32+33% | 12 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4.8 GHz+33% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.7 GHz+42% |
| L3 Cache | 40 MB | 64 MB+60% |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 21,621 | 38,955+80% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 21,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,174 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 11,888 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2697A v4 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2697A v4) / AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2697A v4 launched at $2891 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5900X debuted at $549. At current prices ($121 vs $350), the Xeon E5-2697A v4 is $229 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2697A v4 delivers 178.7 pts/$ vs 111.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5900X — making the Xeon E5-2697A v4 the 46.5% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2891 | $549-81% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $121-65% | $350 |
| Performance per Dollar | 178.7+61% | 111.3 |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2020 |
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