Xeon Platinum 8481C vs Ryzen 9 5900X
Xeon Platinum 8481C
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. The Xeon Platinum 8481C is positioned at rank #296 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Platinum 8481C
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 5900X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Platinum 8481C | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Platinum 8481C | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ 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 Platinum 8481C and Ryzen 9 5900X
Xeon Platinum 8481C
The Xeon Platinum 8481C is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 56 cores and 112 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 105 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 11,681 points. Launch price was $800.
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 Platinum 8481C packs 56 cores / 112 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon Platinum 8481C has 44 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8481C versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 23.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 2 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Xeon Platinum 8481C uses the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Platinum 8481C scores 11,681 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 107.7% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. L3 cache: 105 MB on the Xeon Platinum 8481C vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X.
| Feature | Xeon Platinum 8481C | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 56 / 112+367% | 12 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4.8 GHz+26% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.7 GHz+85% |
| L3 Cache | 105 MB+64% | 64 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core)+300% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-30% |
| Architecture | Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) | Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 11,681 | 38,955+233% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 21,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,174 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 11,888 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Platinum 8481C uses the LGA4677 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Platinum 8481C | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA4677 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon Platinum 8481C) / AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.
| Feature | Xeon Platinum 8481C | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon Platinum 8481C and Ryzen 9 5900X
