Xeon W-1290 vs Ryzen 5 230
Xeon W-1290
Ryzen 5 230
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 W-1290
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 230
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W-1290 | Ryzen 5 230 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($190) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Hawk Point (2024−2025) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W-1290 | Ryzen 5 230 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+58%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($190) |
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 W-1290 and Ryzen 5 230
Xeon W-1290
The Xeon W-1290 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 20,112 points. Launch price was $800.
Ryzen 5 230
The Ryzen 5 230 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,186 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Xeon W-1290 packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 5 230 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon W-1290 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Xeon W-1290 versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 230 — a 4% clock advantage for the Xeon W-1290 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon W-1290 uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 230 uses Hawk Point (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W-1290 scores 20,112 against the Ryzen 5 230's 20,186 — a 0.4% lead for the Ryzen 5 230. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon W-1290 vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 230.
| Feature | Xeon W-1290 | Ryzen 5 230 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20+67% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 5.1 GHz+4% | 4.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.5 GHz+9% |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+25% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 4 nm-71% |
| Architecture | Comet Lake (2020−2025) | Hawk Point (2024−2025) |
| PassMark | 20,112 | 20,186 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W-1290 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 230 uses FP8 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W-1290 | Ryzen 5 230 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon W-1290 launched at $498 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 230 debuted at $200. At current prices ($300 vs $190), the Ryzen 5 230 is $110 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon W-1290 delivers 67.0 pts/$ vs 106.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 230 — making the Ryzen 5 230 the 45.2% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon W-1290 | Ryzen 5 230 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $498 | $200-60% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $300 | $190-37% |
| Performance per Dollar | 67.0 | 106.2+59% |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2025 |
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