CPU
GPU
Xeon W-1290
Popular choices:
Ryzen 5 5600X
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 5600X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W-1290 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($135) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W-1290 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+141%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($135) |
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 5600X
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 5600X
The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Xeon W-1290 packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X 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 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Xeon W-1290 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Xeon W-1290 uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W-1290 scores 20,112 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 8.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon W-1290 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.
| Feature | Xeon W-1290 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20+67% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 5.1 GHz+11% | 4.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.7 GHz+16% |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total) | 32 MB+60% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Comet Lake (2020−2025) | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 20,112 | 21,845+9% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W-1290 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W-1290 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | 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 W-1290) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon W-1290 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon W-1290 launched at $498 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600X debuted at $299. At current prices ($300 vs $135), the Ryzen 5 5600X is $165 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon W-1290 delivers 67.0 pts/$ vs 161.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 82.8% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon W-1290 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $498 | $299-40% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $300 | $135-55% |
| Performance per Dollar | 67.0 | 161.8+141% |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2020 |
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