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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,500 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $1,799 MSRP).
✅Delivers 311.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 17.8 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $1,799 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 250W, a 185W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 31,945).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +22.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅166.7% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.8 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($1,799 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌284.6% higher power demand at 250W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,500 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $1,799 MSRP).
✅Delivers 311.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 17.8 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $1,799 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 250W, a 185W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +22.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅166.7% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 31,945).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.8 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($1,799 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌284.6% higher power demand at 250W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 5600X is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 22.0% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the better fit. You are getting 46.2% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is 501.7% more expensive on MSRP at $1,799 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 22.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600X is also 311.4% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 17.8 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 5 5600X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2018). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
1080p
low	203 FPS	198 FPS
medium	174 FPS	177 FPS
high	140 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	107 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	169 FPS	160 FPS
medium	141 FPS	134 FPS
high	113 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	85 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	73 FPS
medium	76 FPS	64 FPS
high	60 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	47 FPS	41 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
1080p
low	464 FPS	536 FPS
medium	387 FPS	483 FPS
high	324 FPS	404 FPS
ultra	291 FPS	354 FPS
1440p
low	397 FPS	473 FPS
medium	334 FPS	424 FPS
high	290 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	299 FPS
4K
low	263 FPS	295 FPS
medium	226 FPS	265 FPS
high	205 FPS	242 FPS
ultra	171 FPS	213 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
1080p
low	546 FPS	768 FPS
medium	473 FPS	640 FPS
high	432 FPS	577 FPS
ultra	358 FPS	504 FPS
1440p
low	508 FPS	640 FPS
medium	413 FPS	533 FPS
high	375 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	469 FPS
medium	292 FPS	377 FPS
high	255 FPS	336 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	280 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
1080p
low	546 FPS	799 FPS
medium	546 FPS	799 FPS
high	546 FPS	704 FPS
ultra	546 FPS	616 FPS
1440p
low	546 FPS	728 FPS
medium	546 FPS	644 FPS
high	546 FPS	549 FPS
ultra	524 FPS	474 FPS
4K
low	529 FPS	522 FPS
medium	484 FPS	473 FPS
high	435 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	379 FPS	362 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

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.

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 August 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 31,945 points. Launch price was $1,799.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 26 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX — a 9.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses Zen+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600X scores 21,845 against the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX's 31,945 — a 37.6% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X vs 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	32 / 64+433%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+10%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+23%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB	64 MB+100%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm-42%	12 nm
Architecture	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)	Zen+ (2018−2019)
PassMark	21,845	31,945+46%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	33,213
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,206
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	7,612

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 5600X) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) vs 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX offers 40 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X) and X399 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX).

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Socket	AM4	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	24	64+167%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop, Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX targets Extreme Content Creation. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX rivals Core i9-9980XE.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	Extreme Content Creation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 5600X launched at $299 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX debuted at $1799. On MSRP ($299 vs $1799), the Ryzen 5 5600X is $1500 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5600X delivers 73.1 pts/$ vs 17.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 121.8% better value option.