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

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Costs $1,131 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $1,430 MSRP).
✅Delivers 165.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 27.5 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $1,430 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 250W, a 185W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W-3335 across 42 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 39,293).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-3335, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Xeon W-3335

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.4% higher average FPS across 42 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅166.7% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 27.5 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($1,430 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌284.6% higher power demand at 250W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Xeon W-3335

2021

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Costs $1,131 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $1,430 MSRP).
✅Delivers 165.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 27.5 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $1,430 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 250W, a 185W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.4% higher average FPS across 42 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 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 Xeon W-3335 across 42 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 39,293).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-3335, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 27.5 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($1,430 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌284.6% higher power demand at 250W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon W-3335 better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-3335 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, Xeon W-3335 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.4% more average FPS across 42 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon W-3335 is the better fit. You are getting 79.9% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads.

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

Xeon W-3335 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon W-3335 is 378.3% more expensive on MSRP at $1,430 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.4% average FPS lead across 42 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600X is also 165.9% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 27.5 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Xeon W-3335 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020), more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 6/12, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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

Xeon W-3335 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon W-3335
1080p
low	203 FPS	182 FPS
medium	174 FPS	144 FPS
high	140 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	107 FPS	92 FPS
1440p
low	169 FPS	148 FPS
medium	141 FPS	115 FPS
high	113 FPS	93 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	68 FPS
medium	76 FPS	57 FPS
high	60 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	47 FPS	36 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Xeon W-3335

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon W-3335
1080p
low	464 FPS	447 FPS
medium	387 FPS	385 FPS
high	324 FPS	316 FPS
ultra	291 FPS	266 FPS
1440p
low	397 FPS	385 FPS
medium	334 FPS	342 FPS
high	290 FPS	287 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	237 FPS
4K
low	263 FPS	248 FPS
medium	226 FPS	223 FPS
high	205 FPS	199 FPS
ultra	171 FPS	165 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Xeon W-3335

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon W-3335
1080p
low	546 FPS	982 FPS
medium	473 FPS	962 FPS
high	432 FPS	905 FPS
ultra	358 FPS	819 FPS
1440p
low	508 FPS	836 FPS
medium	413 FPS	736 FPS
high	375 FPS	692 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	618 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	537 FPS
medium	292 FPS	438 FPS
high	255 FPS	386 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	315 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Xeon W-3335

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon W-3335
1080p
low	546 FPS	982 FPS
medium	546 FPS	868 FPS
high	546 FPS	751 FPS
ultra	546 FPS	639 FPS
1440p
low	546 FPS	790 FPS
medium	546 FPS	676 FPS
high	546 FPS	582 FPS
ultra	524 FPS	496 FPS
4K
low	529 FPS	550 FPS
medium	484 FPS	480 FPS
high	435 FPS	429 FPS
ultra	379 FPS	363 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Xeon W-3335

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600X and Xeon W-3335

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.

Xeon W-3335

The Xeon W-3335 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-W (2021) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 39,293 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon W-3335 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Xeon W-3335 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 4 GHz on the Xeon W-3335 — a 14% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon W-3335 uses Ice Lake-W (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600X scores 21,845 against the Xeon W-3335's 39,293 — a 57.1% lead for the Xeon W-3335. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X vs 24 MB (total) on the Xeon W-3335.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon W-3335
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	16 / 32+167%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+15%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+9%	3.4 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB+33%	24 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm, 12 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)	Ice Lake-W (2021)
PassMark	21,845	39,293+80%

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon W-3335 uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 3200 on the Xeon W-3335 — the Xeon W-3335 supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon W-3335 supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 5600X) vs 8 (Xeon W-3335). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) vs 64 (Xeon W-3335) — the Xeon W-3335 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 W790 (Xeon W-3335).

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon W-3335
Socket	AM4	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	3200+79900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+3276700%	4096
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	64+167%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon W-3335 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon W-3335). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Xeon W-3335 rivals EPYC 7402.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon W-3335
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 5600X launched at $299 MSRP, while the Xeon W-3335 debuted at $1430. On MSRP ($299 vs $1430), the Ryzen 5 5600X is $1131 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5600X delivers 73.1 pts/$ vs 27.5 pts/$ for the Xeon W-3335 — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 90.7% better value option.