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 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $850 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 225.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.7 vs 29.1 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 280W, a 175W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (15,300 vs 18,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

2020

Why buy it

✅+20.9% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅357.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 7600X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 29.1 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($1,149 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌166.7% higher power demand at 280W vs 105W.
❌Older platform position on sWRX8 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 7600X moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 7600X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $850 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 225.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.7 vs 29.1 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 280W, a 175W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+20.9% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 28.
✅357.1% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (15,300 vs 18,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 7600X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 29.1 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($1,149 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌166.7% higher power demand at 280W vs 105W.
❌Older platform position on sWRX8 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 7600X moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 7600X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 7600X better than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 7600X is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the better fit. You are getting 20.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 24 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 5 7600X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 7600X is $850 cheaper on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $1,149 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 20.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. It is also 225.4% better value on MSRP (94.7 vs 29.1 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 7600X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of sWRX8, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 7600X Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	266 FPS	202 FPS
medium	246 FPS	164 FPS
high	210 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	226 FPS	183 FPS
medium	189 FPS	145 FPS
high	154 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	86 FPS
medium	131 FPS	73 FPS
high	101 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	46 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 7600X Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	649 FPS	557 FPS
medium	524 FPS	485 FPS
high	436 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	351 FPS
1440p
low	544 FPS	478 FPS
medium	455 FPS	424 FPS
high	388 FPS	356 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	296 FPS
4K
low	341 FPS	299 FPS
medium	290 FPS	268 FPS
high	271 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	232 FPS	217 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 7600X Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	708 FPS	772 FPS
medium	652 FPS	637 FPS
high	571 FPS	568 FPS
ultra	484 FPS	494 FPS
1440p
low	708 FPS	599 FPS
medium	554 FPS	494 FPS
high	479 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	409 FPS	376 FPS
4K
low	463 FPS	431 FPS
medium	392 FPS	344 FPS
high	341 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	281 FPS	243 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 7600X Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	708 FPS	836 FPS
medium	708 FPS	836 FPS
high	708 FPS	823 FPS
ultra	708 FPS	725 FPS
1440p
low	708 FPS	836 FPS
medium	708 FPS	745 FPS
high	658 FPS	630 FPS
ultra	571 FPS	540 FPS
4K
low	560 FPS	594 FPS
medium	502 FPS	540 FPS
high	452 FPS	468 FPS
ultra	391 FPS	405 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 7600X Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 7600X and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Ryzen 5 7600X

The Ryzen 5 7600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 28,325 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 July 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Castle Peak (2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: sWRX8. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 33,455 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 7600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX — a 20.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X (base: 4.7 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Ryzen 5 7600X uses the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX uses Castle Peak (2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 7600X scores 28,325 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX's 33,455 — a 16.6% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 15,300 vs 18,500 (18.9% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,900 vs 1,652, a 54.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,800 vs 11,500 (18.2% advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7600X vs 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX.

Feature	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 24+100%
Boost Clock	5.3 GHz+23%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	4.7 GHz+18%	4 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	64 MB+100%
L2 Cache	6 MB+1100%	512 kB (per core)
Process	5 nm, 6 nm-29%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)	Castle Peak (2020)
PassMark	28,325	33,455+18%
Cinebench R23 Multi	15,300	18,500+21%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,900+76%	1,652
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,800+20%	11,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 7600X uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 5 7600X versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX — the Ryzen 5 7600X supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 7600X) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX). PCIe lanes: 28 (Ryzen 5 7600X) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX offers 100 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 5 7600X) and WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX).

Feature	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Socket	AM5	sWRX8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5200+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	28	128+357%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 5 7600X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The Ryzen 5 7600X includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 7600X targets Gaming, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX targets Professional Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 7600X rivals Intel Core i5-13600K; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX rivals Xeon w5-2455X.

Feature	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Professional Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 7600X launched at $299 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX debuted at $1149. On MSRP ($299 vs $1149), the Ryzen 5 7600X is $850 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 7600X delivers 94.7 pts/$ vs 29.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX — making the Ryzen 5 7600X the 106% better value option.