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 9 3900

2019

Why buy it

✅+29.1% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+79% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Costs $1,281 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $1,780 MSRP).
✅Delivers 259.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.3 vs 17.1 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $1,780 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 150W, a 85W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 5220R, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon Gold 5220R

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,327 vs 1,713).
❌Lower PassMark (30,372 vs 30,588).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.1 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($1,780 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌130.8% higher power demand at 150W vs 65W.

Ryzen 9 3900

2019

Xeon Gold 5220R

2020

Why buy it

✅+29.1% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+79% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Costs $1,281 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $1,780 MSRP).
✅Delivers 259.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.3 vs 17.1 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $1,780 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 150W, a 85W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 5220R, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,327 vs 1,713).
❌Lower PassMark (30,372 vs 30,588).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.1 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($1,780 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌130.8% higher power demand at 150W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 3900 better than Xeon Gold 5220R?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 5220R makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 3900 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 9 3900 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.2% more average FPS across 25 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 3900 is the better fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 79% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 3900 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 3900 is $1,281 cheaper on MSRP at $499 MSRP versus $1,780 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.2% average FPS lead across 25 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 259.3% better value on MSRP (61.3 vs 17.1 PassMark/$), 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?

Xeon Gold 5220R is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019) and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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 9 3900 Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 5220R Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon Gold 5220R
1080p
low	159 FPS	196 FPS
medium	130 FPS	158 FPS
high	111 FPS	128 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	144 FPS	157 FPS
medium	115 FPS	123 FPS
high	94 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	78 FPS	72 FPS
medium	67 FPS	60 FPS
high	53 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	38 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 3900 Open Xeon Gold 5220R

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon Gold 5220R
1080p
low	534 FPS	233 FPS
medium	470 FPS	207 FPS
high	384 FPS	174 FPS
ultra	342 FPS	145 FPS
1440p
low	460 FPS	200 FPS
medium	411 FPS	180 FPS
high	347 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	289 FPS	123 FPS
4K
low	288 FPS	125 FPS
medium	261 FPS	114 FPS
high	238 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	213 FPS	86 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 3900 Open Xeon Gold 5220R

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon Gold 5220R
1080p
low	709 FPS	759 FPS
medium	589 FPS	759 FPS
high	536 FPS	759 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	753 FPS
1440p
low	541 FPS	759 FPS
medium	448 FPS	676 FPS
high	401 FPS	635 FPS
ultra	347 FPS	569 FPS
4K
low	394 FPS	492 FPS
medium	315 FPS	406 FPS
high	279 FPS	357 FPS
ultra	224 FPS	292 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 3900 Open Xeon Gold 5220R

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon Gold 5220R
1080p
low	765 FPS	759 FPS
medium	765 FPS	759 FPS
high	711 FPS	703 FPS
ultra	638 FPS	613 FPS
1440p
low	725 FPS	716 FPS
medium	644 FPS	628 FPS
high	553 FPS	539 FPS
ultra	486 FPS	466 FPS
4K
low	516 FPS	521 FPS
medium	469 FPS	465 FPS
high	411 FPS	408 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	351 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 3900 Open Xeon Gold 5220R

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 9 3900 and Xeon Gold 5220R

Ryzen 9 3900

The Ryzen 9 3900 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 September 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 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: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 30,588 points. Launch price was $499.

Xeon Gold 5220R

The Xeon Gold 5220R is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB. L2 cache: 24 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 30,372 points. Launch price was $1,555.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 9 3900 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5220R offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon Gold 5220R has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 3900 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5220R — a 7.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 3900 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Ryzen 9 3900 uses the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5220R uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 3900 scores 30,588 against the Xeon Gold 5220R's 30,372 — a 0.7% lead for the Ryzen 9 3900. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,713 vs 1,327, a 25.4% lead for the Ryzen 9 3900 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 3900 vs 35.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 5220R.

Feature	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon Gold 5220R
Cores / Threads	12 / 24	24 / 48+100%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+7%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+41%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB+79%	35.75 MB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	24 MB+4700%
Process	7 nm, 12 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	30,588	30,372
Cinebench R23 Multi	17,700	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,713+29%	1,327
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,983	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 9 3900 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 5220R uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Xeon Gold 5220R supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 9 3900) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 5220R). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 9 3900) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 5220R) — the Xeon Gold 5220R offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X570,B550,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 3900) and C620 (Xeon Gold 5220R).

Feature	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon Gold 5220R
Socket	AM4	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2667
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	1024 GB+700%
RAM Channels	2	6+200%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	48+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Xeon Gold 5220R supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 3900) vs Yes (Xeon Gold 5220R). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 3900 targets Workstation Desktop (low power). Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 3900 rivals Core i9-9900.

Feature	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon Gold 5220R
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	Yes
Target Use	Workstation Desktop (low power)	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 9 3900 launched at $499 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 5220R debuted at $1780. On MSRP ($499 vs $1780), the Ryzen 9 3900 is $1281 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 9 3900 delivers 61.3 pts/$ vs 17.1 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 5220R — making the Ryzen 9 3900 the 112.9% better value option.