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

✅+158.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Costs $834 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $1,333 MSRP).
✅Delivers 163.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.3 vs 23.2 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $1,333 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Prism), unlike Xeon W-2295.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W-2295 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (10,983 vs 12,863).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-2295, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Xeon W-2295

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 18 cores / 36 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.2 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($1,333 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 3900.

Ryzen 9 3900

2019

Xeon W-2295

2019

Why buy it

✅+158.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Costs $834 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $1,333 MSRP).
✅Delivers 163.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.3 vs 23.2 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $1,333 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Prism), unlike Xeon W-2295.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 18 cores / 36 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W-2295 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (10,983 vs 12,863).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-2295, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.2 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($1,333 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 3900.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon W-2295 better than Ryzen 9 3900?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-2295 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, Xeon W-2295 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 34.2% 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, Xeon W-2295 is the better fit. You are getting 17.1% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 18 cores and 36 threads.

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

Xeon W-2295 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 9 3900 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon W-2295 is 167.1% more expensive on MSRP at $1,333 MSRP versus $499 MSRP, and it gives you a 34.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 9 3900 is also 163.7% better value on MSRP (61.3 vs 23.2 PassMark/$), 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-2295 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 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 W-2295 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon W-2295
1080p
low	159 FPS	286 FPS
medium	130 FPS	254 FPS
high	111 FPS	211 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	144 FPS	234 FPS
medium	115 FPS	190 FPS
high	94 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	78 FPS	165 FPS
medium	67 FPS	134 FPS
high	53 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	91 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 3900 Open Xeon W-2295

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon W-2295
1080p
low	534 FPS	551 FPS
medium	470 FPS	457 FPS
high	384 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	342 FPS	345 FPS
1440p
low	460 FPS	457 FPS
medium	411 FPS	395 FPS
high	347 FPS	337 FPS
ultra	289 FPS	291 FPS
4K
low	288 FPS	286 FPS
medium	261 FPS	248 FPS
high	238 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	213 FPS	201 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 3900 Open Xeon W-2295

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon W-2295
1080p
low	709 FPS	775 FPS
medium	589 FPS	775 FPS
high	536 FPS	775 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	775 FPS
1440p
low	541 FPS	775 FPS
medium	448 FPS	775 FPS
high	401 FPS	775 FPS
ultra	347 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	394 FPS	620 FPS
medium	315 FPS	522 FPS
high	279 FPS	462 FPS
ultra	224 FPS	389 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 3900 Open Xeon W-2295

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon W-2295
1080p
low	765 FPS	775 FPS
medium	765 FPS	775 FPS
high	711 FPS	775 FPS
ultra	638 FPS	775 FPS
1440p
low	725 FPS	775 FPS
medium	644 FPS	775 FPS
high	553 FPS	742 FPS
ultra	486 FPS	631 FPS
4K
low	516 FPS	704 FPS
medium	469 FPS	611 FPS
high	411 FPS	538 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 3900 Open Xeon W-2295

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 9 3900 and Xeon W-2295

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 W-2295

The Xeon W-2295 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 30,986 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 9 3900 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon W-2295 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon W-2295 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 3900 versus 4.8 GHz on the Xeon W-2295 — a 11% clock advantage for the Xeon W-2295 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 9 3900 is built on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 3900 scores 30,588 against the Xeon W-2295's 30,986 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon W-2295. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,713 vs 1,703, a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 9 3900 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,983 vs 12,863 (15.8% advantage for the Xeon W-2295). L3 cache: 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 3900 vs 24.75 MB on the Xeon W-2295.

Feature	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon W-2295
Cores / Threads	12 / 24	18 / 36+50%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	4.8 GHz+12%
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+3%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB+159%	24.75 MB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	—
Process	7 nm, 12 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)	—
PassMark	30,588	30,986+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi	17,700	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,713	1,703
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,983	12,863+17%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 9 3900 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon W-2295 uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Xeon W-2295 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 4 (Xeon W-2295). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 9 3900) vs 48 (Xeon W-2295) — the Xeon W-2295 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X570,B550,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 3900) and C422 (Xeon W-2295).

Feature	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon W-2295
Socket	AM4	LGA2066
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	1024 GB+700%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	48+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 3900 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon W-2295 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 3900) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon W-2295). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 3900 targets Workstation Desktop (low power), Xeon W-2295 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 3900 rivals Core i9-9900.

Feature	Ryzen 9 3900	Xeon W-2295
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Workstation Desktop (low power)	Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 9 3900 launched at $499 MSRP, while the Xeon W-2295 debuted at $1333. On MSRP ($499 vs $1333), the Ryzen 9 3900 is $834 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 9 3900 delivers 61.3 pts/$ vs 23.2 pts/$ for the Xeon W-2295 — making the Ryzen 9 3900 the 90% better value option.