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 9900X

2024

Why buy it

✅+21.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 53 MB).
✅Costs $1,200 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $1,699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 234.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 109.3 vs 32.7 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $1,699 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 300W, a 180W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 610M, while Xeon w5-3535X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon w5-3535X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (19,756 vs 30,000).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon w5-3535X, which brings 20 cores / 40 threads and 112 PCIe lanes.

Xeon w5-3535X

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +20.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 20 cores / 40 threads, plus 112 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅366.7% more PCIe lanes (112 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (53 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.7 vs 109.3 PassMark/$ ($1,699 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌150% higher power demand at 300W vs 120W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 9900X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 9 9900X

2024

Xeon w5-3535X

2024

Why buy it

✅+21.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 53 MB).
✅Costs $1,200 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $1,699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 234.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 109.3 vs 32.7 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $1,699 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 300W, a 180W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 610M, while Xeon w5-3535X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +20.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 20 cores / 40 threads, plus 112 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅366.7% more PCIe lanes (112 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon w5-3535X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (19,756 vs 30,000).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon w5-3535X, which brings 20 cores / 40 threads and 112 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (53 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.7 vs 109.3 PassMark/$ ($1,699 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌150% higher power demand at 300W vs 120W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 9900X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon w5-3535X better than Ryzen 9 9900X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon w5-3535X makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 9900X 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 w5-3535X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 20.8% 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 w5-3535X is the better fit. You are getting 51.9% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 20 cores and 40 threads.

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

Xeon w5-3535X is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 9 9900X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon w5-3535X is 240.5% more expensive on MSRP at $1,699 MSRP versus $499 MSRP, and it gives you a 20.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 9 9900X is also 234.3% better value on MSRP (109.3 vs 32.7 PassMark/$), 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 w5-3535X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 20 cores / 40 threads instead of 12/24. 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 9 9900X Benchmark Check

Xeon w5-3535X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 9900X	Xeon w5-3535X
1080p
low	287 FPS	315 FPS
medium	259 FPS	303 FPS
high	218 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	204 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	272 FPS
medium	218 FPS	233 FPS
high	170 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	152 FPS	154 FPS
4K
low	186 FPS	185 FPS
medium	151 FPS	157 FPS
high	112 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	106 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 9900X Open Xeon w5-3535X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 9900X	Xeon w5-3535X
1080p
low	766 FPS	677 FPS
medium	624 FPS	587 FPS
high	465 FPS	477 FPS
ultra	392 FPS	423 FPS
1440p
low	629 FPS	547 FPS
medium	531 FPS	484 FPS
high	410 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	338 FPS
4K
low	353 FPS	322 FPS
medium	301 FPS	285 FPS
high	265 FPS	264 FPS
ultra	223 FPS	232 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 9900X Open Xeon w5-3535X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 9 9900X	Xeon w5-3535X
1080p
low	899 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	711 FPS	1045 FPS
high	618 FPS	967 FPS
ultra	526 FPS	829 FPS
1440p
low	726 FPS	994 FPS
medium	577 FPS	880 FPS
high	492 FPS	798 FPS
ultra	418 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	517 FPS	593 FPS
medium	432 FPS	510 FPS
high	388 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	322 FPS	395 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 9900X Open Xeon w5-3535X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 9 9900X	Xeon w5-3535X
1080p
low	1126 FPS	1211 FPS
medium	989 FPS	1015 FPS
high	862 FPS	925 FPS
ultra	766 FPS	808 FPS
1440p
low	891 FPS	979 FPS
medium	774 FPS	842 FPS
high	677 FPS	734 FPS
ultra	580 FPS	630 FPS
4K
low	644 FPS	727 FPS
medium	569 FPS	630 FPS
high	502 FPS	556 FPS
ultra	433 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 9900X Open Xeon w5-3535X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 9 9900X and Xeon w5-3535X

Ryzen 9 9900X

The Ryzen 9 9900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 15 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.6 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 54,530 points. Launch price was $499.

Xeon w5-3535X

The Xeon w5-3535X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 52.5 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 300 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 55,532 points. Launch price was $1,689.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 9 9900X packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon w5-3535X offers 20 cores / 40 threads — the Xeon w5-3535X has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.6 GHz on the Ryzen 9 9900X versus 4.8 GHz on the Xeon w5-3535X — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 9900X (base: 4.4 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Ryzen 9 9900X uses the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture (4 nm), while the Xeon w5-3535X uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 9900X scores 54,530 against the Xeon w5-3535X's 55,532 — a 1.8% lead for the Xeon w5-3535X. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 3,401 vs 2,300, a 38.6% lead for the Ryzen 9 9900X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 19,756 vs 30,000 (41.2% advantage for the Xeon w5-3535X). L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 9900X vs 52.5 MB on the Xeon w5-3535X.

Feature	Ryzen 9 9900X	Xeon w5-3535X
Cores / Threads	12 / 24	20 / 40+67%
Boost Clock	5.6 GHz+17%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	4.4 GHz+52%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)+22%	52.5 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+100%
Process	4 nm-43%	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Granite Ridge (2024−2025)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	54,530	55,532+2%
Cinebench R23 Multi	33,003	—
Geekbench 6 Single	3,401+48%	2,300
Geekbench 6 Multi	19,756	30,000+52%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 9 9900X uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon w5-3535X uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Xeon w5-3535X supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 256 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 9 9900X) vs 4 (Xeon w5-3535X). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 9 9900X) vs 112 (Xeon w5-3535X) — the Xeon w5-3535X offers 88 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A620,B650,X670,X870 (Ryzen 9 9900X) and W790 (Xeon w5-3535X).

Feature	Ryzen 9 9900X	Xeon w5-3535X
Socket	AM5	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB	4096 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	112+367%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 9900X) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon w5-3535X). The Ryzen 9 9900X includes integrated graphics (Radeon 610M), while the Xeon w5-3535X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon w5-3535X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon w5-3535X rivals Threadripper PRO 7965WX.

Feature	Ryzen 9 9900X	Xeon w5-3535X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon 610M	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 9 9900X launched at $499 MSRP, while the Xeon w5-3535X debuted at $1699. On MSRP ($499 vs $1699), the Ryzen 9 9900X is $1200 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 9 9900X delivers 109.3 pts/$ vs 32.7 pts/$ for the Xeon w5-3535X — making the Ryzen 9 9900X the 107.9% better value option.