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 Threadripper 2990WX

2018

Why buy it

✅+114.3% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+143.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 26 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon w5-2445 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,799 MSRP, while Xeon w5-2445 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌42.9% higher power demand at 250W vs 175W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Xeon w5-2445 moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.

Xeon w5-2445

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +47.2% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 175W instead of 250W, a 75W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (15,500 vs 33,213).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (26 MB vs 64 MB).

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

2018

Xeon w5-2445

2023

Why buy it

✅+114.3% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+143.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 26 MB).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +47.2% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 175W instead of 250W, a 75W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA4677 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon w5-2445 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,799 MSRP, while Xeon w5-2445 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌42.9% higher power demand at 250W vs 175W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Xeon w5-2445 moves to LGA4677 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (15,500 vs 33,213).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (26 MB vs 64 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon w5-2445 better than Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Xeon w5-2445 is ahead with a 47.2% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX pulls ahead with 114.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX also has the bigger cache pool with 143.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 26 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the better fit. You are getting 114.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 143.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 26 MB).

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

Xeon w5-2445 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon w5-2445 is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,799 MSRP, and it gives you a 47.2% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 114.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (17.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 w5-2445 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2018), a healthier platform with LGA4677 and DDR5 instead of TR4, 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 Threadripper 2990WX Benchmark Check

Xeon w5-2445 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Xeon w5-2445
1080p
low	198 FPS	186 FPS
medium	177 FPS	155 FPS
high	143 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	115 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	160 FPS	151 FPS
medium	134 FPS	121 FPS
high	104 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	73 FPS	83 FPS
medium	64 FPS	71 FPS
high	50 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	45 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX Open Xeon w5-2445

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Xeon w5-2445
1080p
low	536 FPS	585 FPS
medium	483 FPS	487 FPS
high	404 FPS	402 FPS
ultra	354 FPS	361 FPS
1440p
low	473 FPS	496 FPS
medium	424 FPS	430 FPS
high	360 FPS	364 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	295 FPS	307 FPS
medium	265 FPS	269 FPS
high	242 FPS	248 FPS
ultra	213 FPS	219 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX Open Xeon w5-2445

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Xeon w5-2445
1080p
low	768 FPS	805 FPS
medium	640 FPS	805 FPS
high	577 FPS	805 FPS
ultra	504 FPS	805 FPS
1440p
low	640 FPS	805 FPS
medium	533 FPS	765 FPS
high	465 FPS	725 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	650 FPS
4K
low	469 FPS	560 FPS
medium	377 FPS	458 FPS
high	336 FPS	417 FPS
ultra	280 FPS	338 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX Open Xeon w5-2445

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Xeon w5-2445
1080p
low	799 FPS	805 FPS
medium	799 FPS	805 FPS
high	704 FPS	805 FPS
ultra	616 FPS	787 FPS
1440p
low	728 FPS	805 FPS
medium	644 FPS	805 FPS
high	549 FPS	726 FPS
ultra	474 FPS	621 FPS
4K
low	522 FPS	681 FPS
medium	473 FPS	594 FPS
high	419 FPS	524 FPS
ultra	362 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX Open Xeon w5-2445

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX and Xeon w5-2445

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 August 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 31,945 points. Launch price was $1,799.

Xeon w5-2445

The Xeon w5-2445 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 February 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 26.25 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 175 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 32,213 points. Launch price was $839.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX packs 32 cores / 64 threads, while the Xeon w5-2445 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 22 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX versus 4.6 GHz on the Xeon w5-2445 — a 9.1% clock advantage for the Xeon w5-2445 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (12 nm), while the Xeon w5-2445 uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX scores 31,945 against the Xeon w5-2445's 32,213 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon w5-2445. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 33,213 vs 15,500 (72.7% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,206 vs 1,822, a 40.7% lead for the Xeon w5-2445 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 7,612 vs 10,719 (33.9% advantage for the Xeon w5-2445). L3 cache: 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs 26.25 MB on the Xeon w5-2445.

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Xeon w5-2445
Cores / Threads	32 / 64+220%	10 / 20
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.6 GHz+10%
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.1 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	64 MB+144%	26.25 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	2 MB (per core)+300%
Process	12 nm	Intel 7 nm-42%
Architecture	Zen+ (2018−2019)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	31,945	32,213
Cinebench R23 Multi	33,213+114%	15,500
Geekbench 6 Single	1,206	1,822+51%
Geekbench 6 Multi	7,612	10,719+41%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses the TR4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon w5-2445 uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2933 on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX versus DDR5-4800 on the Xeon w5-2445 — the Xeon w5-2445 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 2048 GB of RAM. Both feature 4-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 64 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: X399 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX) and W790 (Xeon w5-2445).

Feature	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX	Xeon w5-2445
Socket	TR4	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2933	DDR5-4800+25%
Max RAM Capacity	2048 GB	2048 GB
RAM Channels	4	4
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	64	64

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon w5-2445 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon w5-2445). Primary use case: Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX targets Extreme Content Creation, Xeon w5-2445 targets Professional Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX rivals Core i9-9980XE; Xeon w5-2445 rivals Threadripper 7945WX.