Ryzen 9 5900X vs Xeon 6737P

AMD

Ryzen 9 5900X

12 Cores24 Thrd105 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2020

Popular choices:

VS
Intel

Xeon 6737P

32 Cores64 Thrd270 WWMax: 4 GHz2025

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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 5900X

2020

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +27.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Costs $4,446 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $4,995 MSRP).
  • Delivers 345.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 71.0 vs 15.9 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $4,995 MSRP).
  • Draws 105W instead of 270W, a 165W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (11,888 vs 45,000).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (64 MB vs 144 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon 6737P, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.
  • Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Xeon 6737P moves to LGA4710 and DDR5.

Xeon 6737P

2025

Why buy it

  • +278.5% higher Geekbench multi-core.
  • +125% larger total L3 cache (144 MB vs 64 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 24.
  • Newer platform on LGA4710 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
  • 266.7% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.9 vs 71.0 PassMark/$ ($4,995 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
  • 157.1% higher power demand at 270W vs 105W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5900X better than Xeon 6737P?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon 6737P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 5900X 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, Xeon 6737P is the better fit. You are getting 278.5% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 125% larger total L3 cache (144 MB vs 64 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 9 5900X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 5900X is $4,446 cheaper on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $4,995 MSRP, and it gives you a 27.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon 6737P is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 278.5% better Geekbench multi-core. It is also 345.1% better value on MSRP (71.0 vs 15.9 PassMark/$), 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 6737P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA4710 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 125% larger total L3 cache (144 MB vs 64 MB), more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 12/24, 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetRyzen 9 5900XXeon 6737P
1080p
low323 FPS190 FPS
medium291 FPS166 FPS
high243 FPS132 FPS
ultra193 FPS106 FPS
1440p
low307 FPS156 FPS
medium248 FPS132 FPS
high192 FPS101 FPS
ultra157 FPS83 FPS
4K
low193 FPS71 FPS
medium156 FPS63 FPS
high115 FPS49 FPS
ultra103 FPS40 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetRyzen 9 5900XXeon 6737P
1080p
low772 FPS520 FPS
medium647 FPS460 FPS
high508 FPS376 FPS
ultra450 FPS309 FPS
1440p
low619 FPS425 FPS
medium536 FPS383 FPS
high443 FPS321 FPS
ultra364 FPS256 FPS
4K
low365 FPS262 FPS
medium318 FPS239 FPS
high289 FPS212 FPS
ultra255 FPS176 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetRyzen 9 5900XXeon 6737P
1080p
low832 FPS883 FPS
medium645 FPS813 FPS
high558 FPS768 FPS
ultra459 FPS677 FPS
1440p
low721 FPS756 FPS
medium565 FPS692 FPS
high488 FPS650 FPS
ultra407 FPS581 FPS
4K
low511 FPS510 FPS
medium421 FPS429 FPS
high374 FPS383 FPS
ultra308 FPS318 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetRyzen 9 5900XXeon 6737P
1080p
low974 FPS985 FPS
medium974 FPS886 FPS
high934 FPS766 FPS
ultra826 FPS665 FPS
1440p
low959 FPS806 FPS
medium843 FPS701 FPS
high726 FPS604 FPS
ultra617 FPS519 FPS
4K
low694 FPS582 FPS
medium621 FPS521 FPS
high541 FPS462 FPS
ultra437 FPS397 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 9 5900X and Xeon 6737P

AMD

Ryzen 9 5900X

The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.

Intel

Xeon 6737P

The Xeon 6737P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 144 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4710. Thermal design power (TDP): 270 Watt. Memory support: DDR5(6400MT/s). Passmark benchmark score: 79,634 points. Launch price was $4,995.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 9 5900X packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon 6737P offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Xeon 6737P has 20 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X versus 4 GHz on the Xeon 6737P — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Ryzen 9 5900X uses the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon 6737P uses Granite Rapids (2024−2025) (Intel 3 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 5900X scores 38,955 against the Xeon 6737P's 79,634 — a 68.6% lead for the Xeon 6737P. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,174 vs 2,000, a 8.3% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,888 vs 45,000 (116.4% advantage for the Xeon 6737P). L3 cache: 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X vs 144 MB (total) on the Xeon 6737P.

FeatureRyzen 9 5900XXeon 6737P
Cores / Threads
12 / 24
32 / 64+167%
Boost Clock
4.8 GHz+20%
4 GHz
Base Clock
3.7 GHz+28%
2.9 GHz
L3 Cache
64 MB
144 MB (total)+125%
L2 Cache
512K (per core)
2 MB (per core)+300%
Process
7 nm, 12 nm
Intel 3 nm-57%
Architecture
Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022)
Granite Rapids (2024−2025)
PassMark
38,955
79,634+104%
Cinebench R23 Multi
21,000
Geekbench 6 Single
2,174+9%
2,000
Geekbench 6 Multi
11,888
45,000+279%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 9 5900X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon 6737P uses LGA4710 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 5900X versus DDR5-6400 on the Xeon 6737P — the Xeon 6737P supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon 6737P supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 9 5900X) vs 8 (Xeon 6737P). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 9 5900X) vs 88 (Xeon 6737P) — the Xeon 6737P offers 64 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X) and C741 (Xeon 6737P).

FeatureRyzen 9 5900XXeon 6737P
Socket
AM4
LGA4710
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-3200
DDR5-6400+25%
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
4096 GB+3100%
RAM Channels
2
8+300%
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
24
88+267%
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 5900X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon 6737P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon 6737P). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation, Xeon 6737P targets High Performance Server. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K; Xeon 6737P rivals EPYC 9005.

FeatureRyzen 9 5900XXeon 6737P
Integrated GPU
No
No
IGPU Model
None
Unlocked
Yes
No
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
AMD-V
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Workstation
High Performance Server
💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 9 5900X launched at $549 MSRP, while the Xeon 6737P debuted at $4995. On MSRP ($549 vs $4995), the Ryzen 9 5900X is $4446 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 9 5900X delivers 71.0 pts/$ vs 15.9 pts/$ for the Xeon 6737P — making the Ryzen 9 5900X the 126.6% better value option.

FeatureRyzen 9 5900XXeon 6737P
MSRP
$549-89%
$4995
Performance per Dollar
71.0+347%
15.9
Release Date
2020
2025