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 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $4,966 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $5,265 MSRP).
✅Delivers 405.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 14.5 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $5,265 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 250W, a 185W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon 6740E across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 76,167).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon 6740E, which brings 96 cores / 96 threads and 80 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Xeon 6740E moves to LGA4710 and DDR5.

Xeon 6740E

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +25.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 96 cores / 96 threads, plus 80 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Newer platform on LGA4710 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅233.3% more PCIe lanes (80 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.5 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($5,265 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌284.6% higher power demand at 250W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Xeon 6740E

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $4,966 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $5,265 MSRP).
✅Delivers 405.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 14.5 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $5,265 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 250W, a 185W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +25.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 96 cores / 96 threads, plus 80 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Newer platform on LGA4710 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅233.3% more PCIe lanes (80 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon 6740E across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 76,167).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon 6740E, which brings 96 cores / 96 threads and 80 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Xeon 6740E moves to LGA4710 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.5 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($5,265 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌284.6% higher power demand at 250W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon 6740E better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon 6740E makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 5600X 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 6740E is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 25.9% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 96 MB vs 32 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon 6740E is the better fit. You are getting 248.7% better PassMark, backed by 96 cores and 96 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (96 MB vs 32 MB).

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

Xeon 6740E is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon 6740E is 1660.9% more expensive on MSRP at $5,265 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 25.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600X is also 405.0% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 14.5 PassMark/$), 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 6740E is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA4710 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 96 MB L3 cache instead of 32 MB, more multi-core headroom with 96 cores / 96 threads instead of 6/12, 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 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Xeon 6740E Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon 6740E
1080p
low	203 FPS	189 FPS
medium	174 FPS	152 FPS
high	140 FPS	121 FPS
ultra	107 FPS	95 FPS
1440p
low	169 FPS	153 FPS
medium	141 FPS	119 FPS
high	113 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	71 FPS
medium	76 FPS	59 FPS
high	60 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	47 FPS	38 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Xeon 6740E

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon 6740E
1080p
low	464 FPS	437 FPS
medium	387 FPS	378 FPS
high	324 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	291 FPS	241 FPS
1440p
low	397 FPS	359 FPS
medium	334 FPS	319 FPS
high	290 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	203 FPS
4K
low	263 FPS	222 FPS
medium	226 FPS	201 FPS
high	205 FPS	168 FPS
ultra	171 FPS	135 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Xeon 6740E

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon 6740E
1080p
low	546 FPS	934 FPS
medium	473 FPS	831 FPS
high	432 FPS	779 FPS
ultra	358 FPS	693 FPS
1440p
low	508 FPS	746 FPS
medium	413 FPS	655 FPS
high	375 FPS	614 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	546 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	479 FPS
medium	292 FPS	378 FPS
high	255 FPS	334 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	272 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Xeon 6740E

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon 6740E
1080p
low	546 FPS	918 FPS
medium	546 FPS	830 FPS
high	546 FPS	715 FPS
ultra	546 FPS	610 FPS
1440p
low	546 FPS	710 FPS
medium	546 FPS	620 FPS
high	546 FPS	530 FPS
ultra	524 FPS	450 FPS
4K
low	529 FPS	509 FPS
medium	484 FPS	455 FPS
high	435 FPS	400 FPS
ultra	379 FPS	344 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Xeon 6740E

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600X and Xeon 6740E

Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

Xeon 6740E

The Xeon 6740E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Sierra Forest (2024) architecture. It features 96 cores and 96 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 96 MB (total). L2 cache: 4 MB (per module). Built on Intel 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4710. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 76,167 points. Launch price was $5,265.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon 6740E offers 96 cores / 96 threads — the Xeon 6740E has 90 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon 6740E — a 35.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon 6740E uses Sierra Forest (2024) (Intel 3 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600X scores 21,845 against the Xeon 6740E's 76,167 — a 110.8% lead for the Xeon 6740E. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X vs 96 MB (total) on the Xeon 6740E.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon 6740E
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	96 / 96+1500%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+44%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+54%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB	96 MB (total)+200%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	4 MB (per module)+700%
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	Intel 3 nm-57%
Architecture	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)	Sierra Forest (2024)
PassMark	21,845	76,167+249%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon 6740E uses LGA4710 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 6400 on the Xeon 6740E — the Xeon 6740E supports 199.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon 6740E supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 5600X) vs 8 (Xeon 6740E). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) vs 80 (Xeon 6740E) — the Xeon 6740E offers 56 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X) and C741 (Xeon 6740E).

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon 6740E
Socket	AM4	LGA4710
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	6400+159900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+3276700%	4096
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	80+233%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon 6740E supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X) vs VT-x, VT-d, TDX (Xeon 6740E). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Xeon 6740E rivals EPYC 9005.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Xeon 6740E
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d, TDX
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 5600X launched at $299 MSRP, while the Xeon 6740E debuted at $5265. On MSRP ($299 vs $5265), the Ryzen 5 5600X is $4966 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5600X delivers 73.1 pts/$ vs 14.5 pts/$ for the Xeon 6740E — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 133.9% better value option.