Athlon 220GE vs Xeon E5-1603 v3

CPU

GPU

Athlon 220GE

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2018

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Xeon E5-1603 v3

4 Cores4 Thrd140 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2014

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Athlon 220GE vs Xeon E5-1603 v3 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 220GE

2 / 4

4,441

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Xeon E5-1603 v3

4 / 4

4,460

+0.4%

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.

Athlon 220GE vs Xeon E5-1603 v3 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon 220GE vs Xeon E5-1603 v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon 220GE

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $208 less on MSRP ($65 MSRP vs $273 MSRP).
✅Delivers 318.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.3 vs 16.3 PassMark/$ ($65 MSRP vs $273 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 140W, a 105W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 3, while Xeon E5-1603 v3 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-1603 v3 across 16 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (4,441 vs 4,460).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 10 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-1603 v3, which brings 4 cores / 4 threads.

Xeon E5-1603 v3

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.0% higher average FPS across 16 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (10 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 4 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 16.3 vs 68.3 PassMark/$ ($273 MSRP vs $65 MSRP).
❌300% higher power demand at 140W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Athlon 220GE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-1603 v3 better than Athlon 220GE?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-1603 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon 220GE is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon E5-1603 v3 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 11.0% more average FPS across 16 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-1603 v3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (10 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Xeon E5-1603 v3 is still the better call for a fresh build. Xeon E5-1603 v3 comes in 320.0% more expensive on MSRP at $273 MSRP versus $65 MSRP, and it still gives you a 11.0% average FPS lead across 16 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon 220GE only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the better recommendation now. At roughly 4,441 PassMark with 2 cores and 4 threads, it only really makes sense as a bare-minimum stopgap or a very constrained existing-platform upgrade.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Athlon 220GE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 220GE vs Xeon E5-1603 v3 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon 220GE

The Athlon 220GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,441 points. Launch price was $65.

Xeon E5-1603 v3

The Xeon E5-1603 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 4,460 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon 220GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-1603 v3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon 220GE versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1603 v3 — a 19.4% clock advantage for the Athlon 220GE (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Athlon 220GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 220GE scores 4,441 against the Xeon E5-1603 v3's 4,460 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon E5-1603 v3. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 220GE vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1603 v3.

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Xeon E5-1603 v3
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz+21%	2.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+21%	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	10 MB (total)+150%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Zen (2017−2020)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	4,441	4,460
Geekbench 6 Single	886	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	2,023	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 220GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Xeon E5-1603 v3
Socket	AM4	LGA2011-3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2667	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	8	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon 220GE) / not specified (Xeon E5-1603 v3). The Athlon 220GE includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 3), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 220GE targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon 220GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400.

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Xeon E5-1603 v3
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Radeon Vega 3	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 220GE was priced at $65, while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 came in at $273. On launch pricing ($65 vs $273), Athlon 220GE was $208 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 220GE delivers 68.3 pts/$ vs 16.3 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-1603 v3 — making the Athlon 220GE the 122.8% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Xeon E5-1603 v3
MSRP	$65-76%	$273
Performance per Dollar	68.3+319%	16.3
Release Date	2018	2014

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