Athlon 3000G vs Xeon E5-1603 v3
Athlon 3000G
Xeon E5-1603 v3
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 3000G
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1603 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 3000G | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen+ (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 3000G | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+50%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon 3000G and Xeon E5-1603 v3
Athlon 3000G
The Athlon 3000G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 November 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 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: 4,446 points. Launch price was $49.
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 3000G 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 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 3000G versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1603 v3 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Athlon 3000G (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Athlon 3000G uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 3000G scores 4,446 against the Xeon E5-1603 v3's 4,460 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E5-1603 v3. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 3000G vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1603 v3.
| Feature | Athlon 3000G | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+25% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+25% | 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+ (2018−2019) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 4,446 | 4,460 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,800 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 956 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,970 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 3000G 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 3000G | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA2011-3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Athlon 3000G) / not specified (Xeon E5-1603 v3). The Athlon 3000G includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 3 Graphics), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon 3000G rivals Pentium Gold G6400.
| Feature | Athlon 3000G | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Vega 3 Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 3000G launched at $49 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 debuted at $273. At current prices ($60 vs $40), the Xeon E5-1603 v3 is $20 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 3000G delivers 74.1 pts/$ vs 111.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-1603 v3 — making the Xeon E5-1603 v3 the 40.3% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 3000G | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $49-82% | $273 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $60 | $40-33% |
| Performance per Dollar | 74.1 | 111.5+50% |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2014 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon 3000G and Xeon E5-1603 v3
