Athlon Gold 3150G vs Xeon E5-1620 v3

AMD

Athlon Gold 3150G

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2020
Similar parts
·······
VS
Intel

Xeon E5-1620 v3

4 Cores8 Thrd140 WWMax: 3.6 GHz2014
Similar parts
·······

Athlon Gold 3150G vs Xeon E5-1620 v3 Performance Spectrum

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 Gold 3150G vs Xeon E5-1620 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 Gold 3150G vs Xeon E5-1620 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 Gold 3150G

2020

Why buy it

  • Costs $194 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).
  • Delivers 192.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 69.2 vs 23.7 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 140W, a 75W reduction.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Vega 3, while Xeon E5-1620 v3 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-1620 v3 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (6,922 vs 6,959).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 10 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-1620 v3, which brings 4 cores / 8 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E5-1620 v3

2014

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +22.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +150% larger total L3 cache (10 MB vs 4 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 8 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 8.
  • 400% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.7 vs 69.2 PassMark/$ ($294 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
  • 115.4% higher power demand at 140W vs 65W.
  • No integrated graphics, while Athlon Gold 3150G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-1620 v3 better than Athlon Gold 3150G?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-1620 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon Gold 3150G 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 E5-1620 v3 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 22.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-1620 v3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 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 E5-1620 v3 is still the better call for a fresh build. Xeon E5-1620 v3 comes in 194.0% more expensive on MSRP at $294 MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 22.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon Gold 3150G 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 6,922 PassMark with 4 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 Gold 3150G makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon Gold 3150G vs Xeon E5-1620 v3 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon Gold 3150G

The Athlon Gold 3150G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 6,922 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Xeon E5-1620 v3

The Xeon E5-1620 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 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 6,959 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Athlon Gold 3150G packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon E5-1620 v3's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Athlon Gold 3150G versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-1620 v3 — a 8% clock advantage for the Athlon Gold 3150G (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Athlon Gold 3150G uses the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture (12 nm), while the Xeon E5-1620 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Gold 3150G scores 6,922 against the Xeon E5-1620 v3's 6,959 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5-1620 v3. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Gold 3150G vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1620 v3.

FeatureAthlon Gold 3150GXeon E5-1620 v3
Cores / Threads
4 / 4
4 / 8
Boost Clock
3.9 GHz+8%
3.6 GHz
Base Clock
3.5 GHz
3.5 GHz
L3 Cache
4 MB (total)
10 MB (total)+150%
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)+100%
256K (per core)
Process
12 nm-45%
22 nm
Architecture
Picasso (2019−2022)
Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark
6,922
6,959
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon Gold 3150G uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1620 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2933 on the Athlon Gold 3150G versus DDR4-2133 on the Xeon E5-1620 v3 — the Athlon Gold 3150G supports 37.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-1620 v3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB 1100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon Gold 3150G) vs 4 (Xeon E5-1620 v3). PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon Gold 3150G) vs 40 (Xeon E5-1620 v3) — the Xeon E5-1620 v3 offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM4 (Athlon Gold 3150G) and Intel X99,Intel C612 (Xeon E5-1620 v3).

FeatureAthlon Gold 3150GXeon E5-1620 v3
Socket
AM4
LGA2011
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2933+38%
DDR4-2133
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
768 GB+1100%
RAM Channels
2
4+100%
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
8
40+400%
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon Gold 3150G) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-1620 v3). The Athlon Gold 3150G includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Vega 3), while the Xeon E5-1620 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E5-1620 v3 targets Server.

FeatureAthlon Gold 3150GXeon E5-1620 v3
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
AMD Radeon Vega 3
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Server
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon Gold 3150G was priced at $100, while the Xeon E5-1620 v3 came in at $294. On launch pricing ($100 vs $294), Athlon Gold 3150G was $194 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon Gold 3150G delivers 69.2 pts/$ vs 23.7 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-1620 v3 — making the Athlon Gold 3150G the 98.1% better value option.

FeatureAthlon Gold 3150GXeon E5-1620 v3
MSRP
$100-66%
$294
Performance per Dollar
69.2+192%
23.7
Release Date
2020
2014

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.