FX-6330 vs Xeon E5-1603 v3
FX-6330
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. The FX-6330 is positioned at rank 494 and the Xeon E5-1603 v3 is on rank 683, so the FX-6330 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar FX-6330
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1603 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | FX-6330 | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Vishera (2012−2015) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | FX-6330 | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+59%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 FX-6330 and Xeon E5-1603 v3
FX-6330
The FX-6330 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 15 December 2015 (9 years ago). It is based on the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,433 points. Launch price was $69.
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 FX-6330 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the FX-6330 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the FX-6330 versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1603 v3 — a 40% clock advantage for the FX-6330 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The FX-6330 uses the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the FX-6330 scores 4,433 against the Xeon E5-1603 v3's 4,460 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon E5-1603 v3. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the FX-6330 vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1603 v3.
| Feature | FX-6330 | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+50% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+29% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 10 MB (total)+25% |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+2300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Vishera (2012−2015) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 4,433 | 4,460 |
Memory & Platform
The FX-6330 uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | FX-6330 | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3+ | LGA2011-3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
Value Analysis
The FX-6330 launched at $109 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 debuted at $273. At current prices ($25 vs $40), the FX-6330 is $15 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the FX-6330 delivers 177.3 pts/$ vs 111.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-1603 v3 — making the FX-6330 the 45.6% better value option.
| Feature | FX-6330 | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $109-60% | $273 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-38% | $40 |
| Performance per Dollar | 177.3+59% | 111.5 |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2014 |
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