Ryzen 3 1300X vs Xeon E5-1620 v3

CPU

GPU

Ryzen 3 1300X

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2017

Ryzen family

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Xeon E5-1620 v3

4 Cores8 Thrd140 WWMax: 3.6 GHz2014

Similar parts

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Ryzen 3 1300X vs Xeon E5-1620 v3 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 3 1300X

4 / 4

6,923

0.0%

Athlon 300U

Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Xeon E5-1620 v3

4 / 8

6,959

+0.5%

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.

Ryzen 3 1300X 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.

Ryzen 3 1300X 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.

Ryzen 3 1300X

2017

Why buy it

✅Costs $165 less on MSRP ($129 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).
✅Delivers 126.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 53.7 vs 23.7 PassMark/$ ($129 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 140W, a 75W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E5-1620 v3.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-1620 v3 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (6,923 vs 6,959).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 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: +15.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (10 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 8 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅66.7% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.7 vs 53.7 PassMark/$ ($294 MSRP vs $129 MSRP).
❌115.4% higher power demand at 140W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 3 1300X.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-1620 v3 better than Ryzen 3 1300X?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-1620 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 3 1300X 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 15.2% 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 25% larger total L3 cache (10 MB vs 8 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 127.9% more expensive on MSRP at $294 MSRP versus $129 MSRP, and it still gives you a 15.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 3 1300X 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 6,923 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?

Ryzen 3 1300X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Ryzen 3 1300X vs Xeon E5-1620 v3 Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 3 1300X

The Ryzen 3 1300X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 6,923 points. Launch price was $129.

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.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 3 1300X packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon E5-1620 v3's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 3 1300X versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-1620 v3 — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 1300X (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Ryzen 3 1300X uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1620 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 3 1300X scores 6,923 against the Xeon E5-1620 v3's 6,959 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5-1620 v3. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 1300X vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1620 v3.

Feature	Ryzen 3 1300X	Xeon E5-1620 v3
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz+3%	3.6 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	3.5 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	10 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Zen (2017−2020)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	6,923	6,959
Cinebench R23 Multi	3,486	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,120	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	3,155	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 3 1300X 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 DDR4-2666 on the Ryzen 3 1300X versus DDR4-2133 on the Xeon E5-1620 v3 — the Ryzen 3 1300X supports 25% 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 (Ryzen 3 1300X) vs 4 (Xeon E5-1620 v3). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 3 1300X) vs 40 (Xeon E5-1620 v3) — the Xeon E5-1620 v3 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,X570 (Ryzen 3 1300X) and Intel X99,Intel C612 (Xeon E5-1620 v3).

Feature	Ryzen 3 1300X	Xeon E5-1620 v3
Socket	AM4	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666+25%	DDR4-2133
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	768 GB+1100%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	40+67%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 3 1300X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon E5-1620 v3 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 3 1300X) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-1620 v3). Primary use case: Ryzen 3 1300X targets Gaming, Xeon E5-1620 v3 targets Server.

Feature	Ryzen 3 1300X	Xeon E5-1620 v3
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	Server

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Ryzen 3 1300X was priced at $129, while the Xeon E5-1620 v3 came in at $294. On launch pricing ($129 vs $294), Ryzen 3 1300X was $165 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 3 1300X delivers 53.7 pts/$ vs 23.7 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-1620 v3 — making the Ryzen 3 1300X the 77.6% better value option.

Feature	Ryzen 3 1300X	Xeon E5-1620 v3
MSRP	$129-56%	$294
Performance per Dollar	53.7+127%	23.7
Release Date	2017	2014

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