Ryzen 3 3300X vs Xeon E5-1660 v4

Ryzen 3 3300X vs Xeon E5-1660 v4 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 3 3300X

4 / 8

13,425

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Xeon E5-1660 v4

8 / 16

13,341

0.0%

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 3300X vs Xeon E5-1660 v4 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 3300X vs Xeon E5-1660 v4: 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 3300X

2020

Why buy it

✅Draws 65W instead of 140W, a 75W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-1660 v4, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $120 MSRP, while Xeon E5-1660 v4 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E5-1660 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,341 vs 13,425).
❌115.4% higher power demand at 140W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 3 3300X better than Xeon E5-1660 v4?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-1660 v4 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 3 3300X is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 3 3300X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.5% 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, Ryzen 3 3300X is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Ryzen 3 3300X is the better buy right now. Ryzen 3 3300X comes in at an unclear MSRP at $120 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Ryzen 3 3300X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 3 3300X vs Xeon E5-1660 v4 Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 3 3300X

The Ryzen 3 3300X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 13,425 points. Launch price was $120.

Xeon E5-1660 v4

The Xeon E5-1660 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-EP (2016) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 13,341 points. Launch price was $1,113.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 3 3300X packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-1660 v4 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-1660 v4 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 3 3300X versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 v4 — a 12.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 3300X (base: 3.8 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen 3 3300X uses the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon E5-1660 v4 uses Broadwell-EP (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 3 3300X scores 13,425 against the Xeon E5-1660 v4's 13,341 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 3 3300X. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 3300X vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1660 v4.

Feature	Ryzen 3 3300X	Xeon E5-1660 v4
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+13%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.8 GHz+19%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	20 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)	Broadwell-EP (2016)
PassMark	13,425	13,341

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 3 3300X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-1660 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.