Ryzen 5 1500X vs Xeon E3-1280 v6

Ryzen 5 1500X vs Xeon E3-1280 v6 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 5 1500X

4 / 8

9,074

0.0%

Ryzen Embedded V2A46

Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE

Ryzen 7 3700U

Ryzen Embedded V1807B

Ryzen Threadripper 1950X

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

Ryzen 9 9950X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX

Xeon E3-1280 v6

4 / 8

9,093

+0.2%

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 5 1500X vs Xeon E3-1280 v6 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 5 1500X vs Xeon E3-1280 v6: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Ryzen 5 1500X

2017

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 72W, a 7W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E3-1280 v6.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (9,074 vs 9,093).
❌Launch MSRP is still $189 MSRP, while Xeon E3-1280 v6 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E3-1280 v6

2017

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 1500X.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1280 v6 better than Ryzen 5 1500X?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1280 v6 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 1500X 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 E3-1280 v6 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.7% 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 E3-1280 v6 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Xeon E3-1280 v6 is still the better call for a fresh build. Xeon E3-1280 v6 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $189 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 1500X 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 9,074 PassMark with 4 cores and 8 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 5 1500X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Ryzen 5 1500X vs Xeon E3-1280 v6 Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 5 1500X

The Ryzen 5 1500X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,074 points. Launch price was $189.

Xeon E3-1280 v6

The Xeon E3-1280 v6 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 March 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 72 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 9,093 points. Launch price was $612.

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Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 5 1500X and Xeon E3-1280 v6 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1500X versus 4.2 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 v6 — a 12.7% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1280 v6 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Ryzen 5 1500X uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1280 v6 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 1500X scores 9,074 against the Xeon E3-1280 v6's 9,093 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E3-1280 v6. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1500X vs 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1280 v6.

Feature	Ryzen 5 1500X	Xeon E3-1280 v6
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	4.2 GHz+14%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.9 GHz+11%
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)+100%	8 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+51100%	1 MB
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Zen (2017−2020)	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)
PassMark	9,074	9,093
Cinebench R23 Multi	4,641	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,120	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	3,700	—

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 1500X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1280 v6 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Ryzen 5 1500X	Xeon E3-1280 v6
Socket	AM4	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 1500X) / not specified (Xeon E3-1280 v6). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 1500X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 1500X rivals Core i5-7500.