Ryzen 5 1500X vs Xeon E5-2629 V3

AMD

Ryzen 5 1500X

4 Cores8 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2017
Ryzen family
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VS
Intel

Xeon E5-2629 V3

8 Cores16 Thrd85 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2014
Similar parts
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Ryzen 5 1500X vs Xeon E5-2629 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.

Ryzen 5 1500X vs Xeon E5-2629 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 5 1500X vs Xeon E5-2629 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 5 1500X

2017

Why buy it

  • Draws 65W instead of 85W, a 20W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E5-2629 V3.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (9,074 vs 9,139).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2629 V3, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads.
  • Launch MSRP is still $189 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2629 V3 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E5-2629 V3

2014

Why buy it

  • +0.7% higher PassMark.
  • +25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads.

Trade-offs

  • 30.8% higher power demand at 85W vs 65W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 1500X.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 1500X better than Xeon E5-2629 V3?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2629 V3 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 streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2629 V3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 5 1500X is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 1500X comes in at an unclear MSRP at $189 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Xeon E5-2629 V3 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.7% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (48.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 5 1500X 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 5 1500X vs Xeon E5-2629 V3 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

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.

Intel

Xeon E5-2629 V3

The Xeon E5-2629 V3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4 1866 MHz Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 9,139 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 1500X packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2629 V3 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2629 V3 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1500X versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon E5-2629 V3 — a 14.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 1500X (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Ryzen 5 1500X uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2629 V3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 1500X scores 9,074 against the Xeon E5-2629 V3's 9,139 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon E5-2629 V3. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1500X vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2629 V3.

FeatureRyzen 5 1500XXeon E5-2629 V3
Cores / Threads
4 / 8
8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock
3.7 GHz+16%
3.2 GHz
Base Clock
3.5 GHz+46%
2.4 GHz
L3 Cache
16 MB (total)
20 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
9,074
9,139
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 E5-2629 V3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureRyzen 5 1500XXeon E5-2629 V3
Socket
AM4
LGA2011-3
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 E5-2629 V3). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 1500X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 1500X rivals Core i5-7500.

FeatureRyzen 5 1500XXeon E5-2629 V3
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming