Ryzen 5 1500X vs Xeon E5-4648 V3

AMD

Ryzen 5 1500X

4 Cores8 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2017
Ryzen family
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VS
Intel

Xeon E5-4648 V3

12 Cores24 Thrd105 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2015
Similar parts
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Ryzen 5 1500X vs Xeon E5-4648 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 E5-4648 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 E5-4648 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 105W, a 40W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E5-4648 V3.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 30 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-4648 V3, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads.
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 48.0 vs 53.6 PassMark/$ ($189 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Xeon E5-4648 V3

2015

Why buy it

  • +87.5% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads.
  • Costs $20 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
  • Delivers 11.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 53.6 vs 48.0 PassMark/$ ($169 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (9,061 vs 9,074).
  • 61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 1500X.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 1500X better than Xeon E5-4648 V3?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-4648 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 gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 1500X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.8% 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 5 1500X is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 5 1500X is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-4648 V3 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 5 1500X comes in 11.8% more expensive on MSRP at $189 MSRP versus $169 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E5-4648 V3 is also 11.7% better value on MSRP (53.6 vs 48.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds 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 2015) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 12/24. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 5 1500X vs Xeon E5-4648 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 E5-4648 V3

The Xeon E5-4648 V3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 9,061 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 1500X packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-4648 V3 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-4648 V3 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1500X versus 2.2 GHz on the Xeon E5-4648 V3 — a 50.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 1500X (base: 3.5 GHz vs 1.7 GHz). The Ryzen 5 1500X uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-4648 V3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 1500X scores 9,074 against the Xeon E5-4648 V3's 9,061 — a 0.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 1500X. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1500X vs 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-4648 V3.

FeatureRyzen 5 1500XXeon E5-4648 V3
Cores / Threads
4 / 8
12 / 24+200%
Boost Clock
3.7 GHz+68%
2.2 GHz
Base Clock
3.5 GHz+106%
1.7 GHz
L3 Cache
16 MB (total)
30 MB (total)+88%
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
9,061
Cinebench R23 Multi
4,641
Geekbench 6 Single
1,120
Geekbench 6 Multi
3,700
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 1500X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-4648 V3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureRyzen 5 1500XXeon E5-4648 V3
Socket
AM4
LGA2011-3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 1500X) / not specified (Xeon E5-4648 V3). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 1500X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 1500X rivals Core i5-7500.

FeatureRyzen 5 1500XXeon E5-4648 V3
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Ryzen 5 1500X was priced at $189, while the Xeon E5-4648 V3 came in at $169. On launch pricing ($189 vs $169), Xeon E5-4648 V3 was $20 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 1500X delivers 48.0 pts/$ vs 53.6 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-4648 V3 — making the Xeon E5-4648 V3 the 11% better value option.

FeatureRyzen 5 1500XXeon E5-4648 V3
MSRP
$189
$169-11%
Performance per Dollar
48.0
53.6+12%
Release Date
2017
2015

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