Ryzen 5 1600 vs Xeon E5-2667 v2

Ryzen 5 1600 vs Xeon E5-2667 v2 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 5 1600

6 / 12

12,261

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Xeon E5-2667 v2

8 / 16

12,186

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 5 1600 vs Xeon E5-2667 v2 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 1600 vs Xeon E5-2667 v2: 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 1600

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $81 less on MSRP ($219 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅Delivers 37.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 56.0 vs 40.6 PassMark/$ ($219 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 130W, a 65W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2667 v2 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2667 v2, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E5-2667 v2

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 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 (12,186 vs 12,261).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 40.6 vs 56.0 PassMark/$ ($300 MSRP vs $219 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 130W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 1600 better than Xeon E5-2667 v2?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2667 v2 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 1600 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, Ryzen 5 1600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 1600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 1600 comes in $81 cheaper on MSRP at $219 MSRP versus $300 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.6% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-2667 v2 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 14.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 37.8% better value on MSRP (56.0 vs 40.6 PassMark/$), 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 1600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2013) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 5 1600 vs Xeon E5-2667 v2 Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 5 1600

The Ryzen 5 1600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 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: 12,261 points. Launch price was $219.

Xeon E5-2667 v2

The Xeon E5-2667 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 12,186 points. Launch price was $2,300.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 1600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2667 v2 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2667 v2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1600 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E5-2667 v2 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2667 v2 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 1600 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2667 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 1600 scores 12,261 against the Xeon E5-2667 v2's 12,186 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 1600. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1600 vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2667 v2.

Feature	Ryzen 5 1600	Xeon E5-2667 v2
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz	4 GHz+11%
Base Clock	3.2 GHz	3.3 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	20 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Zen 2 (2017−2020)	Ivy Bridge-EP (2013)
PassMark	12,261	12,186

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 1600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2667 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Ryzen 5 1600 versus DDR3-1866 on the Xeon E5-2667 v2 — the Ryzen 5 1600 supports 42.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2667 v2 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 1100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 1600) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2667 v2). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 1600) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2667 v2) — the Xeon E5-2667 v2 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 300 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 1600) and Intel X79,Intel C602 (Xeon E5-2667 v2).

Feature	Ryzen 5 1600	Xeon E5-2667 v2
Socket	AM4	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666+43%	DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	768 GB+1100%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	40+67%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Ryzen 5 1600 was priced at $219, while the Xeon E5-2667 v2 came in at $300. On launch pricing ($219 vs $300), Ryzen 5 1600 was $81 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 1600 delivers 56.0 pts/$ vs 40.6 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2667 v2 — making the Ryzen 5 1600 the 31.8% better value option.

Feature	Ryzen 5 1600	Xeon E5-2667 v2
MSRP	$219-27%	$300
Performance per Dollar	56.0+38%	40.6
Release Date	2017	2013

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