Ryzen 5 1600 vs Xeon E5-2687W v2
Ryzen 5 1600
Xeon E5-2687W v2
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Ryzen 5 1600 is positioned at rank 378 and the Xeon E5-2687W v2 is on rank 970, so the Ryzen 5 1600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 1600
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2687W v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 1600 | Xeon E5-2687W v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($144) | ✅ More affordable ($62) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen 2 (2017−2020) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 1600 | Xeon E5-2687W v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+133%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($144) | ✅ More affordable ($62) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 1600 and Xeon E5-2687W v2
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 E5-2687W v2
The Xeon E5-2687W 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 3.4 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): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 12,301 points. Launch price was $1,605.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 1600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2687W v2 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2687W v2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1600 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E5-2687W v2 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2687W v2 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Ryzen 5 1600 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2687W v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 1600 scores 12,261 against the Xeon E5-2687W v2's 12,301 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2687W v2. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1600 vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2687W v2.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 1600 | Xeon E5-2687W v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.4 GHz+6% |
| 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 | 12,301 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 1600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2687W v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 1600 | Xeon E5-2687W v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 1600 launched at $219 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2687W v2 debuted at $2112. At current prices ($144 vs $62), the Xeon E5-2687W v2 is $82 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 1600 delivers 85.1 pts/$ vs 198.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2687W v2 — making the Xeon E5-2687W v2 the 79.9% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 1600 | Xeon E5-2687W v2 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $219-90% | $2112 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $144 | $62-57% |
| Performance per Dollar | 85.1 | 198.4+133% |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2013 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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