Ryzen 5 1600X vs Xeon E5-2660 v3
Ryzen 5 1600X
Xeon E5-2660 v3
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 1600X
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2660 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 1600X | Xeon E5-2660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($144) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 1600X | Xeon E5-2660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+4%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($144) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
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 1600X and Xeon E5-2660 v3
Ryzen 5 1600X
The Ryzen 5 1600X 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 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,014 points. Launch price was $249.
Xeon E5-2660 v3
The Xeon E5-2660 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 13,039 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 1600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2660 v3 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon E5-2660 v3 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1600X versus 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2660 v3 — a 19.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 1600X (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Ryzen 5 1600X uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2660 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 1600X scores 13,014 against the Xeon E5-2660 v3's 13,039 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E5-2660 v3. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1600X vs 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2660 v3.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 1600X | Xeon E5-2660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 10 / 20+67% |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+21% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+38% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 25 MB (total)+56% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Zen (2017−2020) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 13,014 | 13,039 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 7,100 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,500 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 1600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2660 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2660 v3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 1600X) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2660 v3). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 1600X) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2660 v3) — the Xeon E5-2660 v3 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370,B450,X470 (Ryzen 5 1600X) and Intel X99,Intel C612 (Xeon E5-2660 v3).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 1600X | Xeon E5-2660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 768 GB+1100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | 40+67% |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 5 1600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon E5-2660 v3 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 1600X) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2660 v3). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 1600X targets Mainstream Desktop, Xeon E5-2660 v3 targets Server. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 1600X rivals Core i5-7600K.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 1600X | Xeon E5-2660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Mainstream Desktop | Server |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 1600X launched at $249 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2660 v3 debuted at $1445. At current prices ($144 vs $150), the Ryzen 5 1600X is $6 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 1600X delivers 90.4 pts/$ vs 86.9 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2660 v3 — making the Ryzen 5 1600X the 3.9% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 1600X | Xeon E5-2660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $249-83% | $1445 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $144-4% | $150 |
| Performance per Dollar | 90.4+4% | 86.9 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2014 |
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