Ryzen 5 3600 vs Xeon E5-2660 v4

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Xeon E5-2660 v4 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 5 3600

6 / 12

17,685

+13.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Xeon E5-2660 v4

14 / 28

15,650

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 3600 vs Xeon E5-2660 v4 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 3600 vs Xeon E5-2660 v4: 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 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E5-2660 v4.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2660 v4, which brings 14 cores / 28 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2660 v4 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E5-2660 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 14 cores / 28 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (15,650 vs 17,685).
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than Xeon E5-2660 v4?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2660 v4 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 3600 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 3600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 7.2% 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 3600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 13% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 3600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 3600 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $199 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 7.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 3600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 14/28. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Xeon E5-2660 v4 Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 5 3600

The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.

Xeon E5-2660 v4

The Xeon E5-2660 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 35 MB. L2 cache: 3.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 15,650 points. Launch price was $1,445.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 3600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2660 v4 offers 14 cores / 28 threads — the Xeon E5-2660 v4 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon E5-2660 v4 — a 27% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon E5-2660 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Xeon E5-2660 v4's 15,650 — a 12.2% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 35 MB on the Xeon E5-2660 v4.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Xeon E5-2660 v4
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	14 / 28+133%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz+31%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+80%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	35 MB+9%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+14529%	3.5 MB
Process	7 nm, 12 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark	17,685+13%	15,650
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,295	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	—

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-2660 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Xeon E5-2660 v4
Socket	AM4	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	24	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: Yes (Ryzen 5 3600) / not specified (Xeon E5-2660 v4). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.