Ryzen 5 3600 vs Xeon E5-2687W v4
Ryzen 5 3600
Xeon E5-2687W v4
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 3600
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2687W v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3600 | Xeon E5-2687W v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,138) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Matisse (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3600 | Xeon E5-2687W v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1326%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,138) |
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 3600 and Xeon E5-2687W v4
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 E5-2687W v4
The Xeon E5-2687W 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 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 160 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 17,640 points. Launch price was $2,141.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 3600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2687W v4 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-2687W v4 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2687W v4 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon E5-2687W v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Xeon E5-2687W v4's 17,640 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,295 vs 1,063, a 19.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 8,255 (125.2% advantage for the Xeon E5-2687W v4). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 30 MB on the Xeon E5-2687W v4.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3600 | Xeon E5-2687W v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 12 / 24+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+20% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+20% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB (total)+7% | 30 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 3 MB+500% |
| Process | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Matisse (2019−2020) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 17,685 | 17,640 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 9,500 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,295+22% | 1,063 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,898 | 8,255+335% |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-2687W v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2687W v4 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 3600) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2687W v4). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2687W v4) — the Xeon E5-2687W v4 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600) and C610,X99 (Xeon E5-2687W v4).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3600 | Xeon E5-2687W v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 1536 GB+1100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | 40+67% |
Advanced Features
Both support Yes virtualization. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3600 | Xeon E5-2687W v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | Yes |
| Target Use | Gaming/Budget Workstation | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 3600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2687W v4 debuted at $2141. At current prices ($80 vs $1138), the Ryzen 5 3600 is $1058 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3600 delivers 221.1 pts/$ vs 15.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2687W v4 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 173.8% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3600 | Xeon E5-2687W v4 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199-91% | $2141 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80-93% | $1138 |
| Performance per Dollar | 221.1+1326% | 15.5 |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2016 |
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