Ryzen 5 3600 vs Xeon W-2170B

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Xeon W-2170B Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 5 3600

6 / 12

17,685

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Xeon W-2170B

14 / 28

24,448

+38.2%

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 W-2170B 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 W-2170B: 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

✅+66.2% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 140W, a 75W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon W-2170B.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (17,685 vs 24,448).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-2170B, which brings 14 cores / 28 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Xeon W-2170B mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon W-2170B

2017

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 32 MB).
❌115.4% higher power demand at 140W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon W-2170B better than Ryzen 5 3600?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon W-2170B 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, Xeon W-2170B is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.6% 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, Xeon W-2170B is the stronger fit. You are getting 38.2% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 28 threads.

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

Xeon W-2170B is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3600 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon W-2170B comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 3600 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds 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 2017) and 66.2% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 19 MB). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Xeon W-2170B 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 W-2170B

The Xeon W-2170B is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 24,448 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 3600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon W-2170B offers 14 cores / 28 threads — the Xeon W-2170B has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 4.3 GHz on the Xeon W-2170B — a 2.4% clock advantage for the Xeon W-2170B (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon W-2170B uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Xeon W-2170B's 24,448 — a 32.1% lead for the Xeon W-2170B. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 19.25 MB (total) on the Xeon W-2170B.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Xeon W-2170B
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	14 / 28+133%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.3 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+44%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)+66%	19.25 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+51100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	17,685	24,448+38%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,295	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon W-2170B uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Xeon W-2170B
Socket	AM4	LGA2066
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	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: Yes (Ryzen 5 3600) / not specified (Xeon W-2170B). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.