Ryzen 5 3600X vs Xeon E5-2686 V3
Ryzen 5 3600X
Xeon E5-2686 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 3600X
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2686 V3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3600X | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($90) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($160) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Matisse (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3600X | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+78%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($90) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($160) |
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 3600X and Xeon E5-2686 V3
Ryzen 5 3600X
The Ryzen 5 3600X 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 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 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): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 18,136 points. Launch price was $249.
Xeon E5-2686 V3
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4 2133 MHz Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 18,148 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 3600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600X versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600X (base: 3.8 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600X uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600X scores 18,136 against the Xeon E5-2686 V3's 18,148 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5-2686 V3. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600X vs 45 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2686 V3.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3600X | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 18 / 36+200% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+26% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+90% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB (total) | 45 MB (total)+41% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm, 12 nm-68% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Matisse (2019−2020) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 18,136 | 18,148 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 10,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,033 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 8,649 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 3600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2686 V3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 3600X) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2686 V3). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 3600X) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2686 V3) — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 3600X) and C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2686 V3).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3600X | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA2011-3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 768 GB+500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | 40+67% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 5 3600X) / Yes (Xeon E5-2686 V3).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3600X | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 3600X launched at $249 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 debuted at $1500. At current prices ($90 vs $160), the Ryzen 5 3600X is $70 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3600X delivers 201.5 pts/$ vs 113.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2686 V3 — making the Ryzen 5 3600X the 55.9% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3600X | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $249-83% | $1500 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $90-44% | $160 |
| Performance per Dollar | 201.5+78% | 113.4 |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2014 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Ryzen 5 3600X and Xeon E5-2686 V3
