Ryzen 5 4500 vs Xeon E5-2690 v3

CPU

GPU

Ryzen 5 4500

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.1 GHz2022

Ryzen family

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Xeon E5-2690 v3

12 Cores24 Thrd135 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2014

Similar parts

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Ryzen 5 4500 vs Xeon E5-2690 v3 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 5 4500

6 / 12

16,049

+0.1%

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Xeon E5-2690 v3

12 / 24

16,027

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 4500 vs Xeon E5-2690 v3 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 4500 vs Xeon E5-2690 v3: 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 4500

2022

Why buy it

✅+0.1% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $1,961 less on MSRP ($129 MSRP vs $2,090 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1522.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 124.4 vs 7.7 PassMark/$ ($129 MSRP vs $2,090 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 135W, a 70W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E5-2690 v3.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2690 v3 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2690 v3, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E5-2690 v3

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+275% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅150% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (16,027 vs 16,049).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.7 vs 124.4 PassMark/$ ($2,090 MSRP vs $129 MSRP).
❌107.7% higher power demand at 135W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 4500.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 4500 better than Xeon E5-2690 v3?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2690 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 4500 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 4500 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 4500 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 4500 comes in $1,961 cheaper on MSRP at $129 MSRP versus $2,090 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.1% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-2690 v3 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 4.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 1522.4% better value on MSRP (124.4 vs 7.7 PassMark/$), 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 4500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2014) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 12/24. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 5 4500 vs Xeon E5-2690 v3 Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 5 4500

The Ryzen 5 4500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Renoir (2020−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 16,049 points. Launch price was $129.

Xeon E5-2690 v3

The Xeon E5-2690 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 16,027 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 4500 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2690 v3 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-2690 v3 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 5 4500 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2690 v3 — a 15.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 4500 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Ryzen 5 4500 uses the Renoir (2020−2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon E5-2690 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 4500 scores 16,049 against the Xeon E5-2690 v3's 16,027 — a 0.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 4500. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 4500 vs 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2690 v3.

Feature	Ryzen 5 4500	Xeon E5-2690 v3
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 24+100%
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz+17%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+38%	2.6 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+275%
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	7 nm-68%	22 nm
Architecture	Renoir (2020−2023)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	16,049	16,027
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,433	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,560	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	6,235	—

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 4500 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2690 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 4500 versus DDR4-2133 on the Xeon E5-2690 v3 — the Ryzen 5 4500 supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2690 v3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 500% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 4500) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2690 v3). PCIe lanes: 16 (Ryzen 5 4500) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2690 v3) — the Xeon E5-2690 v3 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B450,X570,B550 (Ryzen 5 4500) and Intel X99,Intel C612 (Xeon E5-2690 v3).

Feature	Ryzen 5 4500	Xeon E5-2690 v3
Socket	AM4	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200+50%	DDR4-2133
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	768 GB+500%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	40+150%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 4500) / not specified (Xeon E5-2690 v3). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 4500 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 4500 rivals Core i5-10400F.

Feature	Ryzen 5 4500	Xeon E5-2690 v3
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Ryzen 5 4500 was priced at $129, while the Xeon E5-2690 v3 came in at $2090. On launch pricing ($129 vs $2090), Ryzen 5 4500 was $1961 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 4500 delivers 124.4 pts/$ vs 7.7 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2690 v3 — making the Ryzen 5 4500 the 176.8% better value option.

Feature	Ryzen 5 4500	Xeon E5-2690 v3
MSRP	$129-94%	$2090
Performance per Dollar	124.4+1516%	7.7
Release Date	2022	2014

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