Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 vs Xeon E5-2650L v3

AMD

Ryzen 5 PRO 1600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.6 GHz2017
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Xeon E5-2650L v3

12 Cores24 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.5 GHz2014
Similar parts
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Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 vs Xeon E5-2650L v3 Performance Spectrum

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 PRO 1600 vs Xeon E5-2650L 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 PRO 1600 vs Xeon E5-2650L 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 PRO 1600

2017

Why buy it

  • +0.1% higher PassMark.
  • Costs $1,110 less on MSRP ($219 MSRP vs $1,329 MSRP).
  • Delivers 507.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 54.2 vs 8.9 PassMark/$ ($219 MSRP vs $1,329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2650L v3 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 30 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2650L v3, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E5-2650L v3

2014

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +7.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +87.5% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 0.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (11,865 vs 11,875).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.9 vs 54.2 PassMark/$ ($1,329 MSRP vs $219 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 better than Xeon E5-2650L v3?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2650L v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 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 PRO 1600 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 PRO 1600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 comes in $1,110 cheaper on MSRP at $219 MSRP versus $1,329 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.1% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-2650L v3 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 7.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 507.4% better value on MSRP (54.2 vs 8.9 PassMark/$), 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 PRO 1600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 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 PRO 1600 vs Xeon E5-2650L v3 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Ryzen 5 PRO 1600

The Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 29 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 11,875 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Xeon E5-2650L v3

The Xeon E5-2650L 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 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 11,865 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2650L v3 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-2650L v3 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 versus 2.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2650L v3 — a 36.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2650L v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 scores 11,875 against the Xeon E5-2650L v3's 11,865 — a 0.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 vs 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2650L v3.

FeatureRyzen 5 PRO 1600Xeon E5-2650L v3
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
12 / 24+100%
Boost Clock
3.6 GHz+44%
2.5 GHz
Base Clock
3.2 GHz+78%
1.8 GHz
L3 Cache
16 MB (total)
30 MB (total)+88%
L2 Cache
512K (per core)+100%
256K (per core)
Process
14 nm-36%
22 nm
Architecture
Zen (2017−2020)
Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark
11,875
11,865
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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2650L v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureRyzen 5 PRO 1600Xeon E5-2650L v3
Socket
AM4
LGA2011
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2133
Max RAM Capacity
768 GB
RAM Channels
4
ECC Support
Yes
PCIe Lanes
40
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 5 PRO 1600) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2650L v3). Primary use case: Xeon E5-2650L v3 targets Server Low Power.

FeatureRyzen 5 PRO 1600Xeon E5-2650L v3
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Server Low Power
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Value Analysis

At launch, the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 was priced at $219, while the Xeon E5-2650L v3 came in at $1329. On launch pricing ($219 vs $1329), Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 was $1110 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 delivers 54.2 pts/$ vs 8.9 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2650L v3 — making the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 the 143.5% better value option.

FeatureRyzen 5 PRO 1600Xeon E5-2650L v3
MSRP
$219-84%
$1329
Performance per Dollar
54.2+509%
8.9
Release Date
2017
2014

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