Ryzen 7 3700X vs Xeon E3-1245 v6

AMD

Ryzen 7 3700X

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2019

Popular choices:

VS
Intel

Xeon E3-1245 v6

4 Cores8 Thrd73 WWMax: 4.1 GHz2017

Popular choices:

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +132.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
  • Draws 65W instead of 73W, a 8W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Xeon E3-1245 v6 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E3-1245 v6

2017

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • Lower PassMark (8,711 vs 22,430).
    • Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 32 MB).

    Quick Answers

    So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Xeon E3-1245 v6?
    Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon E3-1245 v6 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 7 3700X is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.
    Which one is better for gaming?
    If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 3700X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 132.0% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 3700X is the better fit. You are getting 157.5% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Ryzen 7 3700X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 3700X is at an unclear MSRP at $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 132.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Ryzen 7 3700X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2017), 300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

    Games Benchmarks

    Paired with RTX 4090

    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.

    Path of Exile 2

    Path of Exile 2

    PresetRyzen 7 3700XXeon E3-1245 v6
    1080p
    low200 FPS203 FPS
    medium163 FPS158 FPS
    high137 FPS127 FPS
    ultra110 FPS91 FPS
    1440p
    low156 FPS170 FPS
    medium121 FPS131 FPS
    high100 FPS104 FPS
    ultra80 FPS74 FPS
    4K
    low84 FPS71 FPS
    medium71 FPS58 FPS
    high56 FPS45 FPS
    ultra44 FPS36 FPS
    Counter-Strike 2

    Counter-Strike 2

    PresetRyzen 7 3700XXeon E3-1245 v6
    1080p
    low561 FPS218 FPS
    medium525 FPS216 FPS
    high428 FPS197 FPS
    ultra383 FPS169 FPS
    1440p
    low545 FPS218 FPS
    medium471 FPS193 FPS
    high394 FPS176 FPS
    ultra337 FPS151 FPS
    4K
    low350 FPS182 FPS
    medium304 FPS158 FPS
    high274 FPS134 FPS
    ultra242 FPS111 FPS
    League of Legends

    League of Legends

    PresetRyzen 7 3700XXeon E3-1245 v6
    1080p
    low561 FPS218 FPS
    medium561 FPS218 FPS
    high561 FPS218 FPS
    ultra561 FPS218 FPS
    1440p
    low561 FPS218 FPS
    medium561 FPS218 FPS
    high538 FPS218 FPS
    ultra470 FPS218 FPS
    4K
    low499 FPS218 FPS
    medium394 FPS218 FPS
    high343 FPS218 FPS
    ultra275 FPS218 FPS
    Valorant

    Valorant

    PresetRyzen 7 3700XXeon E3-1245 v6
    1080p
    low561 FPS218 FPS
    medium561 FPS218 FPS
    high561 FPS218 FPS
    ultra561 FPS218 FPS
    1440p
    low561 FPS218 FPS
    medium561 FPS218 FPS
    high561 FPS218 FPS
    ultra555 FPS218 FPS
    4K
    low561 FPS218 FPS
    medium501 FPS218 FPS
    high447 FPS218 FPS
    ultra396 FPS218 FPS

    Technical Specifications

    Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 7 3700X and Xeon E3-1245 v6

    AMD

    Ryzen 7 3700X

    The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. 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: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.

    Intel

    Xeon E3-1245 v6

    The Xeon E3-1245 v6 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 March 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 8,711 points. Launch price was $284.

    Processing Power

    The Ryzen 7 3700X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E3-1245 v6 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X versus 4.1 GHz on the Xeon E3-1245 v6 — a 7.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Ryzen 7 3700X uses the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon E3-1245 v6 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 3700X scores 22,430 against the Xeon E3-1245 v6's 8,711 — a 88.1% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X vs 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1245 v6.

    FeatureRyzen 7 3700XXeon E3-1245 v6
    Cores / Threads
    8 / 16+100%
    4 / 8
    Boost Clock
    4.4 GHz+7%
    4.1 GHz
    Base Clock
    3.6 GHz
    3.7 GHz+3%
    L3 Cache
    32 MB+300%
    8 MB
    L2 Cache
    512K (per core)
    1 MB+100%
    Process
    7 nm, 12 nm-50%
    14 nm
    Architecture
    Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
    Kaby Lake (2016−2019)
    PassMark
    22,430+157%
    8,711
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Ryzen 7 3700X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E3-1245 v6 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

    FeatureRyzen 7 3700XXeon E3-1245 v6
    Socket
    AM4
    LGA1151
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 4.0+33%
    PCIe 3.0
    Max RAM Speed
    DDR4-3200
    Max RAM Capacity
    128 GB
    RAM Channels
    2
    ECC Support
    Yes
    PCIe Lanes
    24