Ryzen 7 3700X vs Xeon E5-2470 v2

AMD

Ryzen 7 3700X

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2019

Popular choices:

VS
Intel

Xeon E5-2470 v2

10 Cores20 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2013

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: +46.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).
  • Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2470 v2, which brings 10 cores / 20 threads.
  • Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2470 v2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E5-2470 v2

2013

Why buy it

  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 10 cores / 20 threads.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (10,701 vs 22,430).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 32 MB).
  • 46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Xeon E5-2470 v2?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon E5-2470 v2 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 46.0% 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, Ryzen 7 3700X is the better fit. You are getting 109.6% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 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 $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 46.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 2013), 28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 10/20. 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 E5-2470 v2
1080p
low200 FPS163 FPS
medium163 FPS138 FPS
high137 FPS110 FPS
ultra110 FPS90 FPS
1440p
low156 FPS139 FPS
medium121 FPS115 FPS
high100 FPS90 FPS
ultra80 FPS72 FPS
4K
low84 FPS65 FPS
medium71 FPS58 FPS
high56 FPS45 FPS
ultra44 FPS35 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetRyzen 7 3700XXeon E5-2470 v2
1080p
low561 FPS268 FPS
medium525 FPS268 FPS
high428 FPS238 FPS
ultra383 FPS193 FPS
1440p
low545 FPS265 FPS
medium471 FPS244 FPS
high394 FPS212 FPS
ultra337 FPS170 FPS
4K
low350 FPS172 FPS
medium304 FPS159 FPS
high274 FPS138 FPS
ultra242 FPS109 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetRyzen 7 3700XXeon E5-2470 v2
1080p
low561 FPS268 FPS
medium561 FPS268 FPS
high561 FPS268 FPS
ultra561 FPS268 FPS
1440p
low561 FPS268 FPS
medium561 FPS268 FPS
high538 FPS268 FPS
ultra470 FPS268 FPS
4K
low499 FPS268 FPS
medium394 FPS268 FPS
high343 FPS268 FPS
ultra275 FPS268 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetRyzen 7 3700XXeon E5-2470 v2
1080p
low561 FPS268 FPS
medium561 FPS268 FPS
high561 FPS268 FPS
ultra561 FPS268 FPS
1440p
low561 FPS268 FPS
medium561 FPS268 FPS
high561 FPS268 FPS
ultra555 FPS268 FPS
4K
low561 FPS268 FPS
medium501 FPS268 FPS
high447 FPS268 FPS
ultra396 FPS268 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 7 3700X and Xeon E5-2470 v2

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 E5-2470 v2

The Xeon E5-2470 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 10,701 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 7 3700X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2470 v2 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon E5-2470 v2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon E5-2470 v2 — a 31.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Ryzen 7 3700X uses the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon E5-2470 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 3700X scores 22,430 against the Xeon E5-2470 v2's 10,701 — a 70.8% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X vs 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2470 v2.

FeatureRyzen 7 3700XXeon E5-2470 v2
Cores / Threads
8 / 16
10 / 20+25%
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz+38%
3.2 GHz
Base Clock
3.6 GHz+50%
2.4 GHz
L3 Cache
32 MB+28%
25 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512K (per core)+100%
256 kB (per core)
Process
7 nm, 12 nm-68%
22 nm
Architecture
Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014)
PassMark
22,430+110%
10,701
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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 7 3700X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-2470 v2 uses LGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureRyzen 7 3700XXeon E5-2470 v2
Socket
AM4
LGA1356
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