Ryzen 7 3700X vs Xeon E5-2695 v4

AMD

Ryzen 7 3700X

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2019

Popular choices:

VS
Intel

Xeon E5-2695 v4

18 Cores36 Thrd120 WWMax: 3.3 GHz2016

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: +18.1% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 65W instead of 120W, a 55W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 45 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2695 v4, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads.
  • Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2695 v4 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E5-2695 v4

2016

Why buy it

  • +40.6% larger total L3 cache (45 MB vs 32 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 18 cores / 36 threads.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (18,835 vs 22,430).
  • 84.6% higher power demand at 120W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Xeon E5-2695 v4?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon E5-2695 v4 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 18.1% more average FPS across 2 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 19.1% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.
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 $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 18.1% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 18/36. 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 E5-2695 v4
1080p
low200 FPS178 FPS
medium163 FPS154 FPS
high137 FPS121 FPS
ultra110 FPS97 FPS
1440p
low156 FPS149 FPS
medium121 FPS126 FPS
high100 FPS95 FPS
ultra80 FPS78 FPS
4K
low84 FPS69 FPS
medium71 FPS62 FPS
high56 FPS47 FPS
ultra44 FPS38 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetRyzen 7 3700XXeon E5-2695 v4
1080p
low561 FPS210 FPS
medium525 FPS191 FPS
high428 FPS162 FPS
ultra383 FPS131 FPS
1440p
low545 FPS180 FPS
medium471 FPS164 FPS
high394 FPS142 FPS
ultra337 FPS110 FPS
4K
low350 FPS114 FPS
medium304 FPS105 FPS
high274 FPS92 FPS
ultra242 FPS73 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetRyzen 7 3700XXeon E5-2695 v4
1080p
low561 FPS471 FPS
medium561 FPS471 FPS
high561 FPS471 FPS
ultra561 FPS471 FPS
1440p
low561 FPS471 FPS
medium561 FPS471 FPS
high538 FPS471 FPS
ultra470 FPS471 FPS
4K
low499 FPS447 FPS
medium394 FPS363 FPS
high343 FPS328 FPS
ultra275 FPS274 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetRyzen 7 3700XXeon E5-2695 v4
1080p
low561 FPS471 FPS
medium561 FPS471 FPS
high561 FPS471 FPS
ultra561 FPS471 FPS
1440p
low561 FPS471 FPS
medium561 FPS471 FPS
high561 FPS471 FPS
ultra555 FPS457 FPS
4K
low561 FPS471 FPS
medium501 FPS467 FPS
high447 FPS412 FPS
ultra396 FPS356 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 7 3700X and Xeon E5-2695 v4

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 E5-2695 v4

The Xeon E5-2695 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB. L2 cache: 4.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 18,835 points. Launch price was $2,424.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 7 3700X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2695 v4 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon E5-2695 v4 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X versus 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2695 v4 — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Ryzen 7 3700X uses the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Xeon E5-2695 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 3700X scores 22,430 against the Xeon E5-2695 v4's 18,835 — a 17.4% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X vs 45 MB on the Xeon E5-2695 v4.

FeatureRyzen 7 3700XXeon E5-2695 v4
Cores / Threads
8 / 16
18 / 36+125%
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz+33%
3.3 GHz
Base Clock
3.6 GHz+71%
2.1 GHz
L3 Cache
32 MB
45 MB+41%
L2 Cache
512K (per core)
4.5 MB+800%
Process
7 nm, 12 nm-50%
14 nm
Architecture
Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark
22,430+19%
18,835
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 7 3700X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-2695 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureRyzen 7 3700XXeon E5-2695 v4
Socket
AM4
LGA2011
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