Ryzen 7 3700X vs Xeon E5-4650 v3

AMD

Ryzen 7 3700X

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2019
Ryzen family
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VS
Intel

Xeon E5-4650 v3

12 Cores24 Thrd105 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2015
Similar parts
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Ryzen 7 3700X vs Xeon E5-4650 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 7 3700X vs Xeon E5-4650 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 7 3700X vs Xeon E5-4650 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 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +51.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-4650 v3, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads.
  • Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Xeon E5-4650 v3 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E5-4650 v3

2015

Why buy it

  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (10,838 vs 22,430).
  • 61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Xeon E5-4650 v3?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-4650 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 7 3700X is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 3700X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 51.6% 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 stronger fit. You are getting 107% 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 better buy right now. Ryzen 7 3700X comes in at an unclear MSRP at $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 51.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 7 3700X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2015) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 12/24. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 7 3700X vs Xeon E5-4650 v3 Technical Specifications

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

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 E5-4650 v3

The Xeon E5-4650 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 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,838 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 7 3700X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-4650 v3 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-4650 v3 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-4650 v3 — a 44.4% 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 E5-4650 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 3700X scores 22,430 against the Xeon E5-4650 v3's 10,838 — a 69.7% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X vs 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-4650 v3.

FeatureRyzen 7 3700XXeon E5-4650 v3
Cores / Threads
8 / 16
12 / 24+50%
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz+57%
2.8 GHz
Base Clock
3.6 GHz+71%
2.1 GHz
L3 Cache
32 MB+7%
30 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512K (per core)+100%
256K (per core)
Process
7 nm, 12 nm-68%
22 nm
Architecture
Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark
22,430+107%
10,838
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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 7 3700X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-4650 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureRyzen 7 3700XXeon E5-4650 v3
Socket
AM4
LGA2011
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
Yes
PCIe Lanes
24