Ryzen 7 5800X vs Xeon E5-1603
Ryzen 7 5800X
Xeon E5-1603
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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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 5800X
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1603
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 7 5800X | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 7 5800X | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 7 5800X and Xeon E5-1603
Ryzen 7 5800X
The Ryzen 7 5800X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 27,712 points. Launch price was $449.
Xeon E5-1603
The Xeon E5-1603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 3,482 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 7 5800X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-1603 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Ryzen 7 5800X has 4 more cores. The Ryzen 7 5800X is built on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 5800X scores 27,712 against the Xeon E5-1603's 3,482 — a 155.4% lead for the Ryzen 7 5800X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 5800X vs 10 MB on the Xeon E5-1603.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 5800X | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.7 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+36% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB+220% | 10 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | — |
| Process | 7 nm, 12 nm-78% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) | — |
| PassMark | 27,712+696% | 3,482 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 7 5800X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-1603 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 5800X | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+100% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5800X) / not specified (Xeon E5-1603). Primary use case: Ryzen 7 5800X targets Desktop.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 5800X | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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