Steam Deck OLED APU vs Xeon E5-1603 v3

Steam Deck OLED APU vs Xeon E5-1603 v3 Performance Spectrum

Steam Deck OLED APU

4 / 8

4,457

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Xeon E5-1603 v3

4 / 4

4,460

+0.1%

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.

Steam Deck OLED APU vs Xeon E5-1603 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.

Steam Deck OLED APU vs Xeon E5-1603 v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Steam Deck OLED APU

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 2W instead of 140W, a 138W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (4,457 vs 4,460).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 10 MB).

Xeon E5-1603 v3

2014

Why buy it

✅+0.1% higher PassMark.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (10 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Steam Deck OLED APU across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $273 MSRP, while Steam Deck OLED APU mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌6900% higher power demand at 140W vs 2W.

Quick Answers

So, is Steam Deck OLED APU better than Xeon E5-1603 v3?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-1603 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Steam Deck OLED APU is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-1603 v3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (10 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Steam Deck OLED APU is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-1603 v3 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Steam Deck OLED APU comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $273 MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Xeon E5-1603 v3 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.1% better PassMark. Xeon E5-1603 v3 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (16.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Steam Deck OLED APU makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Steam Deck OLED APU vs Xeon E5-1603 v3 Technical Specifications

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

Steam Deck OLED APU

The Steam Deck OLED APU is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 November 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 6 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 4 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,457 points. Launch price was $69.

Xeon E5-1603 v3

The Xeon E5-1603 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 4,460 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Steam Deck OLED APU packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon E5-1603 v3's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Steam Deck OLED APU versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1603 v3 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Steam Deck OLED APU (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Steam Deck OLED APU uses the Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) architecture (6 nm), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Steam Deck OLED APU scores 4,457 against the Xeon E5-1603 v3's 4,460 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5-1603 v3. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Steam Deck OLED APU vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1603 v3.

Feature	Steam Deck OLED APU	Xeon E5-1603 v3
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz+25%	2.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	2.8 GHz+17%
L3 Cache	4 MB	10 MB (total)+150%
L2 Cache	2 MB	256K (per core)+12700%
Process	6 nm-73%	22 nm
Architecture	Van Gogh (Custom) (2023)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	4,457	4,460