Xeon E5-1620 vs Ryzen 7 3700X
Xeon E5-1620
Ryzen 7 3700X
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. The Xeon E5-1620 is positioned at rank #953 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Xeon E5-1620
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 3700X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1620 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($70) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1620 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+92%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($70) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
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 Xeon E5-1620 and Ryzen 7 3700X
Xeon E5-1620
The Xeon E5-1620 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,848 points. Launch price was $313.
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.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-1620 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1620 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 14.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E5-1620 uses the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1620 scores 5,848 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 117.3% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-1620 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1620 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4.4 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 10240 kB (total) | 32 MB+220% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-78% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 5,848 | 22,430+284% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,469 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 612 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,250 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1620 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Xeon E5-1620 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 3700X — the Ryzen 7 3700X supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-1620 supports up to 375 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 98.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-1620) vs 2 (Ryzen 7 3700X). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-1620) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) — the Xeon E5-1620 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel C600,Intel X79 (Xeon E5-1620) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X).
| Feature | Xeon E5-1620 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR4-3200+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 375 GB+193% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+67% | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Xeon E5-1620) / not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X).
| Feature | Xeon E5-1620 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-1620 launched at $885 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 3700X debuted at $329. At current prices ($70 vs $140), the Xeon E5-1620 is $70 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-1620 delivers 83.5 pts/$ vs 160.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 62.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1620 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $885 | $329-63% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $70-50% | $140 |
| Performance per Dollar | 83.5 | 160.2+92% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2019 |
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