Xeon E5-1660 v3 vs Ryzen 7 3700X
Xeon E5-1660 v3
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 E5-1660 v3 is positioned at rank #824 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 E5-1660 v3
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 3700X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($198) | ✅ More affordable ($140) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+152%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($198) | ✅ More affordable ($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 E5-1660 v3 and Ryzen 7 3700X
Xeon E5-1660 v3
The Xeon E5-1660 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 12,582 points. Launch price was $800.
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
Both the Xeon E5-1660 v3 and Ryzen 7 3700X share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 v3 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E5-1660 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1660 v3 scores 12,582 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 56.3% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1660 v3 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.4 GHz+26% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total) | 32 MB+60% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-68% |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 12,582 | 22,430+78% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1660 v3 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-1660 v3 launched at $1080 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 3700X debuted at $329. At current prices ($198 vs $140), the Ryzen 7 3700X is $58 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-1660 v3 delivers 63.5 pts/$ vs 160.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 86.4% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1080 | $329-70% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $198 | $140-29% |
| Performance per Dollar | 63.5 | 160.2+152% |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2019 |
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