Xeon E5-1680 v2 vs Ryzen 5 1600
Xeon E5-1680 v2
Ryzen 5 1600
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. The Xeon E5-1680 v2 is positioned at rank 943 and the Ryzen 5 1600 is on rank 378, so the Ryzen 5 1600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1680 v2
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 1600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1680 v2 | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($144) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen 2 (2017−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1680 v2 | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+3%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($144) |
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 E5-1680 v2 and Ryzen 5 1600
Xeon E5-1680 v2
The Xeon E5-1680 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600, DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 12,396 points. Launch price was $800.
Ryzen 5 1600
The Ryzen 5 1600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,261 points. Launch price was $219.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-1680 v2 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 1600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-1680 v2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E5-1680 v2 versus 3.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1600 — a 8% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-1680 v2 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Xeon E5-1680 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Ryzen 5 1600 uses Zen 2 (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1680 v2 scores 12,396 against the Ryzen 5 1600's 12,261 — a 1.1% lead for the Xeon E5-1680 v2. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1680 v2 vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1600.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1680 v2 | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+8% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.2 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 25 MB (total)+56% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) | Zen 2 (2017−2020) |
| PassMark | 12,396+1% | 12,261 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 8,579 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 750 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,500 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1680 v2 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 1600 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Xeon E5-1680 v2 versus DDR4-2666 on the Ryzen 5 1600 — the Ryzen 5 1600 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-1680 v2 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-1680 v2) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 1600). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-1680 v2) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 1600) — the Xeon E5-1680 v2 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C602,X79 (Xeon E5-1680 v2) and AMD 300 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 1600).
| Feature | Xeon E5-1680 v2 | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR4-2666+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 256 GB+300% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+67% | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon E5-1680 v2) / not specified (Ryzen 5 1600). Primary use case: Xeon E5-1680 v2 targets Server/Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon E5-1680 v2 rivals Core i7-4960X.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1680 v2 | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Server/Workstation | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-1680 v2 launched at $1723 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 1600 debuted at $219. At current prices ($150 vs $144), the Ryzen 5 1600 is $6 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-1680 v2 delivers 82.6 pts/$ vs 85.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 1600 — making the Ryzen 5 1600 the 3% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1680 v2 | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1723 | $219-87% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150 | $144-4% |
| Performance per Dollar | 82.6 | 85.1+3% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2017 |
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