Xeon E5-2603 v4 vs Ryzen 5 5600X
Xeon E5-2603 v4
Popular choices:
Ryzen 5 5600X
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 E5-2603 v4 is positioned at rank #589 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 E5-2603 v4
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5600X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 v4 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 v4 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) |
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 E5-2603 v4 and Ryzen 5 5600X
Xeon E5-2603 v4
The Xeon E5-2603 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 1.7 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 4,517 points. Launch price was $213.
Ryzen 5 5600X
The Ryzen 5 5600X 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 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 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. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2603 v4 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, matching the Ryzen 5 5600X's 6 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.7 GHz on the Xeon E5-2603 v4 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 92.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 1.7 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Xeon E5-2603 v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2603 v4 scores 4,517 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 131.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X. L3 cache: 15 MB on the Xeon E5-2603 v4 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v4 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 1.7 GHz | 4.6 GHz+171% |
| Base Clock | 1.7 GHz | 3.7 GHz+118% |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB | 32 MB+113% |
| L2 Cache | 1.5 MB+200% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 4,517 | 21,845+384% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2603 v4 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v4 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2603 v4) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v4 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon E5-2603 v4 and Ryzen 5 5600X
