Xeon E5-2670 vs Ryzen 5 1500X
Xeon E5-2670
Ryzen 5 1500X
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 E5-2670 is positioned at rank 974 and the Ryzen 5 1500X is on rank 436, so the Ryzen 5 1500X offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2670
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 1500X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2670 | Ryzen 5 1500X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($60) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($67) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2670 | Ryzen 5 1500X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+10%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($60) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($67) |
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 E5-2670 and Ryzen 5 1500X
Xeon E5-2670
The Xeon E5-2670 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 115 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,901 points. Launch price was $145.
Ryzen 5 1500X
The Ryzen 5 1500X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 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: 9,074 points. Launch price was $189.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2670 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 1500X offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-2670 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2670 versus 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1500X — a 11.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 1500X (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon E5-2670 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 5 1500X uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2670 scores 8,901 against the Ryzen 5 1500X's 9,074 — a 1.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 1500X. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2670 vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1500X.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2670 | Ryzen 5 1500X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.7 GHz+12% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.5 GHz+35% |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total)+25% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Zen (2017−2020) |
| PassMark | 8,901 | 9,074+2% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 4,641 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,120 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,700 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2670 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 5 1500X uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Xeon E5-2670 versus DDR4-2666 on the Ryzen 5 1500X — the Ryzen 5 1500X supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2670 supports up to 384 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-2670) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 1500X). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-2670) vs 20 (Ryzen 5 1500X) — the Xeon E5-2670 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel X79,Intel C602 (Xeon E5-2670) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470 (Ryzen 5 1500X).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2670 | Ryzen 5 1500X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR4-2666+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 384 GB+500% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+100% | 20 |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 5 1500X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2670) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 1500X). Primary use case: Xeon E5-2670 targets Server, Ryzen 5 1500X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 1500X rivals Core i5-7500.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2670 | Ryzen 5 1500X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Server | Gaming |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2670 launched at $1552 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 1500X debuted at $189. At current prices ($60 vs $67), the Xeon E5-2670 is $7 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2670 delivers 148.3 pts/$ vs 135.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 1500X — making the Xeon E5-2670 the 9.1% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2670 | Ryzen 5 1500X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1552 | $189-88% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $60-10% | $67 |
| Performance per Dollar | 148.3+10% | 135.4 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2017 |
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