Xeon E5-2686 V3 vs Ryzen 5 3600X
Xeon E5-2686 V3
Ryzen 5 3600X
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2686 V3
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 3600X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | Ryzen 5 3600X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($160) | ✅ More affordable ($90) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | Ryzen 5 3600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+78%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($160) | ✅ More affordable ($90) |
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 E5-2686 V3 and Ryzen 5 3600X
Xeon E5-2686 V3
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4 2133 MHz Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 18,148 points. Launch price was $800.
Ryzen 5 3600X
The Ryzen 5 3600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 18,136 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 packs 18 cores / 36 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600X — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600X (base: 2 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2686 V3 scores 18,148 against the Ryzen 5 3600X's 18,136 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5-2686 V3. L3 cache: 45 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600X.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | Ryzen 5 3600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 18 / 36+200% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.4 GHz+26% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.8 GHz+90% |
| L3 Cache | 45 MB (total)+41% | 32 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-68% |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Matisse (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 18,148 | 18,136 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 10,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,033 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,649 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses the LGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600X uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2133 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2686 V3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-2686 V3) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 3600X). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-2686 V3) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600X) — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2686 V3) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 3600X).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | Ryzen 5 3600X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011-3 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 GB+500% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+67% | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Xeon E5-2686 V3) / not specified (Ryzen 5 3600X).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | Ryzen 5 3600X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 launched at $1500 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 3600X debuted at $249. At current prices ($160 vs $90), the Ryzen 5 3600X is $70 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2686 V3 delivers 113.4 pts/$ vs 201.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600X — making the Ryzen 5 3600X the 55.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | Ryzen 5 3600X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1500 | $249-83% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $160 | $90-44% |
| Performance per Dollar | 113.4 | 201.5+78% |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2019 |
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