Xeon E5-2697A v4 vs Ryzen 5 3600
Xeon E5-2697A v4
Ryzen 5 3600
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 E5-2697A v4
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 3600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($121) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+24%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($121) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
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 E5-2697A v4 and Ryzen 5 3600
Xeon E5-2697A v4
The Xeon E5-2697A 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 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 40 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 21,621 points. Launch price was $2,891.
Ryzen 5 3600
The Ryzen 5 3600 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 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 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): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2697A v4 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-2697A v4 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2697A v4 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E5-2697A v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2697A v4 scores 21,621 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 20% lead for the Xeon E5-2697A v4. L3 cache: 40 MB on the Xeon E5-2697A v4 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32+167% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4.2 GHz+17% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.6 GHz+38% |
| L3 Cache | 40 MB+25% | 32 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Matisse (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 21,621+22% | 17,685 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 9,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,295 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,898 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2697A v4 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 E5-2697A v4) / Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
| Target Use | — | Gaming/Budget Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2697A v4 launched at $2891 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 3600 debuted at $199. At current prices ($121 vs $80), the Ryzen 5 3600 is $41 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2697A v4 delivers 178.7 pts/$ vs 221.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 21.2% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2891 | $199-93% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $121 | $80-34% |
| Performance per Dollar | 178.7 | 221.1+24% |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2019 |
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