AMD Ryzen 5 1600X vs Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X represent two very different approaches to desktop computing, separated by nearly three years of release dates and distinct platform philosophies. The data shows that while the Ryzen 5 1600X offers a more modern feature set and lower power draw, the older Xeon part consistently edges ahead in every single benchmark recorded. This comparison is not about a landslide victory but rather a consistent, narrow margin of performance that the eight-core Haswell-EP chip maintains across the board, despite its age and server/workstation heritage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 wins outright, but the margins are tight. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 1137 against the Ryzen's 1116, a lead of just 1.9 percent. The single-core test in R15 tells the same story: 160 versus 157, again a 1.9 percent advantage for Intel. This pattern holds as the benchmark suite gets more demanding. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Xeon scores 4741 compared to the Ryzen's 4650, a 2 percent lead. The R20 single-core result shows 669 versus 656, another 2 percent gap.

Moving to the newest test, Cinebench R23, the Xeon's multicore score of 11289 beats the Ryzen's 11073 by 2 percent. The single-core R23 result is 1593 against 1563, once again a 1.9 percent difference. The data is unambiguous: the Xeon wins all six head-to-head matchups, but never by more than 2 percent. This suggests that in real-world tasks, the performance difference would be nearly imperceptible. The Ryzen 5 1600X also has a Geekbench score in the data—5661 multicore and 1117 single-core—but no comparable Geekbench result is available for the Xeon, so it cannot be directly compared in that specific test.

What is notable is how close these two processors are in average benchmark score. The Xeon averages 3265, while the Ryzen averages 3249, a difference of just 16 points. This places them in the same percentile bracket at 53 percent of all CPUs. The nearest rival data corroborates this: the Xeon's nearest rival, the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4, scores an average of 3264, a 0 percent delta, while the Ryzen's nearest rival, the Intel Xeon D-1581, scores 3238, a 0.3 percent delta. Both chips are essentially occupying the same performance tier, statistically indistinguishable in aggregate metrics.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 winning every benchmark it shares with the Ryzen 5 1600X. That means in all six Cinebench tests, both multicore and single-core, the Xeon is the pick. The margins are small—all under 2.1 percent—but they are consistent. For applications that rely heavily on Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the Xeon holds a slight edge. This is likely attributable to its 8 cores and 16 threads versus the Ryzen's 6 cores and 12 threads, giving it a theoretical throughput advantage in heavily threaded tasks.

However, the Ryzen 5 1600X has its own territory where it pulls ahead, even if the benchmark data doesn't directly show it. The Ryzen has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, both higher than the Xeon's 3.20 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. This clock speed advantage, combined with a lower TDP of 95 watts versus 140 watts, means the Ryzen is more efficient per watt and likely easier to cool in a standard desktop chassis. The Ryzen also has access to a Geekbench score, suggesting it has been tested in a broader range of scenarios. Its 5661 multicore and 1117 single-core Geekbench scores indicate solid general-purpose performance, but without a direct Xeon comparison in that test, it's hard to declare a winner there. The Ryzen's active production status and modern AM4 socket also mean it is a more practical choice for a new build today.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two parts is substantial. The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 is built on the Haswell-EP architecture, using a 22 nm process at Intel's foundry. It packs 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. The Ryzen 5 1600X uses AMD's Zen architecture, fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm node, with 4,800 million transistors on a much smaller 213 mm² die. The transistor density is vastly different, with AMD fitting nearly twice as many transistors on a smaller piece of silicon.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The Xeon offers 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a large 20 MB shared L3 cache. The Ryzen has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen gives each core more private cache, while the Xeon provides a larger final pool. Memory support also diverges. Both support DDR4, but the Xeon runs a quad-channel memory bus with a theoretical bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the Ryzen uses a dual-channel bus at 42.7 GB/s. The Xeon's memory bandwidth is a clear advantage for memory-intensive workloads, even if its overall benchmark scores don't fully reflect it.

PCIe connectivity is another major split. The Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen offers Gen 3 with just 16 lanes. This makes the Xeon far more capable for multi-GPU setups or heavy expansion cards. Both chips support ECC memory and have unlocked multipliers, but the Xeon is marketed as a Server/Workstation part and is now end-of-life, whereas the Ryzen is an active Desktop product. The Ryzen's launch MSRP is $249, a figure stated once here for reference.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, victory for the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 in raw compute benchmarks. It wins all six shared Cinebench tests, with a 2 percent edge in R20 and R23 multicore, and a 1.9 percent edge in R15 and all single-core tests. For users whose primary workload is Cinebench-style rendering, the Xeon is the better performer, even if the difference is small. Its quad-channel memory and 40 PCIe lanes also make it the stronger choice for workstation tasks that involve moving large amounts of data or running multiple high-bandwidth devices.

However, the Ryzen 5 1600X is not a loser here. Its 95-watt TDP is significantly lower than the Xeon's 140 watts, making it easier to cool and cheaper to run. Its higher clocks (4.00 GHz boost versus 3.80 GHz) and newer 14 nm process give it a more modern feature set. The fact that it is still in active production means better availability and platform longevity on the AM4 socket. For a general-purpose desktop PC where power efficiency, modern platform features, and upgrade paths matter more than a 2 percent benchmark margin, the Ryzen is the more practical pick. The Xeon's end-of-life status and server-oriented platform make it a niche choice for users who specifically need its memory bandwidth and PCIe lane count. From the data alone, pick the Xeon for maximum benchmark scores, but pick the Ryzen for a balanced, current desktop system.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multicore score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 scores 11289, while the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X scores 11073. The Xeon leads by 2 percent.

Q: How big is the single-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Xeon scores 1593 and the Ryzen scores 1563, a 1.9 percent advantage for the Xeon. The R20 single-core test shows a 2 percent gap (669 vs 656).

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 supports quad-channel memory with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X uses dual-channel memory with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does each CPU offer?

A: The Xeon provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, whereas the Ryzen provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1600X has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, both higher than the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3's 3.20 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost.

Q: What is the TDP of each chip?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 has a TDP of 140 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X has a TDP of 95 watts.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 | AMD Ryzen 5 1600X |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Haswell-EP | Zen |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 2,600 million | 4,800 million |

| Die Size | 356 mm² | 213 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 68.3 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 40 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2014-09-07 | 2017-04-10 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $249 |

| Part Number | QFSSSR20H | YD160XBCM6IAEYD160XBCAEWOF |