Ryzen 5 1400 vs Xeon E5-2620 v3

AMD

Ryzen 5 1400

4 Cores8 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2017

Popular choices:

VS
Intel

Xeon E5-2620 v3

6 Cores12 Thrd85 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2014

Popular choices:

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Ryzen 5 1400

2017

Why buy it

  • Costs $248 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $417 MSRP).
  • Delivers 146.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 45.7 vs 18.5 PassMark/$ ($169 MSRP vs $417 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 85W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2620 v3 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (7,731 vs 7,734).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 15 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2620 v3, which brings 6 cores / 12 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E5-2620 v3

2014

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +3.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +87.5% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 8 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 6 cores / 12 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 24.
  • 66.7% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 18.5 vs 45.7 PassMark/$ ($417 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
  • 30.8% higher power demand at 85W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2620 v3 better than Ryzen 5 1400?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon E5-2620 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 1400 is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Xeon E5-2620 v3 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 3.1% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2620 v3 is the better fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 87.5% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 8 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Xeon E5-2620 v3 is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Xeon E5-2620 v3 is 146.7% more expensive on MSRP at $417 MSRP versus $169 MSRP, and it gives you a 3.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 1400 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the smarter recommendation now. At roughly 7,731 PassMark with 4 cores and 8 threads, it only makes sense as a bare-minimum stopgap or a very constrained existing-platform upgrade.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 5 1400 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetRyzen 5 1400Xeon E5-2620 v3
1080p
low170 FPS159 FPS
medium148 FPS136 FPS
high119 FPS110 FPS
ultra95 FPS90 FPS
1440p
low141 FPS133 FPS
medium118 FPS113 FPS
high92 FPS89 FPS
ultra73 FPS72 FPS
4K
low65 FPS62 FPS
medium58 FPS56 FPS
high45 FPS44 FPS
ultra36 FPS35 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetRyzen 5 1400Xeon E5-2620 v3
1080p
low168 FPS193 FPS
medium148 FPS179 FPS
high139 FPS164 FPS
ultra105 FPS128 FPS
1440p
low146 FPS180 FPS
medium129 FPS158 FPS
high120 FPS145 FPS
ultra94 FPS116 FPS
4K
low114 FPS141 FPS
medium103 FPS125 FPS
high80 FPS106 FPS
ultra58 FPS76 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetRyzen 5 1400Xeon E5-2620 v3
1080p
low193 FPS193 FPS
medium193 FPS193 FPS
high193 FPS193 FPS
ultra193 FPS193 FPS
1440p
low193 FPS193 FPS
medium193 FPS193 FPS
high193 FPS193 FPS
ultra193 FPS193 FPS
4K
low193 FPS193 FPS
medium193 FPS193 FPS
high193 FPS193 FPS
ultra181 FPS193 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetRyzen 5 1400Xeon E5-2620 v3
1080p
low193 FPS193 FPS
medium193 FPS193 FPS
high193 FPS193 FPS
ultra193 FPS193 FPS
1440p
low193 FPS193 FPS
medium193 FPS193 FPS
high193 FPS193 FPS
ultra193 FPS193 FPS
4K
low193 FPS193 FPS
medium193 FPS193 FPS
high193 FPS193 FPS
ultra193 FPS193 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 1400 and Xeon E5-2620 v3

AMD

Ryzen 5 1400

The Ryzen 5 1400 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 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 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: 7,731 points. Launch price was $169.

Intel

Xeon E5-2620 v3

The Xeon E5-2620 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 7,734 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 1400 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2620 v3 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-2620 v3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1400 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon E5-2620 v3 — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 1400 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Ryzen 5 1400 uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2620 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 1400 scores 7,731 against the Xeon E5-2620 v3's 7,734 — a 0% lead for the Xeon E5-2620 v3. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1400 vs 15 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2620 v3.

FeatureRyzen 5 1400Xeon E5-2620 v3
Cores / Threads
4 / 8
6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock
3.4 GHz+6%
3.2 GHz
Base Clock
3.2 GHz+33%
2.4 GHz
L3 Cache
8 MB (total)
15 MB (total)+88%
L2 Cache
512K (per core)+100%
256K (per core)
Process
14 nm-36%
22 nm
Architecture
Zen (2017−2020)
Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark
7,731
7,734
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 1400 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2620 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2620 v3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 1400) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2620 v3). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 1400) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2620 v3) — the Xeon E5-2620 v3 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 1400) and Intel X99,Intel C612 (Xeon E5-2620 v3).

FeatureRyzen 5 1400Xeon E5-2620 v3
Socket
AM4
LGA2011
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
DDR4-1866
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
768 GB+1100%
RAM Channels
2
4+100%
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
24
40+67%
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 5 1400) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2620 v3). Primary use case: Xeon E5-2620 v3 targets Server.

FeatureRyzen 5 1400Xeon E5-2620 v3
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Server
💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 1400 launched at $169 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2620 v3 debuted at $417. On MSRP ($169 vs $417), the Ryzen 5 1400 is $248 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 1400 delivers 45.7 pts/$ vs 18.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2620 v3 — making the Ryzen 5 1400 the 84.6% better value option.

FeatureRyzen 5 1400Xeon E5-2620 v3
MSRP
$169-59%
$417
Performance per Dollar
45.7+147%
18.5
Release Date
2017
2014