Core i5-8500 vs Xeon E5-2690
Core i5-8500
Xeon E5-2690
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 Core i5-8500
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2690
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8500 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8500 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+83%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
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 Core i5-8500 and Xeon E5-2690
Core i5-8500
The Core i5-8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,521 points. Launch price was $202.
Xeon E5-2690
The Xeon E5-2690 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 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,764 points. Launch price was $397.
Processing Power
The Core i5-8500 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Xeon E5-2690 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2690 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-8500 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2690 — a 7.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-8500 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i5-8500 uses the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2690 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8500 scores 9,521 against the Xeon E5-2690's 9,764 — a 2.5% lead for the Xeon E5-2690. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8500 vs 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2690.
| Feature | Core i5-8500 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+8% | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+3% | 2.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 9 MB (total) | 20480 kB (total)+122% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 9,521 | 9,764+3% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-8500 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2690 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-8500 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 384 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-8500 launched at $192 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2690 debuted at $2057. At current prices ($80 vs $150), the Core i5-8500 is $70 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-8500 delivers 119.0 pts/$ vs 65.1 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2690 — making the Core i5-8500 the 58.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-8500 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $192-91% | $2057 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80-47% | $150 |
| Performance per Dollar | 119.0+83% | 65.1 |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2012 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i5-8500 and Xeon E5-2690
