Core i7-11700B vs Xeon E5-2696 V3

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.

Core i7-11700B vs Xeon E5-2696 V3 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i7-11700B vs Xeon E5-2696 V3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i7-11700B

2021

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 65W instead of 145W, a 80W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 750, while Xeon E5-2696 V3 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2696 V3 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 45 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2696 V3, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $323 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2696 V3 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E5-2696 V3

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+87.5% larger total L3 cache (45 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 18 cores / 36 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,435 vs 21,581).
❌123.1% higher power demand at 145W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-11700B can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-11700B better than Xeon E5-2696 V3?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2696 V3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-11700B is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-11700B is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-11700B is the better buy right now. Core i7-11700B comes in at an unclear MSRP at $323 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-2696 V3 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 4.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (66.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-11700B makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2014), more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 18/36, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-11700B vs Xeon E5-2696 V3 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i7-11700B

The Core i7-11700B is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: Up to 3200 MT/s. Passmark benchmark score: 21,581 points. Launch price was $299.

Xeon E5-2696 V3

The Xeon E5-2696 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 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4 2133 MHz Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 21,435 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-11700B packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2696 V3 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon E5-2696 V3 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-11700B versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2696 V3 — a 23.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-11700B (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i7-11700B uses the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Xeon E5-2696 V3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-11700B scores 21,581 against the Xeon E5-2696 V3's 21,435 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-11700B. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i7-11700B vs 45 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2696 V3.

Feature	Core i7-11700B	Xeon E5-2696 V3
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	18 / 36+125%
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+26%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+39%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	45 MB (total)+88%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	256K (per core)+20380%
Process	10 nm SuperFin-55%	22 nm
Architecture	Tiger Lake-H (2021)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	21,581	21,435
Cinebench R23 Multi	10,287	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,265	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,050	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-11700B uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-2696 V3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-11700B	Xeon E5-2696 V3
Socket	FCBGA1787	LGA2011-3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-11700B) / not specified (Xeon E5-2696 V3). The Core i7-11700B includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 750), while the Xeon E5-2696 V3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-11700B targets Desktop.