Core i7-11700KF vs Xeon E5-2679 v4
Core i7-11700KF
Xeon E5-2679 v4
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 i7-11700KF
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2679 v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-11700KF | Xeon E5-2679 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($299) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-11700KF | Xeon E5-2679 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+65%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($299) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) |
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 i7-11700KF and Xeon E5-2679 v4
Core i7-11700KF
The Core i7-11700KF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 23,811 points. Launch price was $299.
Xeon E5-2679 v4
The Xeon E5-2679 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 50 MB. L2 cache: 5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 24,131 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i7-11700KF packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2679 v4 offers 20 cores / 40 threads — the Xeon E5-2679 v4 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-11700KF versus 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2679 v4 — a 41% clock advantage for the Core i7-11700KF (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i7-11700KF uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2679 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-11700KF scores 23,811 against the Xeon E5-2679 v4's 24,131 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2679 v4. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,287 vs 1,000, a 78.3% lead for the Core i7-11700KF that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,874 vs 12,000 (9.8% advantage for the Xeon E5-2679 v4). L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i7-11700KF vs 50 MB on the Xeon E5-2679 v4.
| Feature | Core i7-11700KF | Xeon E5-2679 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 20 / 40+150% |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+52% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+44% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 50 MB+213% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 5 MB+1900% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Rocket Lake (2021) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 23,811 | 24,131+1% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 15,011 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,287+129% | 1,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 10,874 | 12,000+10% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-11700KF uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-2679 v4 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2679 v4 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-11700KF) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2679 v4). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-11700KF) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2679 v4) — the Xeon E5-2679 v4 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z590,B560 (Core i7-11700KF) and C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2679 v4).
| Feature | Core i7-11700KF | Xeon E5-2679 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | LGA2011-3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 1536 GB+1100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 40+100% |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i7-11700KF supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-11700KF) vs Yes (Xeon E5-2679 v4).
| Feature | Core i7-11700KF | Xeon E5-2679 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-11700KF launched at $374 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2679 v4 debuted at $2702. At current prices ($299 vs $500), the Core i7-11700KF is $201 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-11700KF delivers 79.6 pts/$ vs 48.3 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2679 v4 — making the Core i7-11700KF the 49.1% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-11700KF | Xeon E5-2679 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $374-86% | $2702 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $299-40% | $500 |
| Performance per Dollar | 79.6+65% | 48.3 |
| Release Date | 2021 | 2016 |
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