Core i7-5930K vs Xeon E5-1660 v2

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 i7-5930K vs Xeon E5-1660 v2 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 i7-5930K vs Xeon E5-1660 v2: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-5930K

2014

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-1660 v2 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $583 MSRP, while Xeon E5-1660 v2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E5-1660 v2

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 130W instead of 140W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (10,332 vs 10,369).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-5930K better than Xeon E5-1660 v2?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-1660 v2 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-5930K 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 i7-5930K is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i7-5930K is the better buy right now. Core i7-5930K comes in at an unclear MSRP at $583 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.4% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-1660 v2 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 6.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (17.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i7-5930K makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2013) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-5930K vs Xeon E5-1660 v2 Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-5930K

The Core i7-5930K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-E (2014) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,369 points. Launch price was $613.

Xeon E5-1660 v2

The Xeon E5-1660 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-E (2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 10,332 points. Launch price was $1,809.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-5930K and Xeon E5-1660 v2 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i7-5930K versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 v2 — a 7.8% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-1660 v2 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i7-5930K uses the Haswell-E (2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5-1660 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-E (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-5930K scores 10,369 against the Xeon E5-1660 v2's 10,332 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-5930K. Both processors carry 15 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-5930K	Xeon E5-1660 v2
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	4 GHz+8%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.7 GHz+6%
L3 Cache	15 MB (total)	15 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	22 nm	22 nm
Architecture	Haswell-E (2014)	Ivy Bridge-E (2013)
PassMark	10,369	10,332
Geekbench 6 Single	1,000	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	6,000	—

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 3.0.

Feature	Core i7-5930K	Xeon E5-1660 v2
Socket	LGA2011	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2133	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	4	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	40	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-5930K) / not specified (Xeon E5-1660 v2). Primary use case: Core i7-5930K targets High End Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-5930K rivals Ryzen 5 1600.