Core i7-5950HQ vs Xeon E5-2640 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 i7-5950HQ vs Xeon E5-2640 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 i7-5950HQ vs Xeon E5-2640 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 i7-5950HQ

2015

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 47W instead of 95W, a 48W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2640 v2 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2640 v2, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E5-2640 v2

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+233.3% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 0.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,625 vs 7,667).
❌Launch MSRP is still $4,115 MSRP, while Core i7-5950HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌102.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 47W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-5950HQ better than Xeon E5-2640 v2?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2640 v2 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-5950HQ 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 i7-5950HQ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-5950HQ is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-2640 v2 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i7-5950HQ comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $4,115 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.6% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-2640 v2 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 13.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E5-2640 v2 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (1.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Core i7-5950HQ makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2013) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-5950HQ vs Xeon E5-2640 v2 Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-5950HQ

The Core i7-5950HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-H (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,667 points. Launch price was $623.

Xeon E5-2640 v2

The Xeon E5-2640 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,625 points. Launch price was $728.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-5950HQ packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2640 v2 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2640 v2 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-5950HQ versus 2.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2640 v2 — a 41.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-5950HQ (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i7-5950HQ uses the Broadwell-H (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2640 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-5950HQ scores 7,667 against the Xeon E5-2640 v2's 7,625 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i7-5950HQ. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-5950HQ vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2640 v2.

Feature	Core i7-5950HQ	Xeon E5-2640 v2
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz+52%	2.5 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+45%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	20 MB (total)+233%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Broadwell-H (2015)	Ivy Bridge-EP (2013)
PassMark	7,667	7,625

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-5950HQ uses the BGA1364 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2640 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-5950HQ	Xeon E5-2640 v2
Socket	BGA1364	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR3-1600
Max RAM Capacity	—	768 GB
RAM Channels	—	4
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	40