Core i7-6700K vs Xeon E5-2450 v2
Core i7-6700K
Xeon E5-2450 v2
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. The Core i7-6700K is positioned at rank 677 and the Xeon E5-2450 v2 is on rank 317, so the Xeon E5-2450 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6700K
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2450 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6700K | Xeon E5-2450 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($142) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6700K | Xeon E5-2450 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($142) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i7-6700K and Xeon E5-2450 v2
Core i7-6700K
The Core i7-6700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 August 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,933 points. Launch price was $339.
Xeon E5-2450 v2
The Xeon E5-2450 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,057 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i7-6700K packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2450 v2 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2450 v2 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i7-6700K versus 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2450 v2 — a 24% clock advantage for the Core i7-6700K (base: 4 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i7-6700K uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2450 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6700K scores 8,933 against the Xeon E5-2450 v2's 9,057 — a 1.4% lead for the Xeon E5-2450 v2. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-6700K vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2450 v2.
| Feature | Core i7-6700K | Xeon E5-2450 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+27% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+60% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 20 MB (total)+150% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 8,933 | 9,057+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2450 v2 uses LGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6700K | Xeon E5-2450 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-6700K) / not specified (Xeon E5-2450 v2). The Core i7-6700K includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 530), while the Xeon E5-2450 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-6700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i7-6700K | Xeon E5-2450 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 530 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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