Core i7-6850K vs Xeon E5-4657L v2
Core i7-6850K
Xeon E5-4657L 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 i7-6850K is positioned at rank 827 and the Xeon E5-4657L v2 is on rank 302, so the Xeon E5-4657L 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 i7-6850K
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-4657L v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6850K | Xeon E5-4657L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-E (2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6850K | Xeon E5-4657L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ 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 i7-6850K and Xeon E5-4657L v2
Core i7-6850K
The Core i7-6850K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-E (2016) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 11,376 points. Launch price was $475.
Xeon E5-4657L v2
The Xeon E5-4657L v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 115 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600, DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 11,613 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i7-6850K packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-4657L v2 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-4657L v2 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-6850K versus 2.9 GHz on the Xeon E5-4657L v2 — a 31.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-6850K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i7-6850K is built on the Broadwell-E (2016) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-6850K scores 11,376 against the Xeon E5-4657L v2's 11,613 — a 2.1% lead for the Xeon E5-4657L v2. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-6850K vs 30 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Xeon E5-4657L v2.
| Feature | Core i7-6850K | Xeon E5-4657L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 12 / 24+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+38% | 2.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+50% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total) | 30 MB Intel® Smart Cache+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-E (2016) | — |
| PassMark | 11,376 | 11,613+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,200 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 5,500 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Core i7-6850K | Xeon E5-4657L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-6850K) / not specified (Xeon E5-4657L v2). Primary use case: Core i7-6850K targets HEDT.
| Feature | Core i7-6850K | Xeon E5-4657L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | HEDT | — |
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