Core i7-6920HQ vs Xeon E5-1620 v4

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 i7-6920HQ vs Xeon E5-1620 v4 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 i7-6920HQ vs Xeon E5-1620 v4: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-6920HQ

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 1W instead of 140W, a 139W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-1620 v4 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,269 vs 7,338).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 10 MB).

Xeon E5-1620 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (10 MB vs 8 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $1,166 MSRP, while Core i7-6920HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌13900% higher power demand at 140W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-1620 v4 better than Core i7-6920HQ?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-1620 v4 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-6920HQ is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon E5-1620 v4 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 10.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-1620 v4 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (10 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Xeon E5-1620 v4 is the better buy right now. Xeon E5-1620 v4 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $1,166 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 10.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (6.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Xeon E5-1620 v4 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2015), 25% larger total L3 cache (10 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-6920HQ vs Xeon E5-1620 v4 Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-6920HQ

The Core i7-6920HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,269 points. Launch price was $568.

Xeon E5-1620 v4

The Xeon E5-1620 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-EP (2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 7,338 points. Launch price was $294.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-6920HQ and Xeon E5-1620 v4 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-6920HQ versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1620 v4 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-6920HQ uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1620 v4 uses Broadwell-EP (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6920HQ scores 7,269 against the Xeon E5-1620 v4's 7,338 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E5-1620 v4. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i7-6920HQ vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1620 v4.

Feature	Core i7-6920HQ	Xeon E5-1620 v4
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.5 GHz+21%
L3 Cache	8 MB	10 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Skylake (2015−2016)	Broadwell-EP (2016)
PassMark	7,269	7,338

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-6920HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1620 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.