Core i7-6950X vs Xeon E5-2687W v4
Core i7-6950X
Xeon E5-2687W v4
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6950X
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2687W v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6950X | Xeon E5-2687W v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($180) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,138) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-E (2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6950X | Xeon E5-2687W v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+530%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($180) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,138) |
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 i7-6950X and Xeon E5-2687W v4
Core i7-6950X
The Core i7-6950X 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 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,580 points. Launch price was $1,723.
Xeon E5-2687W v4
The Xeon E5-2687W v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 160 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 17,640 points. Launch price was $2,141.
Processing Power
The Core i7-6950X packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon E5-2687W v4 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-2687W v4 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-6950X versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2687W v4 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-6950X (base: 3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-6950X uses the Broadwell-E (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2687W v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6950X scores 17,580 against the Xeon E5-2687W v4's 17,640 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2687W v4. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-6950X vs 30 MB on the Xeon E5-2687W v4.
| Feature | Core i7-6950X | Xeon E5-2687W v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20 | 12 / 24+20% |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+14% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 25 MB (total) | 30 MB+20% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 3 MB+1100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-E (2016) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 17,580 | 17,640 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,063 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 8,255 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Core i7-6950X | Xeon E5-2687W v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 1536 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-6950X) / Yes (Xeon E5-2687W v4).
| Feature | Core i7-6950X | Xeon E5-2687W v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-6950X launched at $1723 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2687W v4 debuted at $2141. At current prices ($180 vs $1138), the Core i7-6950X is $958 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-6950X delivers 97.7 pts/$ vs 15.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2687W v4 — making the Core i7-6950X the 145.2% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-6950X | Xeon E5-2687W v4 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1723-20% | $2141 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $180-84% | $1138 |
| Performance per Dollar | 97.7+530% | 15.5 |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2016 |
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