Core i7-7700K vs Xeon E5-2650 v2
Core i7-7700K
Xeon E5-2650 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 i7-7700K is positioned at rank 577 and the Xeon E5-2650 v2 is on rank 272, so the Xeon E5-2650 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 i7-7700K
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2650 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-7700K | Xeon E5-2650 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-7700K | Xeon E5-2650 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) | ✅ 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 i7-7700K and Xeon E5-2650 v2
Core i7-7700K
The Core i7-7700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,625 points. Launch price was $339.
Xeon E5-2650 v2
The Xeon E5-2650 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 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 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: 9,795 points. Launch price was $650.
Processing Power
The Core i7-7700K packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2650 v2 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2650 v2 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-7700K versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E5-2650 v2 — a 27.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-7700K (base: 4.2 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i7-7700K uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2650 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7700K scores 9,625 against the Xeon E5-2650 v2's 9,795 — a 1.8% lead for the Xeon E5-2650 v2. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-7700K vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2650 v2.
| Feature | Core i7-7700K | Xeon E5-2650 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.5 GHz+32% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4.2 GHz+62% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 20 MB (total)+150% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) |
| PassMark | 9,625 | 9,795+2% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-7700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2650 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-7700K | Xeon E5-2650 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 768 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i7-7700K and Xeon E5-2650 v2
