Core i7-8650U vs Xeon E5-4617
Core i7-8650U
Xeon E5-4617
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 i7-8650U is positioned at rank 904 and the Xeon E5-4617 is on rank 144, so the Xeon E5-4617 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-8650U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-4617
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-8650U | Xeon E5-4617 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-8650U | Xeon E5-4617 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
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 i7-8650U and Xeon E5-4617
Core i7-8650U
The Core i7-8650U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,194 points. Launch price was $409.
Xeon E5-4617
The Xeon E5-4617 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,298 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core i7-8650U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-4617 offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Xeon E5-4617 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i7-8650U versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E5-4617 — a 21.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-8650U (base: 1.9 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i7-8650U uses the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-4617 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8650U scores 6,194 against the Xeon E5-4617's 6,298 — a 1.7% lead for the Xeon E5-4617. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-8650U vs 15360 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-4617.
| Feature | Core i7-8650U | Xeon E5-4617 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 6+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+24% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.9 GHz | 2.9 GHz+53% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 15360 kB (total)+88% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 6,194 | 6,298+2% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-8650U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-4617 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-8650U | Xeon E5-4617 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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