Core i7-8700 vs Xeon E5-2680 v2
Core i7-8700
Xeon E5-2680 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 i7-8700 is positioned at rank 483 and the Xeon E5-2680 v2 is on rank 636, so the Core i7-8700 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-8700
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2680 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-8700 | Xeon E5-2680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($462) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-8700 | Xeon E5-2680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+321%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($462) |
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 i7-8700 and Xeon E5-2680 v2
Core i7-8700
The Core i7-8700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12288 kB. L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,747 points. Launch price was $303.
Xeon E5-2680 v2
The Xeon E5-2680 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 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 115 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 12,707 points. Launch price was $1,260.
Processing Power
The Core i7-8700 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2680 v2 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon E5-2680 v2 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i7-8700 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2680 v2 — a 24.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-8700 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i7-8700 uses the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2680 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8700 scores 12,747 against the Xeon E5-2680 v2's 12,707 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-8700. L3 cache: 12288 kB on the Core i7-8700 vs 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2680 v2.
| Feature | Core i7-8700 | Xeon E5-2680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 10 / 20+67% |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+28% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+14% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12288 kB | 25 MB (total)+108% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) |
| PassMark | 12,747 | 12,707 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 7,969 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,535 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 6,200 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-8700 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2680 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-8700 versus DDR3-1866 on the Xeon E5-2680 v2 — the Core i7-8700 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2680 v2 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-8700) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2680 v2). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-8700) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2680 v2) — the Xeon E5-2680 v2 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 300-series (Core i7-8700) and Intel X79,Intel C602 (Xeon E5-2680 v2).
| Feature | Core i7-8700 | Xeon E5-2680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666+33% | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 768 GB+500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 40+150% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-8700) / not specified (Xeon E5-2680 v2). The Core i7-8700 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-2680 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-8700 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i7-8700 rivals Ryzen 5 2600.
| Feature | Core i7-8700 | Xeon E5-2680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Gaming | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-8700 launched at $303 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2680 v2 debuted at $667. At current prices ($110 vs $462), the Core i7-8700 is $352 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-8700 delivers 115.9 pts/$ vs 27.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2680 v2 — making the Core i7-8700 the 123.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-8700 | Xeon E5-2680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $303-55% | $667 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110-76% | $462 |
| Performance per Dollar | 115.9+321% | 27.5 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2013 |
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